tough mudder completed while pregnant...

[chocolatecatty]

Hiya all,

Its been about three years sincei I posted on bellybelly but anyway!

I signed up for the phillip island tough mudder a few months before I got pregnant and as I had continued going to the gym I thought Id still give it a go when the day rolled around given there is no refund or transfer of participater. Im really just typing this post as I spent hours googling 'pregnancy tough mudder' and didnt find a lot of info or blogs from peops who had done it while pregnant. So maybe my post will help out future pregnant tough mudders here!!

I completed the 20km course last weekend at Phillip Island with a team from the gym My doctor and midwife said I shouldn't do the electric shock obstacles (there were two) and I also didnt attempt the 15ft jump into water...I hadnt asked my midwife and dr about that one, but Id read from a blogger that they had been told not to do it when pregnant (not sure why...maybe the danger of 'taking on water'??). Midwife said I could but shouldn't do the artic enema (ice bath) but it was the first obstacle and it just looked too tempting so I did it with no ill effects lol. The rest of the course was relatively easy, especially given the strong guys on my team who helped pull me over the muddy clay trenches and help my over the 9ft walls! In saying that, I was able to make it over the 7ft walls by myself which I was super chuffed with!

The jogging was the real killer. I'm not much of a jogger and my jogging prep only saw me jog about 5km a few times before the race. So in future I would jog a whole lot more (10km) for my preparation as the rest of my team were way ahead of me and had to wait at each obstacle until I caught up (very embarassing!). I had been going to the gym two or three times a week beforehand and just doing the thump (boxing) classes to keep me fit.

Anyway, I was 15 weeks and 6 days when I did it. So it can be done, and be encouraged if you're ever in the same boat I was It took our team 3 hours and 40 min. There were drink stations every 5 or so km which also had cut up banana on offer and I ate two or three peices of banana each time I was at a station, plus some water. There were also porta potties which I really did need to use but didn't...I needed to pee everytime I started up jogging but if I stopped to walk or do an obstacle then I didn't need to go so I didn't go in the end. Felt pretty good afterwards and was only sore for the day or so after the race which was unexpected...I thought I'd be sore for weeks! In saying that, I did take arnica tablets that night and the day after so that may have helped.

Thanks for reading my post and I hope it's helpful to some of you!!

[Phteven]

WTG. It's heaps of fun isn't it

You didn't miss much skipping the electroshock therapy. It hurts.

[sweetde]

Thanks for this info. I've been trying to find info of other Pregnant ladies who have completed tough Mudder while Pregnant.
I found out at beginning of June I'm expecting #4. With the shock of all that I was scared as I had signed up in March and did not/could not lose the money I paid for registration (a days worth of pay)
My Doc is ok with me doing it, but avoiding any obstacle where I can drop, hurt myself or plunging into freezing waters.
Well this pregnancy took a tole on me and SINCE finding out 2.5m ago i have not run or trained. Just been too nauseated, fatigued or malnourished. (carbs only feeling lethargic)

But I'm about 6 week away and feeling better. I figure If I can get back to running I can complete the 16K no problem.

My issue is convincing my team mates that I'll be ok doing this. I've always been a tough cookie (preggers or not) and I actually had someone flat out they don't want me there because I'm preggers.
Of course my doc wants to see me prior to event to give me the final go or no go. And really if I cant get running in I wont. I ran yesterday and was 1:45 SLOWER than my usual Slow.

[chocolatecatty]

Hey so your talking about next weekends TM? Have you been able to jog much between your last post and now? How are you feeling about it? I went in with the mindset of just walking away when it got too tiring...does that help?! I was told the icy obstacles weren't bad for my baby...unless I was in them for ages and therefore reduced my body temp, but you're in and out in a flash...anyway. how many weeks will you be?

As for the teammate who doesn't want you there...is that their pride, like they want to break some team record for speed? Or is there a genuine concern for your babies health? Is their reasoning based on knowledge or just a general 'pregnant women shouldn't exercise 'belief? One of my team mates was one of my gym instructors (a female) and she thought it was great that I was there.
Anyway, let us know how you go! And if your team disowns you, never fear, there are so many big guys guys on course, you'll easily get through with their help (if needed!).