This isn’t really my thing. I’m not a huge fan of running long distances or spending time in mud. But this event proclaims itself to be “Probably the toughest event on the planet”, so my competitive nature roped me into signing up. I had to do it at least once.

Tough Mudder is a 20km obstacle course designed by the British Special Forces. Here’s a breakdown of the Sydney Tough Mudder event:

• 15km is uphill. And I don’t mean a little slant. I mean seriously uphill. Like, never-ending uphill. Through Australian countryside.

• There are 21 obstacles that are designed to push you mentally and physically, as if the distance wasn’t challenging enough.

• It was 27 degrees celsius outside, and not a cloud in the sky. So the sun was beaming down on us the entire time.

• There are not one, but TWO, points in the event where you have to crawl and run through a minefield of exposed electrical wires that deliver 10,000 volts straight through your body. And if you’ve never been electrocuted before, allow me to assure you that it fucking hurts.

And you know what scared me the most about this entire thing? That when I finished the race, I realised that I had enjoyed it. Every second. Every challenge. Every obstacle.

It pushes you harder than you’re used to being pushed, and when you come out the other side it gives you a newfound self-confidence and self-belief in what you’re really capable of achieving. That, and they give you a beer.

OORAH!!!