What is more impressive: finishing the Tough Mudder or running a 3:30 marathon?

Basically, ignoring everyone, a 3:30 marathon is more impressive, to myself. I finished a TM today and I pushed myself hard. I did not skip anything and I overtook at least 200 people (presumably earlier starters who could not run the distance). It was hard and I was knocked unconscious by the electrodes on the last obstacle. I did it. I ran a hard TM. I cannot however run a 3:30 marathon. Based on recent performance I would complete a marathon in ~4:25.

How many people in a marathon run over 3:30 and how many don't finish a tough mudder

You get DQ'd for assistance in a marathon as well

I've done both within a month and a half of each other and I have to say the 3:30 Marathon was way harder than doing the tough mudder with 3 buddies who were all in pretty good shape. The Marathon was way tougher mentally and physically than the mudder. I could have easily gone to hike up a fourteener with those guys and it would have been the same amount of fun toughness, but I would have saved 150 dollars. But in no way does finishing a tough mudder compare to the difficulty and impressiveness of a 3:30 marathon.

ukathleticscoach wrote:

You get DQ'd for assistance in a marathon as well

You get a DNF in tough mudder when you skip obstacles. There is a difference between people taking part in tough mudder and those FINISHING it. The latter are usually the BUFF/RIPPED ones, the former the skinny distance sloggers.

As a former gymnast turned runner who has run both (but not at 3:30), they are two totally different types of fitness. I have cc friends who can kick my butt any day on a 5K course, but can't do a pull up to save their lives. They would never attempt a Mudder because they couldn't do it and wouldn't see the point of trying if they couldn't get an official time at the end. As for the people who walk the Mudders and skip obstacles, people walk Marathons too. The Tough Mudder hasn't been around long enough to have a comparable time goal to the marathon.

For me, the marathon was harder. But that's because running doesn't come naturally to me, while swinging, climbing, and jumping are things I was born doing.

mad_scientist83 wrote:

It was hard and I was knocked unconscious by the electrodes on the last obstacle.

This is why I wouldn't do a tough mudder (well, that and about 10 other reasons).

An electric shock as part of an event seems ridiculous.

Old Man Runner wrote:

Who cares about actually finishing a Tough Mudder when you have this to look at while you are doing it?!?

http://toughmudder.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/20110724-ToughMudderWI-Gudkov-1240.jpg

I can't move past this picture....

Let's be honest. Anyone that thinks running a tough mudder requires any sort of mental toughness is fooling themselves. Run a marathon at your absolute capacity without dropping pace over the last few miles and you'll know the meaning of mental toughness.

All you need to know.

I've run several Tough Mudders because my sons are into them. I've also run 5 marathons, but nothing under 4:00. Having done both, I can attest that the marathon is a much, much, much greater challenge.

Tough Mudders are more a social event than a genuine athletic challenge. You don't even have to attempt, much less complete, every obstacle to be a successful "finisher". Additionally, you are helped over every obstacle you attempt if you desire.

I'm not knocking Tough Mudder; they're very healthy events. TM's provide folks a great opportunity to get outdoors, do something physical, be part of a fitness movement, etc. But in reality, they're not tough events. In fact, it's harder to run a half marathon or even a 10K than a Tough Mudder.

(My only exception is the Los Angeles Tough Mudder. Negotiating the mountainous/hilly terrain is extremely tough, and wears a person down so much that the obstacles actually become demanding.

Last point: As an Army Ranger, I always the Ranger School's "Darby Queen" obstacle course as my measuring standard. If the Queen is rated as 10 for difficulty, Tough Mudder courses get a 2.

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Tough Mudders is tougher. That's why it called Tough Mudder

This thread is a joke, it's not even close. I'm a natural sprinter and used to bench press 340 lbs weighing 165lbs. I'm now pretending to be an endurance athlete. My best marathon time is 3:40, but that was following a 2.4 mile swim and 112 mile bike ride. Several years before that, I ran a 3:45 "stand alone marathon." Guess what, the open marathon run at threshold pace is possibly harder than an Ironman. That would actually be a better discussion... What is harder, a sub 3:30 marathon or a sub 11:00 Ironman. If an Ironman and a marathon are in the same conversation, then a tough mudder shouldn't be. Is a tough mudder harder than an ironman? We all know the answer to that one. I think an all out 5k is probably harder than a tough mudder. I'm confident I could probably finish in the top .1% of a tough mudder with zero training. Tough mudders think jumping in a huge ice bath is s "challenge" ...a marathoner jumps in that ice bath for relief and relaxation after a marathon. Tough Mudder is a joke.

I think a 12.5 mile race is harder than a 12.5 mile Tough Mudder. Tough Mudder reminded me of an amusement park. You spend way too much time standing in lines for an occasional short thrill.

I estimate that fewer than 5% of the participants are capable of completing the course without help from their teammates. Everywhere I looked people needed help getting over barriers.

Well I completed X2 Tough Mudder and I done everything and I jogged in between. The shocks aren't minor, I was paralysed for a few seconds , the water is terrifying' Tough Mudder takes mental power, physical strength and much more.

You don't wait for everything, it's tougher running with mud and wet through than just jogging along.

I have watched marathons and people stop and start because there are no rules, again an invalid argument!

I could do a marathon because I have mental power and a determination to finish!

Do you sign a death waiver for a marathon, hmmmm, can't hear you!

Anyone who runs a marathon, hats off to them, but if someone completes a Tough Mudder which is SAS obstacles don't downplay it!

What a comment from someone who clearly, if they have ever completed a Tough Mudder must have bypassed every obstacle and walked the whole course 😂😂😂😂😂😂

Impressive? Depends on the person and why. It'd be impressive for myself to finish a marathon simply because I can get so bored running longer distances and it makes me feel angry whereas the TM is more fun. It'd be impressive for my friend to finish a TM because she's afraid to use her body to get dirty and roughed up with obstacles vs her natural ability to zone into long long runs. You all are wack for not seeing the differences.... One person's weakness is another's strength. It's all about bypassing your own personal comfort zones and if you do, then I'll be impressed.