Tough Guy Competition

Tough Guy claims to be the world's most demanding one day survival ordeal.

The original, held in Perton near Wolverhampton, is organised in England by Mr Mouse, who claims nobody has ever finished all the course according to his extremely demanding rules. Taking place at the end of January, Tough Guy consists of a cross country run including an assault course. Running the course involves risking barbed wire, cuts, scrapes, burns, dehydration, hypothermia, acrophobia, claustrophobia, sprains, twists, joint dislocation, broken bones and death. Before running the course you must sign a "death warrant", this states that you accept the risks and run the course of your own choice and can not claim in the case of injury. Due to the risks first aid is provided by St. John Ambulance.

At various points on the course and throughout the day, competitors are encouraged to shout "Yohimbe!". The organiser, Mr Mouse, claimed in a 2007 newsletter that this is a Zulu battle cry meaning "My dick's bigger than yours", originating from the use of the bark of the Yohimbe tree as an erectile stimulant.

Nettle Warrior which came later in 1998, is the summer version of "Tough Guy", and is run towards the end of July. Though the course is essentially the same as Tough Guy, there are notable differences. Nettle Warrior involves two laps of the killing fields and a log carry (part of "The Lake" obstacle).

The Tough Guy event has raised money for the Horse Sanctuary at "Mr Mouse Farm for Unfortunates" since 1986.

The Course

Tough Guy / Nettle Warrior

The [http://www.toughguy.co.uk/c-the-start.shtml course] consists of a cross country run, followed by an obstacle course, also referred to as the " [http://www.toughguy.co.uk/PDF's/Killing%20Fields.pdf Killing Fields] ".

Last Man Standing

A smaller [http://www.toughguy.co.uk/PDF%27s/Map2.pdf course] for participants of that days event. It consists of;
*15 meter underwater swim
*Scottish Thistle Hill roll
*Lassoed Legs Lake Lope
*Highwire Brandenburg Bootlace Struggle
*Highwire TG bootlace Blaney Kiss
*Bite electric wire

ources and references

*episode of "Beste Belg" ('Best Belgian') program on VTM (Flemish commercial TV), 2005, entering presenter Staf Coppens's brother Matthias

*An article from Jim Caple of ESPN, recounting his attempt at Tough Guy 2007 - http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/eticket/story?page=toughguy2007

*Pictures from Sky News of Tough Guy 2008 - http://news.sky.com/skynews/picture_gallery/0,,70141-1302857,00.html

* 2008 Results from Toughguy.co.uk - http://www.toughguy.co.uk/Tough%20Guy%202008%20Individual%20Results.html

External links

*http://www.toughguy.co.uk/
*http://www.ballinger.lu/gallery/Tough-Guy
* [http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=South+Perton+Farm,+Jenny+Walkers+Lane,+Wolverhampton,+West+Midlands+WV6,+UK&sll=52.586468,-2.211213&sspn=0.012411,0.026608&ie=UTF8&ll=52.586468,-2.211213&spn=0.012411,0.026608&z=15&iwloc=addr Location]
* [http://www.toughguy.co.uk/PDF's/Hotels.pdf Accommodation]