JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va. –
A team of Service members from Joint Base Langley-Eustis took on the 12-mile Tough Mudder course at the Peacemaker National Training Center in Gerrardstown, W.Va., Oct. 19 and 20.
U.S. Army Capt. Michael McCrory, Initial Military Training Center of Excellence aide-de-camp for the deputy commanding general, joined U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Roy and Senior Airman James from the 30th Intelligence Squadron, and Brian, 45th Intelligence Squadron. They tackled the 25-obstacle course as a team.
The group, who met through mutual co-workers, wanted to run in the event for the experience, which also gave them something different to train for, McCrory said.
The race tests all-around strength, stamina, mental grit and camaraderie, according to the event's website. Unlike triathlons and marathons, the only goal is the personal challenge of completing the course.
The team previously planned to complete the Tough Mudder scheduled for June in Virginia Beach. However, severe weather plagued the event, as conditions made the course inaccessible for emergency vehicles to reach potentially-injured competitors. As a result, event organizers canceled the race, forcing the team to pursue the challenge in a neighboring state.
Fortunately, McCrory learned of the event scheduled in West Virginia, and the team signed up for the challenge.
"We were disappointed that we could not do the course right in our own backyard, but understood that with these challenges open to the general public, emergency vehicles could become ," said McCrory.
To prepare for the race, the team worked on various "CrossFit" exercises, as well as distance running. However, not having the familiarity of the terrain proved to be a major challenge for the competitors.
"We found out that the West Virginia mountains are a lot different than running around Langley and Eustis for 12 miles," said McCrory. "Our muscles started aching after mile eight and we still had more obstacles and miles of mountain-side running in front of us."
Despite being away from home, the team appreciated the change of atmosphere.
"It was a great location in the West Virginia mountains," said Brian. "You would run to the top of an embankment and be able to look across a valley of trees, farmland and obstacles while the fog was lifting."
"The most exciting part of the challenge was the obstacles," said McCrory. "There were two electric shock obstacles that would send 10,000 volts into you. You could look back as a group and think, 'We just did that.'"
Although the challenge is not timed, the team completed the obstacles in approximately three-and-a-half hours, even after stopping to help others through.
"Once you get on the course, you end up making a lot of friends, as you need each other to complete the obstacles and stay motivated," said Roy. "We ran into a lot of Soldiers and Airmen from the area on the course and always offered a helping hand."
McCrory said the group had such a good time, they plan on participating in the next challenge.
"Being in the military, we are always training," said McCrory. "Even though we do not plan on doing it again at this location next year, we might do it at the one scheduled for Virginia Beach."
More than anything, McCrory said completing the rigorous Tough Mudder taught the team members about themselves and each other, and cemented the concept of teamwork, bringing a Soldier and Airmen together to accomplish a common goal.
"After completing each obstacle, it reminded each of us that we can overcome anything we put our minds to, and that obstacles are easier when doing them as a group," the captain said. "It didn't matter if we were [Airmen] or [Soldiers]; what mattered was the group finishing the course together without leaving someone behind."
EDITOR'S NOTE: Last names of some of the personnel in this article have been withheld for operational security purposes.