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Are We Tough Enough?

August 29, 2013 By Jill Of All Trades Leave a comment

For the past few months, the buzz around the Sales Floor has focused on one thing: Tough Mudder.
This grueling 11.8-mile obstacle is designed to test one’s mettle. Scaling walls. Jumping into ice water. Crawling through tunnels. And running through fire, electricity, and lots of mud.
Best of all? We get to take on this challenge together.
As a team, we’ve physically and mentally prepared for this event. Twice a week, we meet our trainer at the butt-crack of dawn to run, crawl, carry, and push our bodies to the absolute brink. And, despite the scenic lakefront locations, you’ll see in this fun, made-just-for-you video that this ain’t no walk in the park.
 

But with each session that passes, we get a little stronger, faster, and closer to embodying the Tough Mudder Pledge.
As a Tough Mudder, I pledge that:
I understand that Tough Mudder is not a race, but a challenge.
I put teamwork and camaraderie before my course time.
I do not whine – kids whine.
I help my fellow mudders complete the course.
I overcome all fears.
And in the process, we’ve learned a lot about each other and ourselves.
As Kellie puts it, “I learned that people behave differently when they’re sweaty and exhausted and covered with grass than when they’re in the office. I don’t think you are who you really are until you’re surrounded by colleagues and ready to barf.”
Reman U contributor and clutch sales team player Nick adds, “I’ve learned that working as a team, I can accomplish more than I can on my own.”
“I signed up because working out as a team is a good motivator,” says Megan. “It helps to be held accountable. And I’ve enjoyed getting to know my coworkers on another level.”
The growth doesn’t stop when we exit the building. “In my graduate level classes, a popular topic is the formation of a team,” says Anthony. “Most ‘teams’ are actually not teams, because they haven’t experienced conflict and they don’t hold each other accountable. The Tough Mudder training has brought the sales team together and shown us that it’s OK to be critical of one another.”
So why put ourselves through this torture? For me, it all goes back to Nietzsche: That which does not kill us makes us stronger. The process has been so physically and mentally demanding that, if I can survive this, I know I can survive anything.
Whatever our individual reasons for joining Tough Mudder – be it “to overcome fears,” “peer pressure.” or “just to see if could do it” – there’s one undeniable truth: We’re some tough mudder fudders.
Think Anthony, Megan, Hope, Nick, Rubi, Kellie, Jamie, Noah and I are tough enough? Stay tuned.



Have you run a Tough Mudder before? Or overcome a crazy challenge with your own team? Leave your comments (and advice) below!

FILED UNDER: REMAN U ARTICLES

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