More Than Mud: OverRun Takes on Tough Mudder
On Sunday 20th September, seventeen members made their way to Holmbush Estate to take on Tough Mudder: 15km, 21 obstacles and an absolutely ridiculous amount of mud.
Our day began at approximately 7am when we departed from Thanet in cars (a big thank you to those who volunteered to drive). We gathered for a pre-run coffee at Clacket Lane Services. While there was certainly some apprehension among us, there was also a great deal of excitement. We were aware that we were about to push our physical limits, but for many, the mental challenges would be even greater.
Upon arriving, we participated in the pre-run warm-up and recited the Tough Mudder pledge together. Almost immediately, our nerves transformed into excitement, and we were prepared to begin. The first obstacle, Twinkle Toes, quickly revealed what the day would entail, a great amount of teamwork, people assisted each other with balance and everyone was cheering one another on.
During the 15km course, we stayed together as a group. Our quicker runners often went ahead to the next obstacle, then circled back to update us on the distance remaining and what challenges lay ahead. They certainly covered more than the stated 15km!
To me, this truly represented the spirit of OverRun. We had participants with varying speeds and abilities, yet no one felt like they were slowing anyone down.
This is also why community is vital for our mental health. Running encourages us to get outside and be active, but it's the people around us who make the most significant impact.
It's having somewhere you belong. Somewhere you can turn up exactly as you are. Somewhere it's okay to say you're struggling.
Tough Mudder also has a wonderful habit of finding something you're scared of and putting it directly in front of you.
Confined spaces? Yep.
Heights? Of course.
Electric shocks? Apparently that's how we spend our Sundays now.
There were some genuine fears faced throughout the day. Nobody was pressured to complete an obstacle they weren't comfortable with, but when someone decided to give something a go, they had a whole team behind them.
Sometimes looking after your mental health means challenging yourself. Other times, it means recognising your limits. Both are okay.
Of course, it wasn't all inspirational moments.
I had a particularly memorable run-in with the monkey bars which left everyone watching squealing. I'd love to say it was an impressive display of athletic ability but it wasn't...at all.
A special mention also has to go to Amy Moat, who somehow managed to make slipping over in the mud one of the highlights of the day.
Every single time she slipped, she started giggling uncontrollably which inevitably set the rest of us off too. There were slips, screams, questionable obstacle techniques and plenty of moments where we wondered why we'd voluntarily paid to do this to ourselves.
But there was also so much laughter.
For a few hours, everyday stresses were replaced with much simpler concerns: How am I getting over that wall? Whose hand can I grab? And why is there mud absolutely everywhere?
By the end, we were exhausted, filthy and discovering muscles we didn't know existed.
But we'd done it together.
We faced fears, helped each other over obstacles, walked when we needed to, laughed when things went spectacularly wrong and celebrated each other's wins.
Nobody cared who was fastest, who skipped an obstacle or who needed a breather.
What mattered was that we kept looking out for each other.
Because OverRun has never just been about running. It's about community, connection and having people beside you when things get tough or when you fall over in the mud for the fifth time.
Author: Emily Newman - Run Leader & Ambassador
