Kristen RemingtonChannel 2 News
Never heard of Tough Mudder?
It is a grueling 10 to 12 mile obstacle course designed by British military forces to test your toughness, your fitness, your mental grit; whether it is canvassing near-vertical terrain, avoiding electric shock, negotiating muddy trenches and even running through fire. It is not a race; it's a challenge.
A challenge, Connie Wray, of the Alice 96.5 morning show, intends to conquer. "I wasn't expecting one that included electric shock or running the face of Squaw Valley, however, it really does step up your training."
Not long after having her youngest daughter, Connie asked her trainer at Sierra Strength and Speed for a new goal. When she discovered Tough Mudder, she jumped at the opportunity for a number of reasons. Aside from becoming more physically fit, the self-proclaimed Army brat is also the mother of a 19-year-old Marine and proceeds from the event will benefit the Wounded Warrior Project. "Wounded Warrior is a program that helps veterans coming back from Iraq and Afghanistan with severe injuries."
She and her team are raising money for that cause, while they train for what's billed as the toughest one-day event on the planet. "It's a personal challenge for us, but to do it for those who are sacrificing their lives for us really has a lot of meaning."
One of her teammates knows first-hand some of the challenges our wounded warriors face. Olympic skier, Ricci Kilgore is a paraplegic athlete -- thanks to a horrific car accident nearly 10 years ago. But it's never slowed her down and she plans to make history at this event. "I'll be known as the first paraplegic to get through the Tough Mudder."
Kilgore will be relying largely on her team to get her through the obstacles, and likewise, they hope to capitalize on her upper body strength. It is a team effort, not to win, but to finish. The Sierra Strength and Speed team plans to push each other to the finish line, where together they can say they beat the Tough Mudder. "If it takes 10 to 14 hours, we'll do it. But we'll be together working as a team."
To donate to the Wounded Warrior Project, log on to www.toughmudder.com and search for TEAM-SSS or donate directly at http://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/
