This is the last scheduled year that WTM is going to be in Viva Las Vegas out in the dessert.  I don’t think anyone knows where it is moving to, but we just know that it is moving next year.  We also know that Brady Archer, the course designer for the last couple WTMs left TMHQ to go on some crazy adventures around the world.  I am not sure who is going to replace him as course designer, but no one knows if the course is going to get easier or if the new guy is going to try to “one up” Brady and make it extremely difficult. Everyone’s general consensus is, “Well, I doubt its going to get any easier, but I can’t imagine it being any harder.”

Now for the released changes that just came out.  The two big ones to me are the allowance of two person teams.  In years past the minimum team was four members.  Even in the huge Tough Mudder family we were finding it hard to find (3) other people to team up with that had similar race styles and goals.  Now that you can just team up with one other person I think that the team competition is going to get a little bit more competitive.

Also the other news is that this years start is going to be at high noon!  Last year it started out at 2PM.  Even with the first lap being the sprint lap (no obstacles), a lot of people were having to get into their wetsuits after the first lap since the sun was setting at 430.  Hypothermia is the biggest obstacle out there on that course which feels weird since you are in the dessert.

I know a lot of people that went out on their second lap without the proper gear to keep warm and they had to end their world’s goals early in the event.  I was an extremely lucky!  I finished my sprint lap in 50 minutes and I rushed out to gobble up as much of the course as I could before the sun set.  I made it through most of the obstacles, but there were some water ones in the middle I was getting to just as the sun was disappearing. 

 Jumping into that water locked my calves up so tightly that I couldn’t even run stumble.  Fortunately the last half of the course was just hills and no more water so I was able to warm myself back up before the sun totally set and get into the pit to put on my full wet suit and other gear.  I remember my pit crew telling me a lot of my friends were already disqualified at that point, some of them really big names, and it really put the emphasis how close of a call going out on that second lap without gear actually was.

Now that the start is at noon I feel like it will give people the proper amount of time to get back into the pit and plan their gear out.  It certainly changes the dynamic and eases the pressure a bit.  Everyone will definitely get one full lap in to get a feel for the course.  That information will be crucial as you come into the pit watching the sun disappear.

I still don’t know what my goals are for WTM2016, but it is going to be a long year of training no matter what they are.  And with the start being HIGH NOON my mind only is thinking one thing right now:

But being this is WTM, possibly the toughest event on the planet, and would tear your body up,  You've gotta ask yourself one question: "Do I feel lucky?"