It starts with the firing of a mid-morning firework signalling the release of 8000 (only 6000 of whom will finish) participants into the cold January morning. It ends with you bowing your head to receive a Tough Guy medal of completion along with eternal bragging rights. As for what goes on in between? Only those who have had the experience of offering an all-knowing nod to your fellow competitiors upon leaving the shower room wrapped in a survival blanket can know...
Last year 90 of Durham's finest offered themselves to the course. A massive 89 managed to reach the finish! This year we're going for more......
| When? | 26-27th January |
| Applications open | 26th Oct - 4th Dec |
| Entry fee | £60 plus £140 fundraising per person |
| Charity | Help for Heroes, HAWK |
What is it?
An 8km run through rivers, over logs and through the devastating hill slalome followed by a gruelling assault course involving 30 foot A-frames, tunnels, fire and lots of freezing cold water. See here for more...
How to take part?
It's well worth doing as part of a group of people as a shared experience, or even as an individual with a lust for just being mental. In either case it's easy to enter. Sign up for this year has now closed, but we'll be opening up sign up for next year's event some time in Michaelmas 2013, so keep an eye out!
The funds we raise
So... Are you the reason that last little blueberry never made it to the ribena factory? Are you the guy who rocks up at pimms O'clock with a Stella? If so... do Tough Guy! 99% need not apply.
Quotes:
"One of the most challenging, terrifying and demanding things I have ever undertaken; yet by far and away the most satisfying to complete. Would I recommend you do it? Definitely. Would I ever do it again? Never."
- George Haynes, TCRFC, Tough Guy veteran 2011
"Tough guy is not for the faint hearted. This will probably be the coldest, hardest experience you’ve ever had. 6 mile jogs, sprint training and swimming in the Thames will not prepare you for the thigh killing hills, crawling through mud filled tunnels and worst of all sticking your head under the brain chilling ice cold water. That part really sucked. When you look at running through fire as a luxury – you know you’re cold. Tough guy is designed to push you to your breaking point. But by pushing yourself to the limit, you will be amazed at what you can achieve. So pull your socks up, puff out your chest and remember – Pain is temporary, bruises heal and chicks dig scars. But knowing you are TOUGH GUY – that shit lasts forever."
- Robin Scanlon, St. Cuths, Tough Guy veteran 2012
"Jumping through fire, running on ice, getting electrocuted whilst crawling through pitch black darkness, hearing grown men scream in pain and getting brain freeze from below zero degree water led to Toughguy 2012 being the most exhilerating, awful, challenging but amazing thing I have EVER done in my life! And I wore the medal with pride whilst hobbling to lectures the next day, I still have nightmares and will never put myself through that torture again but everyone should do it!"
- Krystina Warrington, St. Cuths, Tough Guy veteran 2012
See the Challenges homepage for more ways to overcome the mundane and truly put mind over matter for charity!
any questions...? Feel free to hit up the Challenges officer Chris on This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
