102nd Intelligence Wing members complete Tough Mudder Boston

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Jeremy Bowcock
  • 102nd Intelligence Wing Public Affairs
GILFORD, N.H. --  Twenty-eight members of the 102nd Intelligence Wing completed the Tough Mudder Boston challenge on June 1, 2013. During its two day run on Saturday and Sunday, more than 16,000 individuals participated in the event day at Gunstock Mountain Resort.

With temperatures in the 90s, members pushed themselves through mud, fire, and water, over a course spanning 12 miles and included 21 obstacles. The course is meant to challenge runners' strength, stamina, and dedication while bringing them together through teamwork.

"[The Tough Mudder] organization tells you this isn't a race, it's a challenge." Said Capt. Kristen Moulis, 102nd Mission Support Group. "The goal is to work together, sometimes not even with people on your own team. You're working with random strangers to accomplish a task."

The course started with a scramble up Gunstock Mountain, an immediate challenge to the faint of heart. On the run down, participants low crawled through mud and under barbed wire. Wet and covered in mud, the participants continued the course up and around the mountain, climbing over obstacles, running and swimming through pools of water, and carrying teammates across the terrain.

Near the end was "Everest," a slippery quarter pipe where participants must rely on people that climbed it before to help pull them up over the top. The final obstacle was "Electroshock Therapy," a field of hanging wires that gives an electric shock to those who dare to run through it.

Finally, participants crossed the finish line, tired, sore, but successful. They were given headbands and t-shirts, tokens of their accomplishments. They have now earned the title of a "Tough Mudder" and proceed to the after party with entertainment and refreshments.

Col Patrick Cobb, 102nd Intelligence Wing Commander, stated "Having to run up the mountain was pretty challenging. The actual obstacles themselves, it was teamwork. It was a great teambuilding event. Everyone had a great time."

Challenges like the Tough Mudder hold true to military values. During the challenge, members had to work as a team to complete the course, leaving an airman behind was not an option.

In addition to fostering military values, the Tough Mudder has raised more than $5 million for the Wounded Warrior Project which helps U.S. military members who have been injured either physically or mentally while serving since September 11, 2001.