ToDo: Strongman Runs all over Europe

People come from all over Europe to attend Strongman Runs. They are a big hype. Last weekend I had the chance to participate in one. But what exactly is a Strongman Run? It's a semi marathon with around 30 obstacles on the way. But not just your regular obstacles; crazy obstacles for crazy people. Think ice water, electric shocks and lots of mud. And in between that all you still have to run those 21 kilometres. No piece of cake with wet clothes full of mud and foam. You have to be kind of nuts to do it. No scrap that, you have to be absolutely nuts.

Let me give you a little impression of the different Strongman Runs that exist:

 

 

 

Germany




Germany was the first country to host a Strongman Run (in 2007). Thanks for taking the initiative neighbours!

 

 

 

 

 

 

FYI. These white ribbons might look innocent, but they actually give off electric shocks. I learned that by experience...

 

 

 

Switzerland



Switzerland started doing Strongman Runs since 2010. In 2012 they had a super tough race with 44 (!) obstacles.

 

 

 

 

 

This was probably a normal sandy hill before they started. But imagine 4000 people with wet clothes and shoes passing is (twice). At a later point in the race it was probably one big mud slide.


 

The Netherlands



The Dutch run won the price for Best Public Event this year. Maybe  should try that one next year!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Belgium



The Belgian Strongman Run exists since 2013. The run is a bit shorter than some of the others (17.2 km this year) but the obstacles seem pretty tough. According to the website, one of the obstacles was real snow this year. I don't know how they did this in May, but it sounds pretty cool (literally).

 

 

 

 

 

 

This will was so steep (and slippery) some ropes were needed to get up. Respect!

 

 

 

Italy



The Italians have been organizing Strongman Runs since 2012. This race makes use of some natural obstacles and the participants have to pass through a river and the mountains.

 

 

 

I am extra impressed by people who manage to do the run in costume. It is difficult enough without all the extra capes, wigs and accessories.

 

 

 

 

France

 France has been organizing Strongman Runs for a while now. And it looks like they are pretty good at it.

 

 

 

 

This foam tunnel looks so cool!

 

 

Apparently the race in itself is not enough for this runner. Why not bring an entire boat with you?

 

 

Austria

 

Hosted Strongman Runs since 2013. Theirs have some beautiful mountains in the backdrop. So if you have to wait for a while in front of an obstacle you can at least enjoy the view.

 

This looks like snow. Just wow.

 

 

 

Luxembourg

Luxembourg had its Strongman Run in 2013. The run take place in and around a small village in the South of the country.
 

 
 

And back to my experience! Including a photo report thanks to my friend Monique.

I was super excited to start the race (although kind of scared too). But I wasn't running alone. My friend Luca also participated and we ran the whole race together. This really makes it a lot more fun. And it is very nice to be able to help each other at some of the obstacles.

 

And we were off! First some normal jogging before we arrived at a big muddy hill (for us Dutch people this basically counts as a mountain). After climbing the hill some muddy joyfulness took place. We got to crawl under barriers, though the mud, while being sprinkled with water. I must say I found my hidden talent; I am a super fast mud crawler! The first round of electricity robes I was so concentrated on going fast I did not realized what was going on. But then  got it. Water + electricity = feeling like someone kicks you hard. Ouch. I could have done without that one. But the rest was cool. there was some more crawling and climbing and a true mud bath we had to walk though. After we had some climbing and jumping and then we went on our way back to the city, where the DJ was playing and the real fun was at.

 

First climbing to the top via these nets (flashback to childhood).

 

 

Then off the slide into a pool of mud! The slide was really very fun.

 

We continued with a foam party.

  

And ended up like muddy foam monsters!

 

  

After some come climbing we took a little hike through a hilly forest, which took a while. It was a really nice path actually!

But then this next slide came along...

I looked all fun a great like the other one. So I was going like YAY.

That was cold.

 But, no time to worry about that, it was time to dive into the swimming pool and get some mud washed off. Of course we were not gonna take "pussy lane", the walking option built for people that did not want to swim. I like swimming, so I jumped right in.

COOOOOLLLLLD! BRRR.

 

And deep! Wow, really. After a week I still have flashbacks of swallowing all that dirty ice water. That was a fairly unpleasant swim. Remind me to not go swimming in Iceland.
 

 

Getting out of the water was great. It felt so warm suddenly. And we were forced to keep jogging if we did not want to turn into ice cubes.

 

 We got through some more obstacles and then... 

 

Oh no wait a minute, follow the line that says 2e Runde. So we repeated the whole track again. But this time I avoided the electricity robes and the water of the swimming pool got heated up to a more acceptable temperature. We were a lot slower on this round than on the first round, but then finally...

Tadaaa!

Yes, yes y'all. I made it through a Strongman Run. So I am a strong (wo)man now!

And I have a new rubber duck for my collection. Sporty duck!