Running through mud, fire and electrical wires may sound like an extraordinary feat for most, but for some St. Thomas students, it’s actually something they are training to do.

The Tough Mudder, a 12-mile obstacle course, is an event that takes place on May 19 and 20 in the Twin Cities. It’s designed by the British Special Forces and has 28 unique obstacles.

Participants must walk through blazing kerosene-soaked straw in an obstacle called the “Fire Walker,” be shocked by dangling wires that hold up to 10,000 volts in “Electroshock Therapy” and scale a quarter pipe in “Everest.”

Junior Todd Baron, who has participated in the event before, said he did not let these extreme obstacles get in his way of finishing the course.

“A couple of my friends saw the last obstacle, which is the shocking one, and decided not to do it,” Baron said. “Looking back on it, if I didn’t do it I’d be really disappointed.”

The course is also unique because it relies heavily on teamwork. To register, you must sign up with a team or be placed into a random group.

Baron said the race is not about the stopwatch but the camaraderie and the mental and physical strength it takes to finish.

“That’s the biggest thing with the Tough Mudder,” Baron said. “You always help everyone around you even on a different team.”

Ty Stenzel, the St. Thomas strength and conditioning coach, said training for this race should be just as unique as the course.

“Train like you’re going to compete, and you’ll have better results,“ Stenzel said. “I suppose if someone paid me to electric shock them while they were running, I could do that.”

Tough Mudder rookie junior Raenel Horton recently started training with a fellow teammate using Insanity, a challenging workout video series. Horton offered advice to those training for stability in mind and body.

“You just have to find a regimen to go by,” Horton said. “I feel like the course is going to be more mind over matter.”

The Tough Mudder website provides training suggestions, but Baron said he doesn’t use them because he knows how hard to push himself after doing the Tough Mudder once before.

“I do my own thing. If I’m not pushing it enough in a workout, then I just keep trying to go farther with it,” Baron explained. “Not heavy lifting but more pull-ups and push-ups, a lot of total body stuff.”

Stenzel said he would not recommend this course to the St. Thomas athletes he trains or to runners attempting to gain speed because of the race’s strenuous uphill portion.

“I just don’t see how it would be beneficial for any of the athletes that I train,” Stenzel said. “People who are trying to get fast shouldn’t (run hills) too often because it will actually shorten their stride.”

Stenzel explained that events like this can be fun for some, even without a clear goal.

“I don’t get it, but that’s not for me to judge,” Stenzel said. “I guess it might sound like fun for some people. Whatever floats your boat.”

The Tough Mudder isn’t all about the challenge and the training; it has a charity aspect too. According to the The Tough Mudder website, the organization has raised over $2 million for the Wounded Warrior Project, which aids soldiers returning from the battlefield by providing combat stress recovery programs, adaptive sports programs, counseling and more.

Neither Horton nor Baron have started raising funds for this cause but said they plan on notifying relatives and friends about the charity with hopes to inspire donations.

Baron said after seeing a woman who experienced an Improvised Explosive Device accident tackle the race, he realized that anyone has what it takes to complete the Tough Mudder.

“Both of her legs were gone; she did the whole race,” Baron said. “If she can do it, then everyone else should be able to.”

Laura Landvik can be reached at land7854@stthomas.edu.