Saturday, 28 February 2009
Varsity Football
Today was the Varsity Football Match against Oxford. Unfortunately, we lost 2-0. However, I think any spectator would agree that we played better than they did. They got a few lucky goals. We spent most of the game shooting on their goal, but it was one of those days when the ball just didn't want to go into the net. We have a dinner tonight with the Oxford team and then another game tomorrow.
Bumps Day 3
We rowed through! Yea!!! Rowing through means we rowed the whole course without bumping anyone or getting bumped. It also means we can no longer get spoons (what you get if you get bumped all four days). We were trying to bump Cats, but they pulled away from us early on. Kings was trying to bump us and they almost did. They were just off our stern for the last 1000 meters. The race was amazing. I am so proud of my boat for toughing it out.
Today was the last day off bumps. I was not able to row with my boat because I was playing in the Varsity Football Match.
Today was the last day off bumps. I was not able to row with my boat because I was playing in the Varsity Football Match.
Thursday, 26 February 2009
Bumps Day 2
We got bumped by Cats today. What can I say? We definitely weren't expecting to get bumped. We are going to try to bump Cats back tomorrow.
Wednesday, 25 February 2009
Bumps Day 1
Today was the first day of Bumps. For those who don't know, a bumps race is a form of rowing race in which a number of boats chase each other in single file; each boat attempts to catch ("bump") the boat in front without being caught by the boat behind. The form is mainly used intramurally at the University of Cambridge and the University of Oxford. It is particularly suited where the stretch of water available is long but narrow, precluding side-by-side racing. Bumps racing gives a sharper feel of immediate competition than a head race, where boats are simply timed over a fixed course.
Unfortunately, our boat was bumped, but we were bumped by Christ's which is probably the fastest boat on the river and we were able to hold them off for long time. Tomorrow we will be chasing Christ's and being followed by Cats. We probably will not be able to catch Christ's and Cats will probably not catch us, so we will have to row the entire 2.5 km course without Cats catching us. If we do, we should be able to bump on Friday and Saturday.
Unfortunately, our boat was bumped, but we were bumped by Christ's which is probably the fastest boat on the river and we were able to hold them off for long time. Tomorrow we will be chasing Christ's and being followed by Cats. We probably will not be able to catch Christ's and Cats will probably not catch us, so we will have to row the entire 2.5 km course without Cats catching us. If we do, we should be able to bump on Friday and Saturday.
Tuesday, 24 February 2009
Jimmy's Night Shelter
I volunteered at Jimmy's Night Shelter last night for the first time. Jimmy’s is open every night of the year, welcoming 25 men and six women (and two dogs) to a place of warmth and safety. They provide food, shelter, care, and community to men and women, aged between 18 and 65, who would otherwise be forced to sleep rough or inappropriate or in inadequate conditions. Some of the guests have spent years sleeping in shop doorways, on park benches, under bushes, on roadsides. Others have become homeless more recently and are little prepared for nights out in the cold. Some have spent weeks or months sleeping on friends’ floors or settees, or have spent time in bed and breakfast accommodation.
Jimmy’s works with many other organisations to try and find the best solutions for their guests needs: whether a more permanent address, support with substance dependencies, making contact with families, looking after physical health, finding out more about job or study opportunities, or managing mental health problems.
Needless to say, it was an eye opening experience. Most of those staying there right now are not much older than me. They say it goes in waves for the ages they have. It only seemed like a few were there due to mental illness. It seems drug and alcohol abuse is the main reason. I even met one man who had an American accent! He said he was from Cape Cod, but he also said he was a Rockefeller so who knows.
We helped serve dinner and then cleaned up afterwords. Everyone was very polite and thanked us for their meal. Two of the guys even gave us candy! I worked with two other young ladies, Kate and Katrina. Kate is a student teacher and Katrina is a travel agent. They both work all day and then come in once a week or every couple weeks to volunteer. They both have been doing it for over a year! I don't know when I'll be volunteering again yet, but hopefully it will be in the next couple weeks.
Jimmy’s works with many other organisations to try and find the best solutions for their guests needs: whether a more permanent address, support with substance dependencies, making contact with families, looking after physical health, finding out more about job or study opportunities, or managing mental health problems.
Needless to say, it was an eye opening experience. Most of those staying there right now are not much older than me. They say it goes in waves for the ages they have. It only seemed like a few were there due to mental illness. It seems drug and alcohol abuse is the main reason. I even met one man who had an American accent! He said he was from Cape Cod, but he also said he was a Rockefeller so who knows.
We helped serve dinner and then cleaned up afterwords. Everyone was very polite and thanked us for their meal. Two of the guys even gave us candy! I worked with two other young ladies, Kate and Katrina. Kate is a student teacher and Katrina is a travel agent. They both work all day and then come in once a week or every couple weeks to volunteer. They both have been doing it for over a year! I don't know when I'll be volunteering again yet, but hopefully it will be in the next couple weeks.
Sunday, 22 February 2009
Sports Update
I had a University Football match today. We played Bedford at Bedford. We won 2-1!
This week is a very busy sports week for me. On Saturday, I am starting goalie for the Varsity Football match against Oxford. It will be held in Cambridge.
Starting Wednesday, I am participating in bumps with the Churchill Crew Team. The idea of bumps is to hit the boat in front of you before the boat behind hits you. I've never done anything like it before so I'm looking forward to it. We race Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. If you bump the boat in front of you each day, its considered a big deal. We have a good chance of bumping each day, but unfortunately I will not be able to race on Saturday because of the varsity football match. Wish me luck!
This week is a very busy sports week for me. On Saturday, I am starting goalie for the Varsity Football match against Oxford. It will be held in Cambridge.
Starting Wednesday, I am participating in bumps with the Churchill Crew Team. The idea of bumps is to hit the boat in front of you before the boat behind hits you. I've never done anything like it before so I'm looking forward to it. We race Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. If you bump the boat in front of you each day, its considered a big deal. We have a good chance of bumping each day, but unfortunately I will not be able to race on Saturday because of the varsity football match. Wish me luck!
Rotary Club of Baldock
I spoke at the Rotary Club of Baldock last Wednesday. Below are some pictures of the event. They were very welcoming and I had a great time.
Sunday, 15 February 2009
Rotary Club of Felixstowe Landguard
On Thursday night, Dave, Eric, and I gave a joint presentation on the U.S. Naval Academy to the Rotary Club of Felixstowe Landguard. Felixstowe has a rich naval history an is currently the largest container shipping port in the UK. The evening was a lot of fun with drinks and dinner followed by our presentation. Many of the Rotarians brought their wives along for the evening and I got to speak with several of them. They were very impressed with our presentation. The club's foundation officer, David Crerar, even sent us a message afterwords saying "I think you got the message quite clearly that my fellow Rotarians and our guests very much enjoyed your presentation. They were impressed by the training you had experienced at Annapolis and how your time at Cambridge was going to help you in the future. You certainly satisfied your obligation to act as goodwill ambassadors for your country. We appreciate the time you gave us during your busy academic schedule, and wish you well in the future. If you do get the opportunity to visit Felixstowe during daylight hours before you leave the UK, I shall be delighted to show you more of the historical and current nautical aspects of the town."
Unfortunately, my camera died so I wasn't able to get any pictures. On the bright side, I brought home another bottle on wine because one of the Rotarians won it in the raffle and gave it to me!
Unfortunately, my camera died so I wasn't able to get any pictures. On the bright side, I brought home another bottle on wine because one of the Rotarians won it in the raffle and gave it to me!
Churchill Springball
On Friday night, a group of us when to the Churchill Springball. The theme was Tokyo: The Neon Sunrise. It was neat to see the college I go to everyday all decked out to look like Japan in a manner of hours. There was sake and sushi (which we never got around to trying). However, we did sample the international fare of Japanese noodles, Thai green curry, Italian lasagna, French bouillabaisse, and Chinese duck spring rolls. Not to mention five chocolate fountains and freshly made donuts for dessert. There was also unlimited champagne and cocktails. There was lots of dancing and singing. There was even a silent disco which I'd never been to one before, but it was fun. Everyone has headphones on and is dancing to one of two stations coming through their headphones, but if you want to talk to someone you don't have to yell over the music - you just take your headphones off. For entertainment, there was a Casino, Live Japanese Games Show, Laser Tag, Sumo Suit Wrestling, Takeshi’s castle style 100ft obstacle run and ninja assault, Karaoke, and a Giant Ball Pit. We began the evening with a sampling of the cuisine and spent most of the rest of the night dancing. We all had a great time!
Wednesday, 11 February 2009
Rotary 4 Clubs Dinner
Last night, Eric, Dave, and I attended the 4 Clubs Dinner in Cambridge. Jim, the Cambridge Rotary Club President, requested are attendance and asked if we could wear are uniforms and we happily obliged. It was the first time I had put a uniform on since May! My SDB's are a little big on me now so I didn't look as sharp as I would have liked to. I will have to get them re tailored when I get back to the States.
The evening began with a drinks session, which was followed by dinner, desert, and a guest speaker. I was able to meet many new people during the drinks session. I guess we were the topic of conversation being in uniform and all and everyone was very interested to speak with us. I usually covered what I was studying, what my job was in the Navy, and where and what I'll be doing after I leave Cambridge. I also had a wonderful dinner conversation with the five others seated at my table. There was a fundraiser for a local charity by selling the programs related to the evening's speaker. The man I was sitting next to bought two so he offered me one. Little did I know, there was a number on top of each program. Later that night, there was a raffle for a very nice bottle of champagne and I won!
The evening's speaker was Professor Peter Abrahams from Warwick University Medical School. I believe he is a clinical anatomist. His talk was entitled "A History of the Human Body in Classical Art." He spoke very well and the topic was very interesting - not to mention the beautiful and famous paintings which made up his PowerPoint presentation. It was the first Rotary presentation I had been to that I didn't catch a single person nodding off, including my own. Any Rotarian reading this will appreciate that statement.
Me, Eric, Dave, and drinks!
Where dinner was held
Pictures with my dinner table
Jim with Eric, Dave, and I and my bottle of champagne!
The evening began with a drinks session, which was followed by dinner, desert, and a guest speaker. I was able to meet many new people during the drinks session. I guess we were the topic of conversation being in uniform and all and everyone was very interested to speak with us. I usually covered what I was studying, what my job was in the Navy, and where and what I'll be doing after I leave Cambridge. I also had a wonderful dinner conversation with the five others seated at my table. There was a fundraiser for a local charity by selling the programs related to the evening's speaker. The man I was sitting next to bought two so he offered me one. Little did I know, there was a number on top of each program. Later that night, there was a raffle for a very nice bottle of champagne and I won!
The evening's speaker was Professor Peter Abrahams from Warwick University Medical School. I believe he is a clinical anatomist. His talk was entitled "A History of the Human Body in Classical Art." He spoke very well and the topic was very interesting - not to mention the beautiful and famous paintings which made up his PowerPoint presentation. It was the first Rotary presentation I had been to that I didn't catch a single person nodding off, including my own. Any Rotarian reading this will appreciate that statement.
Me, Eric, Dave, and drinks!
Where dinner was held
Pictures with my dinner table
Jim with Eric, Dave, and I and my bottle of champagne!
Wednesday, 4 February 2009
Lent Term
This term is very busy. Throughout the week I have the following classes:
1. Discussion Seminar
2. Sustainable Energy
-The aim of this course is to examine the sustainable production and use of energy. In order to provide sensible answers to questions such as "where is our future energy going to come from"?" and "how best to use energy?" Engineers need to be able to analyse systems, energy flows and their environmental impacts. This requires tools already familiar to engineers, such as the laws of thermodynamics, but also necessitates a holistic approach, i.e. looking at the impacts of a product or system over its entire lifecycle.
3. Implementying Change Towards Sustainability
-The starting point for this module is that our human society and economy require significant change to move towards sustainability. It’s focus is on helping graduates to contribute to such change, whatever individual role they take. The module assumes that such a role is unlikely to be as a CEO, so its emphasis is particularly on assisting graduates to be effective in ‘bottom up’ individual action for change. It aims to engage with and support the individual’s own journey of inquiry and self-discovery of a role.
To provide the system context for change, it surveys in outline, and provides access to, a range of sustainability issues: the various ‘stakeholder’ roles; drivers for sustainability; and business responses, including ethical leadership, CSR and (sustainability) reporting practices; and also organisational change theory and practice.
Case study examples will be included, and sessions will also link to some of the guest lecturer Lent Term Seminar presentations on organisational change.
4. Tools, Techniques, and Assessment Frameworks
-This module focuses on the assessment of sustainable development in engineering practice.
In particular the focus is on the engineering design process and asks how this is geared to meeting real needs in industrial sectors such as construction, transportation, manufacturing and the chemical industries. The module deals with issues such as procurement, supply chain management, clean production and life cycle product design, minimising operational impacts and maintenance requirements and end of life decommissioning. Systems thinking is introduced and techniques such as life cycle analysis, problem structuring and multi-criteria decision making are discussed.
Some of the evaluative techniques and sustainability indicators which can be used to measure the progress that is being made, will be examined and critically appraised. This will include a consideration of tools and techniques including indicators and targets, Environmental Social Impact Assessment, Life Cycle Analysis, ecological footprinting and whole life costs. The subject of sustainable consumption and production (SCP) will also be introduced, to demonstrate how sustainability principles and assessment methodologies are being interpreted and applied to address global issues.
5. Distinguished Lecture Series
- The role of engineering in entering the ecological age (Peter Head)
- Sustainable Development - great green dream or impossible ambition? (Tony Juniper)
- Reducing the global burden of disease (Dr. Jamie Bartram)
- A sustainable technology strategy for engineers (Dr. Karel Muldur)
- Sustainability in the resources sector (Paul Skinner)
- Innovating to sustainability (Professor Charles Ainger)
- William McDonough author of Cradle to Cradle
6. Sustainable Assessment of Large Infrastructure Projects
-This course will explore the question "How do we balance economic, environmental and social dimensions in large-scale infrastructure project design, evaluation and decision making”. Currently, large-scale, long-lived infrastructure projects involving many economic, social and environmental aspects are evaluated using cost-benefit analysis, and similar economic instruments. These tools have been applied since the mid 20th century. In the 1970s environmental impact assessments were instituted as another dimension of engineering project assessment. Since the Brundtland Commission Report of 1987 and the 1992 Earth Summit at Rio, efforts have been made to come up with even broader multi-dimensional evaluative frameworks that address sustainability
Today there are a wealth of sustainable development evaluative frameworks, but traditional economic instruments typically dominate over environmental assessment tools with social assessments or sustainability assessments either limited in scope or non-existent. The module will explore economic, environmental and social evaluative frameworks as separate instruments, then consider and apply examples of frameworks that attempt to get at the "triple bottom line". Evaluative frameworks for the sustainable development of large infrastructure projects will be considered in the context of case studies, for example, the Liverpool Airport Expansion, the Panama Canal, the Orange County, California Groundwater Replenishment System and the Three Gorges Dam. The overall aim is to show how we might plan and evaluate large projects differently to achieve sustainable outcomes.
7. Management of Technology and Innovation Consultancy Project
-First-hand experience of the reality of innovation, project management and entrepreneurship. Students work with local companies and will apply analytical skills in a real-world context using some of tools and concepts from the taught component of MOTI. It provides opportunities to build a network of contacts with the Cambridge technology community. Students work in teams of 4-5 for the six weeks of the project, supervised by a faculty member or PhD student
This term my assignments are:
1. Personal Change Challenge - write-up of experience in attempting to introduce sustainability (I chose to write about the Churchill Crew Team)
2. Organizational Change Strategy - what I can do as a junior officer in the US Navy to make the organization more sustainable
3. Carbon Capture and Storage - feasibility regarding economic and regulatory issues
4. Sustainable Energy Test
5. Systems and Cognitive Mapping
6. Multi Criteria Decision Making
7. Sustainable Development Report for Cornwall
8. Essay on lessons from guest lectures
9. Group report - sustainability assessment of large infrastructure project
10. Consulatancy Project Report, Presentation, and Paper
1. Discussion Seminar
2. Sustainable Energy
-The aim of this course is to examine the sustainable production and use of energy. In order to provide sensible answers to questions such as "where is our future energy going to come from"?" and "how best to use energy?" Engineers need to be able to analyse systems, energy flows and their environmental impacts. This requires tools already familiar to engineers, such as the laws of thermodynamics, but also necessitates a holistic approach, i.e. looking at the impacts of a product or system over its entire lifecycle.
3. Implementying Change Towards Sustainability
-The starting point for this module is that our human society and economy require significant change to move towards sustainability. It’s focus is on helping graduates to contribute to such change, whatever individual role they take. The module assumes that such a role is unlikely to be as a CEO, so its emphasis is particularly on assisting graduates to be effective in ‘bottom up’ individual action for change. It aims to engage with and support the individual’s own journey of inquiry and self-discovery of a role.
To provide the system context for change, it surveys in outline, and provides access to, a range of sustainability issues: the various ‘stakeholder’ roles; drivers for sustainability; and business responses, including ethical leadership, CSR and (sustainability) reporting practices; and also organisational change theory and practice.
Case study examples will be included, and sessions will also link to some of the guest lecturer Lent Term Seminar presentations on organisational change.
4. Tools, Techniques, and Assessment Frameworks
-This module focuses on the assessment of sustainable development in engineering practice.
In particular the focus is on the engineering design process and asks how this is geared to meeting real needs in industrial sectors such as construction, transportation, manufacturing and the chemical industries. The module deals with issues such as procurement, supply chain management, clean production and life cycle product design, minimising operational impacts and maintenance requirements and end of life decommissioning. Systems thinking is introduced and techniques such as life cycle analysis, problem structuring and multi-criteria decision making are discussed.
Some of the evaluative techniques and sustainability indicators which can be used to measure the progress that is being made, will be examined and critically appraised. This will include a consideration of tools and techniques including indicators and targets, Environmental Social Impact Assessment, Life Cycle Analysis, ecological footprinting and whole life costs. The subject of sustainable consumption and production (SCP) will also be introduced, to demonstrate how sustainability principles and assessment methodologies are being interpreted and applied to address global issues.
5. Distinguished Lecture Series
- The role of engineering in entering the ecological age (Peter Head)
- Sustainable Development - great green dream or impossible ambition? (Tony Juniper)
- Reducing the global burden of disease (Dr. Jamie Bartram)
- A sustainable technology strategy for engineers (Dr. Karel Muldur)
- Sustainability in the resources sector (Paul Skinner)
- Innovating to sustainability (Professor Charles Ainger)
- William McDonough author of Cradle to Cradle
6. Sustainable Assessment of Large Infrastructure Projects
-This course will explore the question "How do we balance economic, environmental and social dimensions in large-scale infrastructure project design, evaluation and decision making”. Currently, large-scale, long-lived infrastructure projects involving many economic, social and environmental aspects are evaluated using cost-benefit analysis, and similar economic instruments. These tools have been applied since the mid 20th century. In the 1970s environmental impact assessments were instituted as another dimension of engineering project assessment. Since the Brundtland Commission Report of 1987 and the 1992 Earth Summit at Rio, efforts have been made to come up with even broader multi-dimensional evaluative frameworks that address sustainability
Today there are a wealth of sustainable development evaluative frameworks, but traditional economic instruments typically dominate over environmental assessment tools with social assessments or sustainability assessments either limited in scope or non-existent. The module will explore economic, environmental and social evaluative frameworks as separate instruments, then consider and apply examples of frameworks that attempt to get at the "triple bottom line". Evaluative frameworks for the sustainable development of large infrastructure projects will be considered in the context of case studies, for example, the Liverpool Airport Expansion, the Panama Canal, the Orange County, California Groundwater Replenishment System and the Three Gorges Dam. The overall aim is to show how we might plan and evaluate large projects differently to achieve sustainable outcomes.
7. Management of Technology and Innovation Consultancy Project
-First-hand experience of the reality of innovation, project management and entrepreneurship. Students work with local companies and will apply analytical skills in a real-world context using some of tools and concepts from the taught component of MOTI. It provides opportunities to build a network of contacts with the Cambridge technology community. Students work in teams of 4-5 for the six weeks of the project, supervised by a faculty member or PhD student
This term my assignments are:
1. Personal Change Challenge - write-up of experience in attempting to introduce sustainability (I chose to write about the Churchill Crew Team)
2. Organizational Change Strategy - what I can do as a junior officer in the US Navy to make the organization more sustainable
3. Carbon Capture and Storage - feasibility regarding economic and regulatory issues
4. Sustainable Energy Test
5. Systems and Cognitive Mapping
6. Multi Criteria Decision Making
7. Sustainable Development Report for Cornwall
8. Essay on lessons from guest lectures
9. Group report - sustainability assessment of large infrastructure project
10. Consulatancy Project Report, Presentation, and Paper
Tuesday, 3 February 2009
Tough Guy Competition
This weekend I did something absolutely insane. I competed in the Tough Guy Competition in Wolverhampton, England. You can check out the website to see just how crazy it is for yourself (http://www.toughguy.co.uk/), but I'll summarize it for you.
The website says its the "worlds safest most dangerous taste of mental physical pain endurance toughest events. Tough Guy will always be a physically challenging, mentally demanding, fear inducing, visual spectacular. The event is uniquely fear ridden and you need to be fit in both body and spirit to survive the ordeal. Tough Guy is played on the glorious pasture at Mr Mouse Farm for Unfortunates, as the name implies the charitable work is undertaken 365 days each year looking after hundreds of retired horses, wildlife habitats and providing jobs for unfortunate people." Most of the entry fee is donated to Mr. Mouse Farm so its for a good cause.
This year was made even more challenging by the fact that it started snowing half way through the event (the last time that happened during the Tough Guy was over 10 years ago). Basically, imagine being wet in freezing temperatures for 3 and a half hours while trying to make it through somewhat dangerous obstacles that are made extremely dangerous by the fact that you can't grip with your hands and your shoes are covered in mud.
The weekend started on Saturday when I caught a train to Wolverhampton to meet up with about 15 other individuals from the Naval and Air Force Academy, along with a few Mitchell Scholars from Ireland who we know through our friend Vicki. I am really glad we competed as a group because there is no way I could have done it by myself. Once everyone had arrived we went to a Chinese buffet dinner (possibly not the best choice before a strenuous event). It was great catching up with everyone and one of the guys, Eric, remembered it was my birthday on Tuesday so the restraunt sang happy birthday to me and I got a free dessert.
Group shot at dinner
Singing Happy Birthday!
Matt, Eric, and I at dinner
We began Sunday morning with a breakfast in the hotel and we're out the door by 9am. We immediately realized upon stepping outside that it had gotten much colder during the night and that we were crazy for doing this. Little did we know exactly how crazy until later on when we actually couldn't think straight because we were so cold. I don't think any of us saw that coming!
Walking up to the course - freezing fully clothed
We arrived at the race course, picked up our registration packets, and signed our death warrants (something you sign so they can medically treat you if you get hurt). Next we got our numbers written on our foreheads and headed to the changing barn. Here we stripped down to our costumes - flannel shirts and jean shorts - for team Springsteen. Eric (who organized the event for the 15 of us) began apologizing for getting us into this (he then continued apologizing throughout the event)- and he is a Navy Seal, that tells you just how cold it was.
Group shot before the race in our Springsteen costumes
While we were waiting to start the race we gave a few motivational Navy cheers which garnered more than just a few weird looks from our fellow contestants. We began the course probably around 11:30am. We first entered the Country Miles. A rambling multi mile course than encompasses steep hill climbs, cramp inducing stream running, mentally taxing woodland trails and fast open gazelle leg sections. We were lulled into a false sense of warmth from the run and some short lived sunlight.
The first obstacle we came to was The Tiger. We had to wait in the shade while everyone ahead of us clambered over it and that was when I first began shivering and didn't stop for the next 3 hours. The Tiger is 2 massive 40ft A-frames that competitors must clamber up and run down. If that wasn't tough enough, between the 2 A-frames is the Sting in the Tail, a series of electric fences primed and charged with supposedly twice the power required to stun a bull. All I know is I got shocked so bad that I screamed and fell down.
Quick pause for a photo before attacking The Tiger
The most physically difficult part of the day was the Slalom. It was a series of tight twisting zigzags which make you repeatedly run up and down the hillside! The hillside happens to be one of the tallest in the area and I think we went up the hill 10 times! I can't really remember because I was pretty exhausted by the end.
The Colditz was a series of 3 progressively higher walls, 2,3 and 4 m high. It took a subtle combination of rope and leg work to get over.
One of the coldest parts of the day was the Water Slalom which consisted of pools of waist to chest deep water which you had to jump into and then climb out of. There was probably 10 of them in a row. Hila and I teamed up because it was impossible to climb out without a buddy.
The worst part of the day for me was The Behemoth because I almost got seriously hurt. The Behemoth is a series of 4 towers with a series of rope strung across a void, one rope at your feet and one above your head. My guess is that they are 12 feet off the ground. I fell on the last crossing. I couldn't tell if I was hurt because I was so cold I couldn't feel anything, but I got up, brushed myself off and ran on to the fire pits.
The Firey Holes are a series of ditches of varying depth filled with water, interspersed with raging fires! There are floating islands in the ditches to give the illusion you can cross the ditches without getting wet. So you either hurl yourself at the island, leap desperately for the other side, or plunge into the murky depths covering yourself in flame retardant mud. Then you enter the fire walk, a chance to bask in the glow of a warming fire. If you felt your leg hair getting singed you could just keep on running until you fell into the next muddy ditch.
Me freezing by the fire pits
The Tire Crawl consisted a crawl through a series of tires. Some of the routes came out into muddy baths and others into dense thickets of nettles. I got lucky and ended on solid ground.
Me exiting the Tire Crawl - I am sure he got a lovely photo!
Just after exiting the Tire Crawl
When it came to The Swamp and the legendary Tough Guy Mud, the trick was to keep moving. Vicki lost her shoes in the first swamp, but was able to find them.
The Vietcong Tunnels were a little scary. The tunnels are a series of 'used' sewer pipes that worm their way through the hillside. There is a choice of diameter, but you must choose carefully because there is at least one dead end! You could get stuck with no way forward and 10 Tough Guys blocking your passage back. My tunnel was pitch black and I had absolutely no idea how long it was. I eventually made it to the end - no dead end thankfully!
Eric exiting The Vietcong Tunnels
I was shaking uncontrollably by the time we reached the Paradise Climb. It is a raised rope roadway with spectacular views of the killing fields and tantalisingly close to the finish line. Unfortunately the route heads back out into the Killing Fields - plenty more beasting to come!
Entering the Paradise Climb
The most dreaded part of the day is the Underwater Tunnels. The approach to the tunnel is wading through chest deep water. The river has a series of acclimatisation dunks as your route is blocked by telegraph poles.
Leland entering the Underwater Tunnels
The Stalag Escape was harder then I thought it would be. This obstacle consisted of a twisted, tangled web of barbed wire strewn across your path. The only way to pass was to lay face down in the mud and low crawl the 40ft under it.
Tire Torture followed. It was a very deceptive obstacle, with hundreds of tires strewn across the path. You have to leap and bound over them. At this point, my legs weren't really working. Normally, it would have been relatively easy.
The Anaconda consisted of a series of concrete pipes about chest high. I had to get some of the guys to help me over.
The Hill was the last obstacle. You cramble up a slippery muddy hill that feels like a mountain and then you are done!
At the finish you enter a line of people, get your medals, and are handed successively warmer cups of hot chocolate. I was shaking so bad I couldn't even hold the first couple cups. You then hit the showers, but I wasn't in the mood to get more wet so I went back to change into dry clothes - mud and all! I couldn't unbutton my shirt ( my fingers weren't moving) so one of the guys ripped it off of me. Don't worry I had underarmour underneath!
The stats from this year's Tough Guy:
"A broken neck, a dozen broken or dislocated bones and 600 people struck down with hypothermia – including the winner – all meant it was business as usual in what's been dubbed the world's toughest endurance battle."
So, with 6,000 participants, 1 in every 10 got hypothermia.
http://www.birminghammail.net/news/black-country/black-country-news/2009/02/02/tough-guy-competition-held-in-perton-97319-22833923/
http://withleather.uproxx.com/?p=14499
Overall, it was a great experience. I'm glad I did it. It's always good to know your physical limits. I don't think I would do it again, but who knows!
Mallory, Me, and Hila back at the hotel still covered in mud
The website says its the "worlds safest most dangerous taste of mental physical pain endurance toughest events. Tough Guy will always be a physically challenging, mentally demanding, fear inducing, visual spectacular. The event is uniquely fear ridden and you need to be fit in both body and spirit to survive the ordeal. Tough Guy is played on the glorious pasture at Mr Mouse Farm for Unfortunates, as the name implies the charitable work is undertaken 365 days each year looking after hundreds of retired horses, wildlife habitats and providing jobs for unfortunate people." Most of the entry fee is donated to Mr. Mouse Farm so its for a good cause.
This year was made even more challenging by the fact that it started snowing half way through the event (the last time that happened during the Tough Guy was over 10 years ago). Basically, imagine being wet in freezing temperatures for 3 and a half hours while trying to make it through somewhat dangerous obstacles that are made extremely dangerous by the fact that you can't grip with your hands and your shoes are covered in mud.
The weekend started on Saturday when I caught a train to Wolverhampton to meet up with about 15 other individuals from the Naval and Air Force Academy, along with a few Mitchell Scholars from Ireland who we know through our friend Vicki. I am really glad we competed as a group because there is no way I could have done it by myself. Once everyone had arrived we went to a Chinese buffet dinner (possibly not the best choice before a strenuous event). It was great catching up with everyone and one of the guys, Eric, remembered it was my birthday on Tuesday so the restraunt sang happy birthday to me and I got a free dessert.
Group shot at dinner
Singing Happy Birthday!
Matt, Eric, and I at dinner
We began Sunday morning with a breakfast in the hotel and we're out the door by 9am. We immediately realized upon stepping outside that it had gotten much colder during the night and that we were crazy for doing this. Little did we know exactly how crazy until later on when we actually couldn't think straight because we were so cold. I don't think any of us saw that coming!
Walking up to the course - freezing fully clothed
We arrived at the race course, picked up our registration packets, and signed our death warrants (something you sign so they can medically treat you if you get hurt). Next we got our numbers written on our foreheads and headed to the changing barn. Here we stripped down to our costumes - flannel shirts and jean shorts - for team Springsteen. Eric (who organized the event for the 15 of us) began apologizing for getting us into this (he then continued apologizing throughout the event)- and he is a Navy Seal, that tells you just how cold it was.
Group shot before the race in our Springsteen costumes
While we were waiting to start the race we gave a few motivational Navy cheers which garnered more than just a few weird looks from our fellow contestants. We began the course probably around 11:30am. We first entered the Country Miles. A rambling multi mile course than encompasses steep hill climbs, cramp inducing stream running, mentally taxing woodland trails and fast open gazelle leg sections. We were lulled into a false sense of warmth from the run and some short lived sunlight.
The first obstacle we came to was The Tiger. We had to wait in the shade while everyone ahead of us clambered over it and that was when I first began shivering and didn't stop for the next 3 hours. The Tiger is 2 massive 40ft A-frames that competitors must clamber up and run down. If that wasn't tough enough, between the 2 A-frames is the Sting in the Tail, a series of electric fences primed and charged with supposedly twice the power required to stun a bull. All I know is I got shocked so bad that I screamed and fell down.
Quick pause for a photo before attacking The Tiger
The most physically difficult part of the day was the Slalom. It was a series of tight twisting zigzags which make you repeatedly run up and down the hillside! The hillside happens to be one of the tallest in the area and I think we went up the hill 10 times! I can't really remember because I was pretty exhausted by the end.
The Colditz was a series of 3 progressively higher walls, 2,3 and 4 m high. It took a subtle combination of rope and leg work to get over.
One of the coldest parts of the day was the Water Slalom which consisted of pools of waist to chest deep water which you had to jump into and then climb out of. There was probably 10 of them in a row. Hila and I teamed up because it was impossible to climb out without a buddy.
The worst part of the day for me was The Behemoth because I almost got seriously hurt. The Behemoth is a series of 4 towers with a series of rope strung across a void, one rope at your feet and one above your head. My guess is that they are 12 feet off the ground. I fell on the last crossing. I couldn't tell if I was hurt because I was so cold I couldn't feel anything, but I got up, brushed myself off and ran on to the fire pits.
The Firey Holes are a series of ditches of varying depth filled with water, interspersed with raging fires! There are floating islands in the ditches to give the illusion you can cross the ditches without getting wet. So you either hurl yourself at the island, leap desperately for the other side, or plunge into the murky depths covering yourself in flame retardant mud. Then you enter the fire walk, a chance to bask in the glow of a warming fire. If you felt your leg hair getting singed you could just keep on running until you fell into the next muddy ditch.
Me freezing by the fire pits
The Tire Crawl consisted a crawl through a series of tires. Some of the routes came out into muddy baths and others into dense thickets of nettles. I got lucky and ended on solid ground.
Me exiting the Tire Crawl - I am sure he got a lovely photo!
Just after exiting the Tire Crawl
When it came to The Swamp and the legendary Tough Guy Mud, the trick was to keep moving. Vicki lost her shoes in the first swamp, but was able to find them.
The Vietcong Tunnels were a little scary. The tunnels are a series of 'used' sewer pipes that worm their way through the hillside. There is a choice of diameter, but you must choose carefully because there is at least one dead end! You could get stuck with no way forward and 10 Tough Guys blocking your passage back. My tunnel was pitch black and I had absolutely no idea how long it was. I eventually made it to the end - no dead end thankfully!
Eric exiting The Vietcong Tunnels
I was shaking uncontrollably by the time we reached the Paradise Climb. It is a raised rope roadway with spectacular views of the killing fields and tantalisingly close to the finish line. Unfortunately the route heads back out into the Killing Fields - plenty more beasting to come!
Entering the Paradise Climb
The most dreaded part of the day is the Underwater Tunnels. The approach to the tunnel is wading through chest deep water. The river has a series of acclimatisation dunks as your route is blocked by telegraph poles.
Leland entering the Underwater Tunnels
The Stalag Escape was harder then I thought it would be. This obstacle consisted of a twisted, tangled web of barbed wire strewn across your path. The only way to pass was to lay face down in the mud and low crawl the 40ft under it.
Tire Torture followed. It was a very deceptive obstacle, with hundreds of tires strewn across the path. You have to leap and bound over them. At this point, my legs weren't really working. Normally, it would have been relatively easy.
The Anaconda consisted of a series of concrete pipes about chest high. I had to get some of the guys to help me over.
The Hill was the last obstacle. You cramble up a slippery muddy hill that feels like a mountain and then you are done!
At the finish you enter a line of people, get your medals, and are handed successively warmer cups of hot chocolate. I was shaking so bad I couldn't even hold the first couple cups. You then hit the showers, but I wasn't in the mood to get more wet so I went back to change into dry clothes - mud and all! I couldn't unbutton my shirt ( my fingers weren't moving) so one of the guys ripped it off of me. Don't worry I had underarmour underneath!
The stats from this year's Tough Guy:
"A broken neck, a dozen broken or dislocated bones and 600 people struck down with hypothermia – including the winner – all meant it was business as usual in what's been dubbed the world's toughest endurance battle."
So, with 6,000 participants, 1 in every 10 got hypothermia.
http://www.birminghammail.net/news/black-country/black-country-news/2009/02/02/tough-guy-competition-held-in-perton-97319-22833923/
http://withleather.uproxx.com/?p=14499
Overall, it was a great experience. I'm glad I did it. It's always good to know your physical limits. I don't think I would do it again, but who knows!
Mallory, Me, and Hila back at the hotel still covered in mud
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