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Are You Tough Enough To Be A "Mudder"?

MIAMI (CBS4) - Are you tough enough to be a "mudder"?

Thousands of people will find out this weekend when they try their hand at a hardcore obstacle course set up at the Homestead International Speedway.

The event is called "Tough Mudder", and if you're not covered in mud by the time you're done, you're not doing it right.

"The folks in "Mudder" nation are a little crazy," General Manager Nick Bodkins said. "It's for folks who think marathons are boring. It's for the weekend warrior that has a week in the office and wants to get out and challenge themselves."

Tough Mudder events are typically 10-12 mile obstacle courses designed by British Special Forces to test your strength, stamina and mental grit.

The event in Homestead will feature 22 obstacles.

Organizers call it "probably the toughest event on the planet."

"It's about the camaraderie you have with other people on the course and finishing the obstacles together," Bodkins explains of the obstacles that typically require help from friends or strangers to complete.

With obstacles named "Arctic Enema", "Boa Constrictor" and "Electroshock Therapy", it's no surprise you have to sign a waiver to participate.

Bodkins said emergency personnel are on the ready in the event of an accident, but rarely do incidents occur during the running of the course.

CBS 4's Lauren Pastrana attempted a handful of obstacles on the eve of the race.

She completed "Everest", "Mud Mile", "Cage Crawl", "Walk the Plank", and "Kiss the Mud". Descriptions of some of the obstacles can be found here.

Since the creation of Tough Mudder in 2010, more than 700,000 participants have raised upwards of $5 million for the Wounded Warrior Project.

One of the obstacles along the course is actually called the "Wounded Warrior Carry".

"We have soldiers that come back from Iraq and Afghanistan that are just ready to get back and do their next or first Mudder," Bodkins said.

Promotional videos on the Tough Mudder website show participants with prosthetic limbs challenging themselves to test their bodies, and succeeding.

"People who have lost a lot of weight like to do this to mark the pinnacle of their journey," Bodkins said. "You really see a sense of pride out of everyone who comes across the finish line."

The average Tough Mudder will complete the course in about three hours, but organizers say it's not a competition to see who finishes first.

People who do cross the finish line get an orange headband, a free beer, and bragging rights.

The event is being held March 2nd and 3rd at the Homestead International Speedway. Participants can still register on site.

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