Tough Mudder season-ending finale set to take place in the UAE
Tough Mudder introduces a new “Muddy Waters” section for the final event of the season with live animals
Ras Al Khaimah: Tough Mudder, the world-famous obstacle course racing challenge, is set to return to Ras Al Khaimah to host its season finale on Saturday, April 20, 2024.
The event will take place in association with RAK Properties, the official location partner of the challenge.
Tough Mudder started the year with three community events held by the KSA Swing in Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam, followed by the inaugural Tough Mudder Infinity in AlUla.
Tough Mudder held its last event in the UAE in November 2023 at Dubai's Jebel Ali Racecourse, where more than 7,500 people participated. The globally recognised obstacle course racing challenge is returning to Ras Al-Khaimah with new features and challenges.
Nic Cartwright, Tough Mudder Middle East License Holder, said: "Following a hugely successful season, we want to ensure our final event lives long in the memory. We believe that by introducing live animals into the mix, participants will experience a once-in-a-lifetime challenge.
"It's not every day you come face-to-face with a baby crocodile, piranha or electric eel, meaning this could potentially be more of a mental challenge than physical for some taking part, who certainly won't want to look foolish.
"Either way, it will undoubtedly be an entertaining spectacle, and we look forward to uniquely closing the season."
Adults can enter 10 km or 5 km races, while kids can compete in a 1.5 km challenge.
With the addition of the "Muddy Waters" challenge, the 5km or 10km course will be more formidable, as live animals are being introduced for the first time at the event. The "Muddy Waters" element will comprise three new water-themed obstacles: the Croc Crawl, Piranha Pond, and Electro Eel Therapy. This will ensure participants not only have to combat the traditional Tough Mudder challenges but also outsmart the animals in their natural habitat.
The Ras Al-Khaimah will mark the climax of the current Tough Mudder season, which started with attracting over 20,000 competitors across the Middle East, with events held in Dubai, Fujairah, and Jeddah.
The ancient oasis city of AlUla recently hosted the first-ever eight-hour endurance challenge in the region. This event had the largest prize pot ever seen for an obstacle course race, with $480,000 up for grabs. The competition witnessed a long-standing obstacle course rivalry between Canada's Ryan Atkins and the UK's Jon Albon. Following an exciting battle, Jon Albon emerged victorious and walked away with the prize money of $80,000.