The Lucknow Sentinel, 2013-12-23, Page 9Monday, December 23, 2013 • Lucknow Sentinel 9
Ripley's Matt Farrell completes 55 miles at World's Toughest Mulder
Troy Patterson
Kincardine News
Ripley's Matt Farrell said the World's
Toughest Mudder was all about "the
rush" had him complete 55 miles and
land 151st of 1,100 competitors in the
24-hour hardcore obstacle course race
in November.
Farrell, the 37 -year-old building
inspector for Huron -Kinloss Township,
travelled to East Brunswick, New Jersey
as one of many similar races he com-
peted in during the year like the Spar-
tan Race and Met Con Blue.
Starting at 10 a.m. on Nov 16, Farrell
faced 22 obstacles during each five -mile
lap of the event that featured obstacles
that played on fears like heights, elec-
trocution by hanging wires, tight spaces
and other physical feats like rope lad-
ders, a 12 -foot half pipe, monkey bars
and olympic rings, tunnels, water pits
and more.
"It beats you up mentally each lap
and I'm trying not to dwell on it too
much, but I could have done more," he
said. "I wasn't feeling that well going
into it, so I was more focused on look-
ing after myself than pushing it and get-
ting injured:'
The worst, he said, was the "Leap of
Faith," a jump on to a cargo net with
only small mats to pad your landing.
"There were quite a few people get-
ting hurt on it," Farrell said. "So that
draws on you emotionally each time
because the possibility of getting
injured is in your mind and it eats at
you."
Farrell "hit a wall" at 2:30 a.m. after
his 10th lap on Nov 17 when he stopped
for a rest until 6:30 a.m., when he went
out again to wrap up with a victory lap
to bring his total laps to 11. He received
a prize for his 50 -mile completion and
piece of mind for going the extra lap.
"I enjoy these kinds of activities and
the more scenic races," he said. "Finish-
ing the race is all that's really important.
I guess it's the feeling, the runner's
high:'
Farrell was also proud to be in the
company of the World's Toughest Mud -
der winner, a Canadian named Ryan
Atkins of Pickering who completed 100
miles during the 24-hour event.
"It was amazing, he really came out
of nowhere," he said.
Farrell has spent the last two years
competing in similar races, focusing on
rebuilding his fitness through running,
and working out through crossfit-style
workouts. He first took up the challenge
on a whim, but got "addicted" to the
rush and is looking to Ultra Races next
year to try something new.
"It's something I'm going to do as
long as my body holds up," he said.
He credited the support of his fiance
Kylie Pike and his family and friends
that came along, for supporting him
and making it an experience to
remember.
Troy Patterson Kincardine News
Ripley's Matt Farrell completed 11 laps, a total of 55 miles at the 24-hour World's Toughest Mudder in East
Brunswick, New Jersey on Nov. 16-17, 2013.
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