Some local athletes tested their abilities and had a unique opportunity to lend a hand to a wounded warrior at the Tough Mudder event at Mount Snow in Vermont on August 10.

Tough Mudder obstacle course challenges are held around the globe to raise money for the Wounded Warrior Project, an organization dedicated to meeting the needs of wounded service members and their families.

The Tough Mudder’s personal challenge and its support of wounded service members attracted Jared Mitkus and Jason Nein to the Tough Mudder in 2012. Mitkus is a police officer in Boothbay Harbor and Nein is a sergeant with Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office.

“We were talking about doing it. It sounded crazy and then we just figured, let’s do it,” Nein said.

Crazy seems an apt term for a course that includes running 10-12 miles up and down mountains, while enduring obstacles like the “Arctic Enema,” “Electroshock Therapy” and “Underwater Tunnels.” According to their website, Tough Mudder courses are designed by British Special Forces to test both physical and mental strength and endurance.

Unlike many athletic challenges, the Tough Mudder is not a competition; it focuses instead on camaraderie and team work.

“The point of this is just to finish and getting everyone else to finish. You’re helping friends, family, complete strangers get through the course,” Mitkus said.

“It’s the biggest team building exercise imaginable,” Nein said. “It’s something to go through an obstacle and have somebody grabbing your hand to help you and you have no idea who on earth they are. I didn’t hear a single negative word between people during the entire event.”

Mitkus and Nein’s positive experience in 2012 convinced some other local athletes to attempt the Mudder this year, as well.

Karen Colby, who with Ellen McFarland and Jenny Mitkus, joined Mitkus and Nein to form a core team that stayed together throughout the course on Saturday, described the Mudder as the best event she has ever experienced.

“It’s all about finishing and getting through it together,” Colby said. “You feel so good about doing it and just simply doing your best. It’s an amazing experience.”

Saturday was a day of highlights but one moment outshone the rest. After successfully mounting “Everest,” a quarter pipe wall near the end of the course, Colby, Mitkus and Nein were waiting for their teammates and helping other athletes over the wall. Then, a volunteer with a bullhorn announced a special competitor approaching “Everest.”  Mitkus saw Noah Galloway, a veteran who lost both an arm and a leg in Iraq, heading toward them.

“We had no idea that he was coming our way,” Mitkus said. “But when I saw him I lined up with him at the top of the wall.”

“I admit I got a little choked up when I grabbed what was left of his left arm,” Nein said. “Jared had gotten ahold of his right arm and then I got ahold of his left and I thought, ‘There is absolutely no way I will let this man fall. I will go down with him before I let him fall.”
    
“It didn’t really sink in until later how special that moment was,” Mitkus said. “I still look at the photos and I’m in awe.”

“It was an awesome moment,” Colby said.

Dmitry Gudkov’s photo of Galloway soaring up as Mitkus, Nein and another competitor reach down to help him speaks volumes about Galloway’s courage and triumph over adversity and the spirit of the Tough Mudder itself. Nein said he plans to frame the photograph as an inspirational piece.

‘We all have are down moments,” Nein said. “Then you look at what somebody like Noah has accomplished and think, “It’s time to stop whining and get off your duff.”

One might think that after completing an endurance trial like the Tough Mudder, Colby, Mitkus and Nein would be thinking about kicking back a bit. Quite the opposite.

On Tuesday, Mitkus was texting Nein about workout plans and Colby was back at her disciplined exercise program. All three athletes use the Cross Fit method, as well as running, to gain good overall conditioning. And the three have begun to talk about the marathon/half marathon in Portland in the fall. Aparently, one good thing does lead to another.

“I encourage people to get involved in something like this,” Nein said. “You get in great shape and it’s not the destination, it’s the journey. It gives such a sense of accomplishment and it’s kind of crazy, in a good way. I’d love to see a bigger Boothbay region contingent take this one on next year.”

Tough Mudder events have raised over $5 million for the Wounded Warrior Project and appear to be growing in popularity. Mitkus said there were over 7,000 participants at Saturday’s event.

Mike Elwell and Randy Miller of Newcastle Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep supported the local team by graciously providing them with a minivan for the weekend and John Mitkus served as team photographer.

Sue Mello can be reached at 207-844-4629 or suemello@boothbayregister.com.