Training for a Tough Mudder with an Ostomy.

If anyone ever called you crazy, then this might be the article for you.  I will start off by saying before you attempt to do a tough mudder or any hard workout with an ostomy make sure you seek information from your local health care provider on how to proceed.  First thing you should ask yourself is, do I want to do it.  If you want to run 10 plus miles in muddy conditions whilst doing some of the most physically demanding obstacles that special forces do then this is the right thing for you.  Make sure you have the right ostomy supplies.  So try out the right pouches that adhere to you the best.  You want to still have perfectly healthy skin when you are done so make sure it's a good fit.

Then you need to work up to your goal slowly.  Start by walking a few miles.  When you know you can do that, start to jog a bit.  Add some pushups and light weight lifting. 

This does not mean go hard on weights and start doing too much.  Remember you had an ostomy for a reason and your core may not be in the shape it was before the ostomy. Getting the right ostomy supplies is key.  So don’t just get what someone told you.  Do your own research and ask lots of people who have an ostomy who have started to work out. Or who are amazingly physically fit.  Don’t ask the person who clearly never works out, because they honestly don’t know.  The challenges you face will be many and having a leaky bag or messed up skin around your stoma do to bad advice is not worth it. 

I would also say don’t be afraid to get strong.  You may have a higher risk for a hernia but you still need to be strong and fit for a mud race. So start small, lift light and then increase gently. Don’t try to be superman all at once.  Start early.  Make the decision to race and then plan on doing it in 6 months or even a year later.  It sounds crazy but 10 miles with mud and obstacles is just as hard as running a marathon.  It's a lot more physically demanding and will take more of your body to complete.  Best advice is to find a friend to train with.  Run it with a buddy at the same time. If they don’t have an ostomy, maybe take it a little slower than them, but have fun, stay safe, and consult your healthcare provider before starting.