CPL Beenthere, you forgot Canadian Forces...I think every single person who goes through basic training has to brave the rope crawl (even the officers, so it can't be that tough eh?). It is funny to look at that picture and go "hey, he knows what he's doing".

#18 is an excellent photograph, and I think reflects on the whole spirit of the event. I'm really hoping that my husband and I can do this, but we're a little confused as to how we can train for this. :)

@Christian

I think YOU need to get in touch with the real world bud, im pretty sure everyone who mentioned that was joking.

but good comments and pictures this time around.

Re the request for more pictures of girls. Check the results, most are not "DUMB" enough to take it on, it should really be called DUMB GUY. What the pictures don't give a sense of is how cold it is/was/will be. Often only just above freezing, sometimes below.

Big-up all those who do the race but don't think its just about fire, muddy water etc. the cold can be the biggest challenge. Oh, and just in case you thought you could slope off to the changing room afterwards for a nice warm shower, unless things have radically changed there is no changing room and just a cold water hose...

wow. Thanks for the pictures - stunning

To the #14 bashers:
It's cold out.
Wet clothing likely saps more heat from other racers than his lack-of-wet-clothing.
Quite frankly, he could very well be the smart one. A different swimsuit (ie, typical speedo?) would have been less laugh-worthy, certainly, but would also have been significantly less secure, and more likely to slip off.

#14.... dude... seriously.

It doesn't even look comfortable.

I think the dude in #14 looks hot. And he should be commended for taking such a risk. Stop the hateration.

WHY?

In answer to the question 'why?' I can only answer for myself [I feature in photo 14 and this was my 6th winter TG]....its one day a year to get back to taking risks [and taking responsibility for those risks], facing up to some of my fears, and pushing myself physically and mentally beyond that required for the other 364 days of the year. I have never seen photos which present the event as well as these do. The cold, the pain; but most of all the laughs all the way round! They are excellent!

Laughing so hard at photo 14. I referenced the wrong photo in my previous comment - I am in No. 13 not 14 - that guy is a nut case!

#18 is fantastic

Great photos. I would expect women would do better than men on the whole in this event; more body fat and therefore they stay warmer and have more endurance. Just hanging in there looks like the hardest part! Congrats to everyone who participated.

Looks like fun. From reading some of the comments, it sounds like it was a lot colder than it appears in the photos, of course, it's snows here every few days. The guy in the Borat suit deserves credit for pulling that off. Funny stuff. Well done for a good cause.

This is great stuff and great pictures, #14 is a winner in my book! He has a great physique for sharing and is too dumb and motivated to care about scars and burns! Whee!

Tough Guy Challenge? Never heard of it?!

Bandwidth...A terrible thing to waste.

So many fantastic photos that deserve a place here and nonsense like this is featured.

So folks, this one doesn't make the cut.

14... Borat mets Peter from Heroes

wimps

Did anyone need proof that men are complete idiots? Here it is...

All the comments on 14, well he doesn't have 20 lbs of mud clinging to clothes or wet cold clothes flapping against him. The fire propably warmed him nicely. The effort kept him warm enough and not overheating. The easy through water much easier than wearing long pants and tops. Not likely to fall off. With long wet pants it is pull them up or belt them enough to cut off circulation. And finally he probably wasn't crowded by other participants.

I did this on Sunday, and the cold is by far the hardest part to endure. Plenty of very pleasant running and gridders up and down hills to warm the muscles then freezing cold water for miles to completely lock your muscles solid and floor you with cramp! Very nails and fairplay to all the ladies dragging themselves around, all about grit, not just fitness.
I remember everyone cheering early on when "borat" and his ginger (as you would expect) mate hauled themselves over the first a-frame for a big cheer, and they were shivering by that point! This is a global event with thousands of spectators and competitors. Perfect example of British grit...thats why we're tougher than U.

#14 is funny...i hope people are looking at the other pics as welll. ;o) I find #13 the hardest one...

I ran this last year. Absolutely loved it! Here is my pic: http://flickr.com/photos/alastairhumphreys/2625343319/

@Robert
I'm sure you typed something interesting and relevant, but all I could make out was 'whinge whinge moan moan...these guys and girls make remind me what a couch potato I really am etc etc...'
Lots of things make the world go round buddy. This race is testament to human spirit, and is all for charity. The winners don't receive any cash - just pride in making it round.
Love and peace
Ever smiling
Ashley no.1259 TG09

I entered TG 2009 ( And heve done three in a row previous to that) and with out a doubt this was the hardest one ive entered so far!! The water was absaloutly Howling!!! Plus running round in a lycra skin tight spiderman costume with no holes to breath through made it that little bit Sweeter, LOL!

I love it! like i said ive entered four in a row now and they just keep getting better & harder every year, cant wait till TG 10. Come on US of A get your asses over here and get stuck in, you will love it!

great pics of a great race...i finished the race on sunday...it was my second race after 2008...much harder and colder this year...

greetings from germany

what the....?

Excellent I look forward to seeing more, just a shame there are not a few more pics of all the girls that took part, there were plenty of us out there doing just as well as the guys!!

Good Lord. . and I thought I was disciplined to go to exercise class 3x a week

Greetings from Washington DC!
These are fantastic, but you folks are c w a z y ! ! ! (oh well, it's for a great cause tho...) As far as #14, I'll bet he cleans up very nice thank you -

Umm basic training anyone...

they should do with with hot girlsz

The "barrel-throwing" event may be Guy Fawkes day in Lewes, West Sussex. Burning barrels are thrown into the local river.

Traditionally, a burning barrel race was held in the main street. This is banned, but sometimes still happens.

Completely anarchic fun!

Am in love with number 1. Can we get a roster please? 1443 lol

I understand #14's need for the smallest risk of catching fire, or wet. But I guess he might as well be nude… and it should be fine for him to be nude! It is a human body, not a sexual machine. People who see sex machines instead of human bodies are the ones hurting our society, IMHO.

HOT!!

2,7,9,10 pictures are very chalenging

IMPRESIONANTE

your photos are great, keep em coming whoever took these!!!

How do I sign up?!

what a fantastic day out. im picture 17 and let me tell you it was as hard as it looked,having only competed in summer toughguy,this was a real shock to the system.

sorry. picture 19 is me.n humphries

LOL I live in wolverhampton. I had no idea this went on.

Beautiful photography!

Awesome capture of some facial and whole body shots! But, some captions could have been written better, it does not appeal to me in a sense of understanding the whole picture per say what is going on inside their minds and what we physically see in their actions. The challenge defys some other ones in terms of individuals don't concern on how dirtier and painful courses could get but the matter of finishing it, a sense of self accomplishment. Now' that's a trip away from the US, staying local for now :-)

How long is this endurance race? It doesn't say about the distance of the course?

This looks like a true test of how far u can push ur body i would love to do that course

so funny games
i wanna try next game
wonderful

wow~~~super man!!!!!!

It's somewhere between 8-9 miles. The first 6 is a cross-country race, with a few obstacles. The bulk come in the last few miles. I'm from Omaha and ran it for the first time on Sunday, definitely the toughest thing I've ever done. The temps are normally in the 40s during this time of year. This year it started in low 30s with blowing wind and kept dropping, started snowing after wards, leading into England's worst snowstorm in 20 years, go figure. The water obstacles are the worst, people were dropping like flies due to hypothermia. It's mind over matter, just have to tell yourself to keep going. They had 10 ambulances making continuous trips to local hospitals. Definiately doing this race again next year,

My cousin did it and finished,what a hellish event very gutsy .Got cold,muddy,and second hand smoke from this event.Coming from across the ocean living in the tropics cheers to those who did it!!!

# 18 Rocks!

The photos confirm the diagnosis. PK. Dallas, Tx.

Comment 45:

You must be :
1) American
2) Stupid
3) Christian

or "all of the above" (they usually go together)

My respect for EVERY SINGLE ONE of them!!!!

you must be nutz but ... *thumbs up*!!!!

this reminds me of an old joke.. 'this contest might be OK for mean, rough girls, but could never appeal to sophisticated, artistic, and sensitive boys."

I so want to do this competition. Once I get basic training done and two/four years of military, or, heck , I might convince the squad leader to bring us all while we're still in it....

#14 no longer lives at home because it's fun to stay at the YMCA.

Guys - LOOSEN UP about #14!

There most definitely should not be a "warning" for that. It's not like he has a testicle hanging out. It's hilarious, and shows that this is all about good fun in the end.

god help them

These pics are amazing! I think #14 has the best looking legs I have ever seen.

Anyone complaining about #14 is a repressed moron with no sense of humor and zero art for life. Screw them. They make the world go flat.

Commenter #128

Relax. The commenter you're complaining about was probably joking. And even if he wasn't my eyes are STILL burning from pic 14! Hilarious, though!

Yes, I'm a yank. But I'm not a xtian, and I CERTAINLY hope not stupid. Though there are more of them than I care to live near on this side of the pond.

14# = Man on borat's clothes! Ruled!

por la raza chacho!

"Go Borat!" was the best! I'm laughing a lot!

Why do they have to put "during the Tough Guy Challenge 2009 at South Perton Farm on February 1, 2009 in Wolverhampton, England" on every photo? It's in the title and once is enough. Can't it just be "emerging from icy water" instead of "A challenger emerges from icy water during the Tough Guy Challenge 2009 at South Perton Farm on February 1, 2009". These comments to the photos are so lame.

i think 14 is hot. great bod!

so shush those of you saying bad things about him.

and bravo to all of the competitors! I've never heard of this competition and it sounds interesting... and awesome to watch live.

i love it !!!

just a stupid waste of testosterone

Oh good, waste of testosterone, you say. I need to get rid of some, my tits are starting to shrink down.
(You're entitled to your opinion, I just like making bad jokes.)

I wish I remembered that this was happening. I had the day off!

that tuyet voi tat ca nhung nguoi tham gia cuoc thi nay deu la nhung nguoi phi thuong. :-j

nice !! amazing photos !!

Cool stuff ! Great sense of humour from the guy wearing a borat style swimming costume.

Run Forrest, Run!

#14 - man rox!!!

Amazing photos, wow

# 128

LOL and True and =)

É isso ai. Macho que é macho faz esse tipo de corria e não corre com um "amiguinho" sem camisa na beira da praia.

were good

#14....In the original Greek Olympics, all men compete naked!!!!! Bravo.

how old do you have to be to compete in this? cause im 16 and this looks awesome

hey just sayin this stuff looks intense and i would love to do it. i will have to see lol. thats a long distance to do that kinda thing.

Huy, ahora se usa mucho el metrosexual, el tipo que se está peinando y mirando en el espejo a cada rato....a mi me gustan estos tipos, más recios....menos mal que aún quedan!!!!!

My God Number 14 is so hot, i will be happy to take off his green suit. Amazing body. As some people say, if you have a good merchandise, well show it to everyone. Congratulation to Number 14, and again great body

no. 14 comes to my emotional rescue from the sorry haters who miss the whole point

Only respect to those crazy heroes!!!
Thanks for really exciting photographs!
Greetings from Ukraine.

Wow...and I thought washing my St. Bernard was a challenge.....

16 & 1 look like they HUUUUUURRT!!!
congrats to all who made it through!

how do u sign up for it i am goin to do it next yr but i dont no how to apply? any one help me mail me @ marcus_allen12@hotmail.com

how do u sign up for it i am goin to do it next yr but i dont no how to apply? any one help me mail me :) @ MonkeyBoy785@gmail.com

hello my name is alex zido from africa pls can i pertispect in the sport

i missed this due to pulled ligaments from fell running but know there is one in june . im 5ft 2" and 44 lbs . so dont say woman cannot do this !!!! the photo's only make me more determined to do it and enjoy .. so look out !!!! and the comment woman are not so dumb ! i say u try half of what i do !! growl jan fisher :O)

Wackkkkkkkk

Wow, great pictures. Looks brutal and exilerating at the same time. I think it takes a real man to wear what #14 was wearing. Kudos to him. If I had a body like that I"d be naked and showing it off all the time. Enjoy your youth and exuberance while you still have it because it doesn't last!

#14 picture outfit is really really tough, he is already a winner in the outfit division. He is SEXY too :)

Comment #128:

Congratulations. You are the winner of the "Most Ironic Comment on This Thread" award.

WOW this looks soo fun! how old do ya have to be to enter? Me and my friend are only 15 and cant wait to enter.. personally i think the best pictures are #2, 7 and 14!!

Some body's commonsense is other person's nonsense...............not for sissy's..............mind it...................wish i were there.............good show............love it

I did the winter event in 2005 and it was pretty tough (had to be treated for hypothermia), but it's not a "special forces" kind of course.

It's more a tongue-in-cheek event for charity, even the name gives it away "Tough Guy" (!). It's not easy though...

Incidentally, they have a Summer event called Nettle Warrior, which involved crawling through fields of nettles. Not pleasant.