Tough Training Tips from Matt Hanson

Matt Hanson scored fourth in the 2013 World’s Toughest Mudder. Read more about him here>>

Here are some training tips from an ultra-athlete:

The #1 Thing: I tell everyone this: no matter what it is, go sign up for it. At the end of the day if you sign up for a half marathon down the road and you work out for three weeks and don’t go for it, you lose $30 but you made yourself work out for three weeks.

Having an event on the map, having it on your schedule, it’s so much easier to have a goal. It’s so much easier to work out when you have something to look forward to.

#2: Drink water. My motto is even if you’re drinking enough water you’re still not drinking enough.

#3: Try everything. I do the same basic workouts – running, CrossFit, lifting.

I don’t care if it’s Zumba or cycling, as long as it’s getting a workout it doesn’t matter. I think there’s a lot of stigma around different exercises.

Some people limit themselves to what they think they should be doing because of what they look like or what gender they are. It’s important to do whatever you want to work out, as long as you’re working out.

#4: If you can get someone to work out with you, go for it. It’s easier to work out with friends because they keep you accountable.

#5: Get an old school calendar – not on your iPhone. Put it somewhere you can see it, and put an X on days you work out and O on days you don’t work out. It feels awful to put that O on the calendar. (Writer’s note:  Hanson has tracked his workouts this way for four years.)

Training Tip for Toughest Mudders:

Start a steady diet of running, pullups and pushups. If you can’t do them there’s aid machines. In a Tough Mudder everything can be broken down to how well you can do pullups and running.