What does winning look like?

What does “winning” look like at an event like World’s Toughest Mudder? If you had asked me that a year ago, or maybe even any year before that, my answer would have been pretty straightforward. In 2023, “winning” was reaching the age-group podium at World’s Toughest Mudder—third place, with 65 miles under my belt. That was a race where it was the obstacles that changed the game and total mileage was a fleeting objective. In 2024, it meant grinding out 75 miles in the sand and the heat, and even though I missed the podium myself, seeing my training partner, Scott Wierzycki, take my place was a victory in its own right. These were tangible achievements. Medals, mileage, rankings.

But this year, after the 2025 World’s Toughest Mudder, my definition has been irrevocably changed. This year, none of those old metrics mattered.

My main objective for the 2025 WTM was to help two first-timers, Tracy and Matt Sullivan, have an epic experience. Their goal was to reach 50 miles, an achievement for any WTMer, let alone newcomers to this 24-hour crucible of endurance. I took it upon myself to be their Sherpa, their guide, their coach. My success would not be measured by my own laps, but by ensuring they had the experience for which they were striving. For so many first-timers, the dream of earning that coveted 50-mile brown bib is shattered by rookie mistakes. My purpose was to prevent those mistakes.

This was more than just a race; it was a deeply personal journey for them. Matt, the youngest participant on course this year, was on his senior trip with his mom. For Tracy, this was a potential swan song, one last, great adventure with her son before he stepped into a new chapter of his life. These stakes felt higher than any podium I’d ever chased and gave me the feeling that everything was on the line!

A Course with a Soul

My expectations for the event itself were mixed. After feeling that the 2024 event was lackluster to say the least and this year’s Atlanta Toughest course was even less exciting, I was hoping for something more. I felt the race coordinators in England, Matt and Kate, had a unique opportunity to show the world what the UK had to offer, and they delivered in spectacular fashion.

Set against the stunning backdrop of Belvoir Castle, the course was a living, breathing entity. The race directors put forth a world-class event in almost every facet. The media coverage was second to none, but it was the course itself that truly shined. It felt nostalgic, a throwback to the old, unpredictable like the Vegas races. By adding dynamic elements like “Kill-a-Gorilla,” which changed the course overnight, they kept us on our toes. They took liberties to modify current obstacles, making them feel new and fun without breaking the bank. In Firefly, they combined King of Swingers with the old Walk the Plank and mashed up Kiss of Mud with Shawshank. They even spliced the DNA of a Spartan’s Twister onto Funky Monkey, creating a uniquely challenging beast.

Everything felt doable, but nothing was easy. It was a course that demanded respect, a perfect stage for a transformative experience.

The Mudders

One of the many things that makes WTM so special are the people—everyone surrounding this event contributes to its uniqueness. The event coordinators’ dedication creates an awesome spectacle. The media traverse the woods at all hours of the night so others can track us. But mostly, it’s my fellow participants. When bringing rookies to the course, you try to explain what makes WTM different, but most don’t truly understand until they’re here. These people are simply unique. While a strong community exists within the ultra-racing world, I don’t believe they embody the true spirit of the WTMer. The only way to truly grasp what I’m talking about is to experience it firsthand.

You come halfway around the world to meet someone like Wiktoria Fronc. At just 21 years old, she is truly living life to the fullest and excelling. Her spirit during the early hours of the race was infectious—a great example for a new high school graduate like Matt to witness. She’s a woman close to his age yet so different from most of the women he typically encounters. Like many others on the course, she is a true 1%er.

Many faces were different this year due to the change of continents. However, I still recognized many, including WTM regulars like Joe Perry and Melissa Dugan, and even some rivals like Kemper Carmine, who made the trip. One of the aspects of WTM is meeting new people throughout the event. These are individuals you might only speak to briefly while running together, but they leave a lasting impression as you reflect on the race. People like Derek Bequette, whom I encountered multiple times as he pursued his goal of the silver bib—a goal he would eventually achieve!

As I’ve mentioned in past blogs, these people are one of the biggest reasons I keep returning to this event year after year!

The Darkness Before the Dawn

Race day was very warm—by English standards, at least. It proved to be as warm as the 2024 Florida WTM race during the day but closer to the temps of the 2023 event in Texas at night. Planning and pacing would be everything. The general rule for 50 miles is to reach the halfway point, 25 miles, by 10 p.m. My group was tasked with just that.

We hit our mark, reaching 25 miles by 9:20 p.m., slightly ahead of schedule. But by that time the race had already begun to bare its teeth.

Around 15 miles in, Matt began to face what I call “the darkness.” It’s that mental barrier where your body is screaming and your mind starts looking for an escape. He was hitting his perceptive limit earlier than I expected, but I was able to get him refocused, to push on through the cramping, blisters and the minor setbacks until he locked back in. At that 25 mile mark, something clicked for him. He realized what this race was all about: finding your limits and pushing right through them.

Then, at 35 miles, it was Tracy’s turn. A sharp pain that had been flaring in her knee had progressed to a knife stab with every downhill step. The 50-mile goal, once within reach, now seemed impossible to her. I looked at her and drew from my own history. “In 2015, I had to do the last 10 hours like this,” I told her. “If you can’t walk downhill forwards, walk sideways. Don’t bend the knee.” In these moments, it comes down to one simple, brutal question: how dedicated are you to reaching your goal?

Ultra events often come down to one simple idea… Keep moving forward! Hours later, pushing through the pain and the exhaustion, they did it. They reached the 50-mile mark with enough time on the clock for Matt and me to go out for one more lap—a “dirty 50.” Tracy, having achieved her 50 mile goal as well as seeing Matt well on his way, decided to stay behind in the pit.

That last lap with Matt was amazing. To see him push past his limits for the last 30 miles, to see the focus in his eyes as he achieved something he had thought impossible nearly 20 hours ago, was an incredible privilege. I knew he was taking home more than that dirty brown bib and finisher medal; he was taking home a piece of himself he never knew existed.

The True Podium

So, how do you measure success? Is it being on the podium? Beating a personal best? Or is it helping someone else reach their own summit?

As Matt and I approached the finish line for the final time, I saw Nikki Caromba, the first-place female, struggling alone at the final obstacle, Mudderhorn. I told Matt “hold on a sec” and rushed over to help her. This was not something I gave a second thought about because this is what this event is all about. It’s the racers versus the course first and against each other second. As I look back this simple gesture not only embodied the spirit of Tough Mudder but also my entire 2025 WTM.

That simple act of sportsmanship created a perfect, serendipitous moment. It allowed me to realize a different form of “success” at WTM. This is the “winning” that the great men and women of Mudderhorn, and those like Jim Campbell at this event and Francis Lackner at nearly every other US event who help participants conquer Everest feel. Helping others rise to their own achievements. At that, Matt and I finished side by side, right as he surpassed his 50-mile goal. I also witnessed Tracy see her son at the finish line not only reach his goal but exceed it, after racing beside him nearly all 24 hours. It gave them an amazing race experience that could change his life forever.

And then came the final, beautiful twist.

We realized later that by pushing through her own pain to see her son succeed, Tracy had unknowingly achieved her own incredible victory. She finished third place in the world in her age group. The one thing she wanted most—to see her son triumph—led directly to her own. And Matt, fresh off his own colossal achievement, got to witness his mom get on the podium.

Ladies and gentlemen, what does winning look like?

It’s not just about your own strength, but about using it to lift others. It’s taking pride in the knowledge that you have helped someone else be their best. In this race, that was my win. And in doing so, it became one of my greatest World’s Toughest Mudder experiences ever.

Will I be in attendance in 2026? I don’t know. It’s a great expense to travel so far, and after 13 consecutive years, if I fail to make the 14th, I’ll be okay with it.

Because this. This is what winning looks like.