Update on the Non-Tough Mudder Event

Our son Caleb is mightily bummed.  So are about 20,000 others that were signed up for today's Frederick, Maryland Tough Mudder event that was cancelled at about 2:00 AM this morning, just several hours before Caleb was to leave for it, and as many others were already en route to find themselves tangled up in hours long unmoving traffic jams. Many left their cars along the major highways and hiked in to the event, hoping to at least arrive by foot in time for their event start time.

Caleb registered months ago, spending a significant chunk of change for the entrance fee, even in spite of posting an "early" registration.  Months of grueling workouts were endured in preparation for the intense physical challenges that were anticipated.  Teams were formed.  New athletic shoes were purchased, and bags were packed with gear, drinks and other supplies for the event and possibly a hotel stay following the obstacle course.

Needless to say, the response of thousands of disappointed registered participants has been intense and irate.  Especially so, because it seems the Tough Mudder planning team is not readily taking full responsibility for this EPIC FAILURE.  They are placing a lot of blame in many other directions, and not completely owning up to lousy planning.  Here's what the official website announced today at 1:45 PM.

"Tough Mudder has been forced to cancel our Sunday Mid-Atlantic event because of safety concerns caused by traffic and severe weather. We worked all evening and into the night with local authorities to determine whether or not the infrastructure in and around Crumland Farms would be able to support the event, but sadly yesterday’s storm, combined with the traffic problems that the local roads experienced, made this impossible.

To date, Tough Mudder has organized over 40 events around the world and delivered an amazing experience to over 500,000 people while raising millions of dollars for the Wounded Warrior Project, but today we got it wrong and we deeply apologize. We have organized events much larger than this weekend’s event, but the combination of small country roads, an understaffed police force, a freak storm, multiple auto accidents, and a safety concern that was somewhat out of our control combined to create a perfect storm and we ultimately determined that we could not guarantee a headache free event experience for those customers who expect such a high standard 
of excellence from our organization."

It is difficult to understand this bumbling mess, as it is an outdoor event and they have organized many of these events before.  The planners must know that there is always some chance of rain.  Additionally, knowing that typical Mudder events draw thousands of people requiring safe and adequate parking areas and other facilities, you would think that the planning committee would have this figured out by now, rain or sun.

So to reiterate, there is a bit of disappointment in our household today.  

We will see if his money will be refunded or if they will try to "credit his account" and offer him a spot in a Tough Mudder nine states away.  That has yet to be determined.  

Minimally I expect to see some loud noises in the news about this cancellation and people's reactions to the way it was handled.  I wouldn't even be surprised if there were some attempted lawsuits.  

I suppose if I look on the bright side of this, I should be glad he won't be bringing home any muddy, gross, and stinky laundry.  And if this cancellation turns out to have been Caleb's biggest disappointment in life, he will have had it easy.