TP_041218

tinleyjunction.com Life & Arts
the tinley junction | April 12, 2018 | 21
What it’s like repping the Tough Mudder lifestyle
Cody Mroczka, Editor
Arctic Enema. Electroshock
Therapy. Block Ness
Monster. Funky Monkey.
Augustus Gloop.
Matthew Lewitke has
conquered them all and believes
most others can, too.
They are just some of the
names of the obstacles participants
must traverse in
order to complete a Tough
Mudder challenge, a fitness
and endurance event that
typically features 10,000
to 15,000 people running,
crawling and climbing
through 10 miles and over
a dozen physically and
emotionally draining challenges.
The Tinley Park native
and 2009 Victor J. Andrew
graduate completed his first
Tough Mudder in 2014 in
Chicago. Since then, the
Valparaiso alum who works
full-time as a project manager
for a consulting firm,
has made it though seven
more grueling courses. This
upcoming season he plans
to knock off another three
or four, and in the process,
continue to grow an exercising
trend that has drawn
over 3 million participants
since its inception less than
a decade ago. It’s all a part
of Lewitke’s new role as
a North American Tough
Mudder Ambassador, a sort
of sponsorship and personal
marketing like position held
by just 200 competitors.
“I didn’t have the most
active lifestyle in college.
I still thought I was an athlete.
It was a humbling experience
that inspired me
to get in better shape,” the
former football and track
athlete said. “It definitely
resparked a passion and rejuvenated
me. It was challenging,
but fun. A lot more
challenging than I thought.”
After becoming a “Legionnaire,”
the name given
to the approximate average
of 78 percent of people who
complete one of the outdoor
feats found throughout the
country, Lewitke couldn’t
get enough of the lifestyle,
training and dieting for the
next opportunity. He talked
about it so much his family
and friends probably
got tired of hearing about
Tough Mudder, he said.
“Every other word out of
my mouth was about Tough
Mudder,” Lewitke said. “I
had become passionate —
almost to an obsession. It
was more than a hobby.”
So he applied to be an
ambassador and took on
the task of registering a
certain number of new participants,
hosting informational
sessions, and representing
the brand on social
media accounts. In return,
he receives a season pass
(valued at $499) that can
be used at over 60 events
scheduled for the upcoming
2018 season, a plethora of
training gear, and merchandise.
“First, it isn’t timed. And
it’s based on the motto of
‘no man left behind,’ the camaraderie
of helping those
struggling or falling behind
get to the finish line,” he
said. “It’s not about where
you place. People sign up
for all kinds of reasons.
They’re getting over a divorce
or a loss, they’re celebrating
being cancer free.”
Tough Mudder has grown
since the first event was
held in 2010, and even more
so since Lewitke’s first trial
more than three years ago,
adding new and innovative
redesigned obstacle courses
in 2016 and 2017 that
prey on human fears of fire,
water, electricity, heights
and uncleanliness. It’s not
uncommon for athletes to
submerge their bodies in
icy waters, run through
fields of live wires, tip-toe
over tight rope planks, and
climb greasy half-pipes.
Competitors sometimes
even have to work together
to get past obstacles and
some choose to participate
as teams. Tough Mudder
has also added half courses,
a semi-professional competitive
series, and plans to
debut a 5K-inspired challenge
in 2018.
“A lot of people are intrigued
by it, but they don’t
know exactly what it is.
They think they’re incapable
or assume they can’t,
so I clarify it’s not an ultramarathon,”
Lewitke said.
“It’s so much more than
physical feats.”
“Legionnaires” who do
cross the finish line, whether
it takes a few hours or all
day, receive action photos,
memorabilia and, most sacredly,
a headband. The
first headband is orange,
followed by four categories
before a coveted black
headband is bestowed upon
those who complete 10
challenges.
“I place an emphasis that
it’s not about how fast you
finish or how you look finishing
it,” he said. “You
don’t have to be chiseled or
size zero. I’ve seen people
finish with artificial legs,
arms; it’s truly an incredible
thing, and the best thing
is that it’s not bigger than
anyone.”
As a Tough Mudder Ambassador
and Tinley Park
native, Matthew Lewitke
would like to offer new
participants the code
BRAND257 to be used at
checkout for 30 percent off
registration for Tough Mudder
Full or Tough Mudder
Half events.
Featuring 20+ fun things to do
in your town over the summer!
Publishes May 17, 2018
Space Reservation Deadline: May 2nd
Ad Approval: May 8th
As a Tough
Mudder
Ambassador,
Matthew Lewitke
represents the
brand during
events and helps
register new
participants. He
plans to attend
three or more
challenges in
2018 throughout
the Midwest.
PHOTO SUBMITTED
2018 Guide
PLEASE CALL: 708.326.9170 TO RESERVE YOUR AD