Shocked: 5 of the craziest sporting challenges

Tired of your daily exercises in the gym? Morning jogging seems too measured and calm? Perhaps you just lack a little adrenaline to love sports with a new scary force.

In our selection we have gathered 10 of the most crazy sporting events, most of which can be participated in by almost anyone. Crazy antics of athletes who still decided to do it, you certainly will not call boring and monotonous!

The Tough Guy Run.

Distance: 12 km

The Tough Guy Challenge is growing in popularity every year. Every year it is held in the English town of Perton. For 20 years thousands of people have been coming here to undergo incredible challenges: fire, swamp, barbed wire, water obstacles – every mile gives a chance to test themselves and their abilities. In the history of the event, several people have lost their lives and hundreds have suffered various injuries.

The main goal is to overcome the so-called fields of death, each of which is a challenge in itself.

To take part: the priceis just £39.

The Barkley Marathon.

Distance: 60km

The 60-kilometer marathon is held annually in Frozen State Park, near Wartburg, Tennessee. The distance is widely regarded as one of the toughest ultra-marathons in the world. Judge for yourself, since 1986, only 14 people out of 1,100 participants have been able to make it to the finish line.

What is the main difficulty? The total elevation gain on the distance is more than 18 kilometers, which is equivalent to climbing Everest twice. At the same time, the marathon itself has the form of a quest: not only runners have to navigate the terrain, not to go off the constructed route, at the same time they have to find the books located on the course, tear out the page corresponding to their number in the marathon, as proof of passing this checkpoint. If the page is lost in the process, the runner is disqualified.

Get involved: only 35 people per year participate in the race, and available spots are filled the day registration begins. Interestingly, potential runners must not only pass a rigorous screening process and meet a number of criteria, but also write an essay on “Why I should be given the opportunity to run this distance.”

Extreme Triathlon (Norseman)

Distance: 220 km.

Norseman is an extreme triathlon event that takes place once a year. Just once a year an athlete can compete for the right to hear “You Are A Norseman” at the finish line. The course itself starts at sea level, where athletes launch from a four-meter ferry into the icy waters of the Hardanger Fjord. They then cross the uninhabited Hardangervidda plateau by bike and finish in the rocky mountains at the top of the highest mountain in southern Norway, Gaustatåtappen, 1,850 meters above sea level and 220 kilometers from the start.

To take part: in 2016, the organizers introduced a new rule, according to which everyone who wants to try his hand at Norseman, participates in a lottery. In case he/she doesn’t get a chance to participate, the next year he/she will get two chances, and another year after that three and so on. A participant is never 100% guaranteed to participate, but each year the likelihood of being allowed to run the race will increase.

Marathon Des Sables.

Distance: 250 kilometers.

The Marathon des Sables was invented by French concert promoter Patrick Bauer. In 1984, he crossed the Sahara alone, covering 350 kilometers in 12 days. The 28-year-old Bauer carried water and food in a 35-kilogram rucksack.

Italian Mauro Prosperi knows better than anyone how difficult this race is. In 1994, he got lost in a sandstorm and was found 11 days later in Algeria. He ran out of water and food after 24 hours. Mauro deviated 291 kilometers from the route and lost 16 kilograms of weight. At some point he decided to stop suffering and opened his veins, but due to dehydration the blood quickly clotted, and the suicide attempt failed.

Interesting fact: if the doctor thinks there is a threat to life and health, he can put an IV. That’s a two hour fine. If the doctor wants to put an IV in a second time – disqualification.

Take part: by the way, you cannot officially register for the Marathon Des Sables through the organizers. You are immediately forwarded to a representative in your country who will help you take part. Applications close on January 14 of this year. The whole trip takes 10 days, the first couple of days are organizational, then the race itself begins with five stages. The course changes every year and is never repeated. The price of the question is 2950 euros.

The Ultraman: three days on the course (The Ultraman)

Distance: 515 kilometers.

The Ultraman is an incredible three-day challenge that is unrivaled by any other running event. The Ultraman race itself is divided into three main stages, ranging from 515 kilometers to 520 kilometers (at different starts).

• Day 1: 10km open water swim and 145km bike stage with a climb of 1800 meters;
• Day 2: 276 km cycling stage with an altitude gain of 1,200 meters;
• Day 3: 84km running stage, which equates to two consecutive marathons.

In the next installment we’ll tell you about the Everest bike race, mountain bike competitions in the desert and how to cross the Atlantic Ocean on a boat with oars.