Billed as "the safest most dangerous taste of physical and mental endurance pain in the world", the Tough Guy Challenge took place on South Perton Farm, near Wolverhampton, England. Thousands of challengers (men and women) started the endurance race, with hundreds dropping out along the way due to exhaustion or injury - broken bones, dislocations, and over 600 cases of hypothermia. Even the overall winner, James Appleton, was treated briefly for hypothermia. The course takes racers through 21 obstacles - through mud, freezing water, across ropes and burning terrain. The challenge is also a fundraiser for charity, with funds going to the Mr. Mouse Farm for Unfortunates, which looks after hundreds of retired horses and provides jobs to young offenders. Here are a handful of photos from race.
Competitors are pushed to the limits as they compete in the 2009 Tough Guy Challenge in Wolverhampton, England.
A racer gasps for air after emerging from an underwater obstacle during the Tough Guy Challenge 2009.
A competitor scrambles in the mud under barbed wire during the Tough Guy Challenge 2009 at South Perton Farm
Challengers climb the penultimate hill during the Tough Guy event.
A man runs through fire during the Tough Guy Challenge at South Perton Farm
A competitor crawls across ropes during the Tough Guy Challenge
An exhausted racer in the mud during the Tough Guy Challenge
Competitors leap across burning obstacles in the 2009 Tough Guy Challenge
A man struggles through the Water Tunnel as others approach from behind during the Tough Guy Challenge at South Perton Farm
A mud-covered challenger reacts during the Tough Guy Challenge
An exhausted racer warms himself as snow flies during the the 2009 Tough Guy Challenge
After emerging from a ditch, competitors run through fire during the Tough Guy Challenge at South Perton Farm in Wolverhampton, England.
Tough Guy challengers scramble in the mud under barbed wire during the Tough Guy Challenge 2009 at South Perton Farm
A competitor runs through fire during the Tough Guy Challenge 2009 at South Perton Farm in Wolverhampton, England.
Racers make their away across a rope obstacle in the 2009 Tough Guy Challengein Wolverhampton, England.
A man is seen approaching a fire obstacle during the 2009 Tough Guy Challenge
Competitors brave water, fire and smoke during the Tough Guy Challenge 2009 at South Perton Farm
A challenger emerges from icy water during the Tough Guy Challenge 2009 at South Perton Farm
A competitor emerges from muddy water, clearing his airway during the Tough Guy Challenge, at South Perton Farm, near Wolverhampton, central England
A man runs through fire during the Tough Guy Challenge 2009 at South Perton Farm in Wolverhampton, England.source
Competitors are pushed to the limits as they compete in the 2009 Tough Guy Challenge in Wolverhampton, England.
A racer gasps for air after emerging from an underwater obstacle during the Tough Guy Challenge 2009.
A competitor scrambles in the mud under barbed wire during the Tough Guy Challenge 2009 at South Perton Farm
Challengers climb the penultimate hill during the Tough Guy event.
A man runs through fire during the Tough Guy Challenge at South Perton Farm
A competitor crawls across ropes during the Tough Guy Challenge
An exhausted racer in the mud during the Tough Guy Challenge
Competitors leap across burning obstacles in the 2009 Tough Guy Challenge
A man struggles through the Water Tunnel as others approach from behind during the Tough Guy Challenge at South Perton Farm
A mud-covered challenger reacts during the Tough Guy Challenge
An exhausted racer warms himself as snow flies during the the 2009 Tough Guy Challenge
After emerging from a ditch, competitors run through fire during the Tough Guy Challenge at South Perton Farm in Wolverhampton, England.
Tough Guy challengers scramble in the mud under barbed wire during the Tough Guy Challenge 2009 at South Perton Farm
A competitor runs through fire during the Tough Guy Challenge 2009 at South Perton Farm in Wolverhampton, England.
Racers make their away across a rope obstacle in the 2009 Tough Guy Challengein Wolverhampton, England.
A man is seen approaching a fire obstacle during the 2009 Tough Guy Challenge
Competitors brave water, fire and smoke during the Tough Guy Challenge 2009 at South Perton Farm
A challenger emerges from icy water during the Tough Guy Challenge 2009 at South Perton Farm
A competitor emerges from muddy water, clearing his airway during the Tough Guy Challenge, at South Perton Farm, near Wolverhampton, central England
A man runs through fire during the Tough Guy Challenge 2009 at South Perton Farm in Wolverhampton, England.source