Review "Tough Mudder LLC" (page 31 of your text). Prepare a written response to the first three case questions immediately following the case (these appear at the bottom of page 34 in the print version of the 2nd edition). Submit this item by May 17, which is Sunday of week 2 (you are welcome to submit early).
Tough Mudder LLC: Turning mud runs into a global business
Really tough. But really fun. When I got back to the office on Monday morning, I looked at my colleagues and thought: ‘And what did you do over the weekend?’
Tough Mudder participant
Introduction
Tough Mudder LLC is a New York-based company that hosts endurance obstacle events – a rapidly growing sport also known as ‘mud runs’. During 2014, over one million participants will each pay between $100 and $180 to tackle a 10- to 12-mile Tough Mudder course featuring 15 to 20 challenging obstacles at 60 different locations in nine different countries. The obstacles include wading through a dumpster filled with ice (the Arctic Enema), crawling through a series of pipes part-filled with mud (Boa Constrictor) and dashing through live wires carrying up to 10 000 volts (Electroshock Therapy). Tough Mudder’s website describes the experience as follows:
Tough Mudder events are hardcore obstacle courses designed to test your all around strength, stamina, mental grit and camaraderie. With the most innovative courses, over one million inspiring participants worldwide to date, and more than $5 million raised for the Wounded Warrior Project, Tough Mudder is the premier adventure challenge series in the world. But Tough Mudder is more than an event; it’s a way of thinking. By running a Tough Mudder challenge, you’ll unlock a true sense of accomplishment, have a great time and discover a camaraderie with your fellow participants that’s experienced all too rarely these days.45