UNITED KINGDOM: Unemployed Londoner battered but happy to win Tough Guy race

Muddy and bruised and exhausted, unemployed Londoner Tom Owens emerged as the winner of the Tough Guy race in Staffordshore, United Kingdom on Sunday (January 29). It took him 77 minutes to beat over a thousand rivals in the event billed as one of the toughest on earth. Following an eight-mile run, starting in the village of Old Perton in the English midlands, competitors then faced an horrific two-mile obstacle course designed by a former Grenadier Guardsman. The task involves men and women wading through energy-sapping mud and plunging into ice cold water to reach their goal. As if this wasn't bad enough they also had to negotiate flames, smoke bombs and taunting marshalls. " It was cold, tough, exhilarating, awesome," said Owens, 24, who said he'd love to come back and try it again next year. The course is so scary that runners are required to sign a disclaimer which reads : "It's my own bloody fault for being here" just to take part. Nevertheless emergency workers were pleased to report that they didn't have to deal with any cases more serious than exhaustion, bruised egos and mild hypothermia. Money raised from the event goes towards a horse and donkey charity in the area. A quirky story.

ITN Source | January 15, 2006

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