A Brooklyn-based fitness company that has been whipping adults into shape with a military-style obstacle courses is expanding to help children, too. As part our Fit-Kids February coverage, NY1's Jeanine Ramirez filed this report.
They are skills that children use on the playground, only this playground is an obstacle course filled with mud and other grimy hurdles.
"One of my personal favorites is 'Gooey Shoes'. What we've done with this obstacle is actually taken a fluid that's called non-neutonian fluid and we've turned it into slime for kids on course and they'll be running over it, through it and trying not to get stuck in it as they go," says Daniella Sloane, Tough Mudder's director of product.
This physical challenge for kids is the newest offering from the company Tough Mudder—which sets up military style endurance runs worldwide.
The Brooklyn-based outfit started in 2010 with team-building fitness events. First came the Tough Mudder, then the Mudderella—designed for women. Now, there's a kids course called the Fruit Shoot Mini Mudder. Named in part for its partnershp with a kids fruit drink, the mile long adventure targets kids 7 to 12 years old.
"We've created a bunch of obstacles that will work whether you're short of whether you're tall. If you're at least 42 inches you're going to have a good time and you're going to have to work with your fellow teammates to make it through," Sloane says.
Participants are not timed. Tough Mudder says all of its events are not competitions but rather challenges to push harder and accomplish goals.
"We asked kids what they wanted. We had some focus groups, some test events, and we really found that what people are looking for is something that's totally off the map," says Sloane.
Parents and kids can explore their adventurous sides at the same time. Mini Mudders will be created alongside the adult activities.
The first Mini Mudder event takes place in March in Florida. The first New York area event is scheduled for May.
There are more than 60 Tough Mudder events planned for this year. For more information you can visit toughmudder.com.