Sasha Mielczarek Tough Mudder Interview

Sasha Mielczarek Tough Mudder Interview

Tough Mudder Inc. has announced the new face of Tough Mudder Half, Sasha Mielczarek, best known for claiming the heart of Australia's 2015 Bachelorette, Sam Frost.

Sasha will act as a spokesperson for the inaugural events taking place in Sydney and Melbourne in October and November 2016. The new Tough Mudder Half offers Aussies the chance to do a Tough Mudder course that is tough and exciting, yet half the distance of the full course. Sasha will join thousands of Mudders taking part in the Melbourne event in November.

Providing an accessible yet rewarding challenge, Tough Mudder Half is a new 10km event format featuring over a dozen signature Tough Mudder obstacles but excludes the more extreme elements of the original Tough Mudder, like ice, fire and electricity.

After completing a Tough Mudder event in 2012, Sasha knows exactly what it takes to complete the full course and will encourage Aussies to step outside their comfort zone by trying the all new Tough Mudder Half in Sydney or Melbourne this spring.

'I'm passionate about health, fitness and having an active and balanced lifestyle so I'm really excited to be the face of the Tough Mudder Half for 2016. Having played plenty of sport growing up, as well as semi-professional rugby, I was as happy as a tornado in a trailer park when I was asked to represent the Tough Mudder 10km events. Not only because it's a ripper of an event but also to inspire Aussies to challenge themselves to do something they wouldn't normally do," said Sasha.

'From experience I know that Tough Mudder is all about ticker and discovering what you can achieve –both mentally and physically- but more importantly it's about team work and having a good day out with your mates. I remember very clearly the feeling I had crossing the finish line and it was off chops like a vegetarian! To describe it would be an injustice, you just have to go and experience it for yourself!" added Sasha.

Tough Mudder Half events will run concurrently with the full-length Tough Mudder events and provides Aussies from varying athletic backgrounds and abilities a unique and fun experience that is also challenging. Tough Mudder Half is all the mud at half the distance and is the initiation into Mudder Nation that everyone has been waiting for.

'Tough Mudder Australia is excited to be working with Sasha for the Tough Mudder Half," said Paul Mudge, Director of Partnerships and Marketing, Tough Mudder Australia. 'Sasha is a great fit for the new Half format especially since he knows what to expect having completed the full course himself.

'Having Sasha on board will help us to continue to grow the global Tough Mudder tribe, which is a community that represents courage, personal accomplishment, teamwork and camaraderie," finished Paul.

Participants will be able to register for the Tough Mudder Half in both Sydney (Saturday 22nd and Sunday 23rd October 2016) and Melbourne (Saturday 19th and Sunday 20th November 2016). The Half events will take place on the same days as the full Tough Mudder events.

The Tough Mudder and Tough Mudder Half courses will overlap for some of the course where participants will run together and complete shared obstacles.

For more information on 2016 Tough Mudder Half events, visit toughmudder.com.au. Participant and spectator registrations are now open for Melbourne. To join the conversation, follow Tough Mudder on Facebook at facebook.com/toughmudderaustralia, on Twitter @ToughMudder, and on Instagram @Tough_Mudder.

Interview with Sasha Mielczarek

Question: Why did you decide to join Tough Mudder Inc. as the face of Tough Mudder Half?

Sasha Mielczarek: I'm passionate about health, fitness and having an active and balanced lifestyle, so naturally, I'm excited to be the face of the Tough Mudder Half for 2016. Having played plenty of sport growing up, including a fair bit of footy, I was as happy as a dog with two tails when asked to represent the Tough Mudder 10km event. Not only because it's a ripper of an event, but because I get the chance to inspire everyday Aussies to challenge themselves and do something out of their comfort zones.


Question: What's involved in the Tough Mudder Half?

Sasha Mielczarek: The Tough Mudder Half is all about providing an accessible yet rewarding challenge. It brings to the table a 10km event format with more than a dozen signature obstacles. Tough Mudder Half also excludes some of the more hectic elements of the original course, like ice and electricity.


Question: Do you have a favourite obstacle?

Sasha Mielczarek: My favourite would have to be The Block Ness Monster, which is as epic and tricky as ol' Nessie herself. Mudders have to shove, wrench and trundle their way through 60ft of rotating barriers which requires some serious teamwork to get through.


Question: What do you like about participating in Tough Mudder events?

Sasha Mielczarek: From experience I know that Tough Mudder is all about ticker and discovering what you can achieve –both mentally and physically- but more importantly it's about team work and having a good day out with your mates. I remember very clearly the feeling I had crossing the finish line and it was off chops like a vegetarian! To describe it would be an injustice, you just have to go and experience it for yourself!

Question: What training have you been doing for the upcoming Tough Mudder event?

Sasha Mielczarek: With 13 obstacles to take on and 10kms of running to do, I've been doing some cardio, shifting a bit of steel and playing a bit of touch footy with my mates –I've always been an active guy. In saying this, the best thing about Tough Mudder in general is that you don't have to be an Olympic athlete or cut like a picnic lunch to complete the course! You can get through the course at your own pace and best of all you can have a laugh with your mates along the way.


Question: Has Sam Frost joined you in this training?

Sasha Mielczarek: Given we live three hours apart its pretty difficult to get any training done together during the week, and on weekends we just like to relax and hang out. In saying this we love taking our little dog Rocky down the doggie park for a run around and we don't mind cutting some rug on the dance floor when we head out together.


Question: Who is joining you in the Melbourne Tough Mudder Half?

Sasha Mielczarek: I'll be joined by a few mates and more than 10,000 Aussies who will be taking on the Tough Mudder Full and Half course in Melbourne this weekend. It's not too late to join us either. If you think you have missed the boat, there is another one leaving. You can register right up until the day and onsite at the event too. Register for Tough Mudder Half Melbourne at www.toughmudder.com.au


Question: What do participants need to remember to bring to Tough Mudder?

Sasha Mielczarek: Bring your laughing gear and a pair of shoes that you would be happy to never see again. It's such a fantastic day so ensure you bring a red hot attitude as well…we want to see glass half full kind.

Question: What's next for you?

Sasha Mielczarek: I have a heap coming up, I'm as busy as a blow fly at a BBQ. I'll continue working down the coast as a Construction Manager which is something I absolutely love. I love dealing with all walks of life and my job allows me to do this on a daily basis. I'm in the process of starting a workwear company with Dave B from the show, which is exciting. Currently in the thick of Movember aiming to raise $20,000 for Men's Health and Prostate Cancer Research. Lastly, looking forward to a break over Christmas to spend some quality time with friends and family.

 

Interview by Brooke Hunter

Sasha finished both the Tough Mudder Half in Sydney and Melbourne