It’s not your average obstacle course for the weekend warrior.

Tough Mudder Washington is a hardcore, 12-mile obstacle course designed by British Special Forces to test strength, stamina, mental grit and camaraderie.

Participants of all shapes and sizes – a field of 8,000-10,000 – took turns challenging the unforgiving, grueling course last Sunday at the Palmer Coking Coal Company, off the Maple Valley/Black Diamond Road.

Mudders had to negotiate such obstacles as “Kiss of Mud” – mud under barbed wire – and emerged from frigid water at the “Arctic Enema” obstacle. Mudders crawled through water while trying to avoid being shocked by hanging wires in the “Electric Eel” obstacle. Mudders then climbed “Everest,” an obstacle that included a slipper quarter-pipe. “Electroshock Therapy” obstacle took Mudders through an electrified field just before the finish line.

As the leading company in the booming obstacle course industry, Tough Mudder has already challenged half a million inspiring participants worldwide and raised more than $3 million dollars for the Wounded Warrior Project.

Participants also shaved their heads for a worthy cause. For every shaved head, $4 was credited toward the $100,000 BIC USA Inc. is donating to the Wounded Warrior Project.

The Wounded Warrior Project is a national organization that raises awareness about the needs of injured service members, helps injured service members care for each other and provides unique, direct programs and services to meet their needs.