WINNIPEG – Dark, cold and wet: they’re things most people avoid. Johnny Fukumoto though will run right through it.
“It’s going to be a huge learning curve,” said the Winnipegger.
Fukumoto will be one of 1,000 people competing in this weekend’s World’s Toughest Mudder in the Nevada desert. It’s a 24-hour endurance event with racers trying to complete as many obstacle filled, five-mile laps as they can.
“It’s pretty much using everything you have for a long period of time,” said Fukumoto. “The unknown is part of that experience. It’s not a good thing for people who don’t like surprises.”
This year’s World’s Toughest Mudder is Fukumoto’s first. He’s aiming to log between 80 and 120 kilometres.
“I really don’t have an expectation,” said Fukumoto. “I would love to still be going at the end. If I’m still going at the end, I’ll be doing way better than I thought.”
Fuelling Fukumoto during the race will be things he doesn’t recommend people eat.
“Baked potato with salt all over it, pizza, just whatever I can get the most calories in a short period of time,” said Fukumoto. “Straight sugar, straight salt just so your body doesn’t cramp and shut down.”
Despite being a World’s Toughest Mudder rookie, Fukumoto has run obstacle races before, winning three last year alone. He decided to make the jump to see how far he can push himself.
“To become better, you have to surround yourself with people who are better than you or crazier in a way,” said Fukumoto. “Then you feel you can be pulled along to that next level.”
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