This is fun. The Atlantic Cities has a piece of New York bike commuting featuring some of the work from my #BikeNYC project. Check it out!

Around 1200 seriously badass individuals (including 100 women) took part in World’s Toughest Mudder on November 17-18 at Raceway Park in New Jersey. Quick refresher: Unlike a “regular” Tough Mudder event, where participants complete a 10-12 obstacle course and which is explicitly not a race, World’s Toughest is a competition, with cash prizes for top male, female, and team finishers. The other difference is that WTM goes for 24 hours straight. Completing the course circuit counts as one lap. The mudder with the most completed laps at the end of the 24 hours wins.

Junyong Pak, last year’s winner, took the top prize again this time, completing 9 laps total. The top female finisher was Amelia Boone, who also completed 9 laps and at one point was only a couple of minutes behind Pak on their final lap. Just to reiterate: 9 laps – that’s a total distance of 90 miles, plus 32 obstacles each lap. “Nine Inch Males” took the team prize.

I was shooting from 7AM on Saturday until about 5PM, at which  point I went to HQ to warm up and post the first gallery on Tough Mudder’s Facebook. Then it was back out for the night shooting. I caught some Zs between midnight and 2AM but excitement and hearing updates over the walkie soon had me back out trying to track down the leaders for some night shots before the final push Sunday morning. So I was preeeeetty tired by the end of it, but possibly not as much as Pak, Amelia, and the hundreds of determined athletes I saw powering through all day and all night.

Tough Mudder has a great recap of the event here. I’ve got pictures below.

Each participant had access to a tent in the pit area where they could recharge/sleep/eat/change after each lap.
The view from HQA team from the Wounded Warrior Project carried the banner A blend of competition and camaraderie unique to Tough Mudder
I caught up with Pak in the middle of the night.

Amelia, the female winner, going through Electric Eel for the 9th time.Yeah, that’s a layer of ice on the ramp from Arctic Enema.Pouring hot chicken broth on their teammate’s feet to warm them up

“Nine Inch Males” study the leader board and try to decide whether to turn in their chips or start another lap.

fAmelia and Pak cross paths at the tire drag. She was about 9 minutes back at this point.

I will be the sole Tough Mudder photographer out there, so I’m well armed with cameras, batteries, memory cards, and, most important, foot warmers.

It’s going to be cold, wet, and dark. I can’t wait. My photos will be up on Tough Mudder’s Facebook page on Saturday afternoon and more on Sunday. I’ll also be doing regular updates of this nutty event on my Instagram.

And now for something completely unrelated to Tough Mudder. I’ve just finished  shooting a 2013 Calendar with with my friend Sheryl, a.k.a. Bitch Cakes the famous weight loss / fitness / lifestyle blogger (and fellow Greenpoint resident). I first met Sheryl 2 years ago when I photographed her for my #BikeNYC project. Since May 2011, we have been working off and on when our schedules allowed it to photograph 12 + spreads. Sheryl describes the style as “part pin-up cute and part NYC worship” and this is about right. All the photos were shot on location in Manhattan and Brooklyn at Sheryl’s favorite landmarks, neighborhoods and businesses.

Sheryl’s fans have been urging her to do a calendar for years, and  we’re finally done! And we are proud of the results.

Hit up Sheryl’s announcement blog post to read more and to buy the calendar.

Wall detail at Jo’s Hot Coffee and Good Food in Austin, TX. Great iced coffee. Can’t vouch for the beer and ciggies.

Buy this photo as a limited edition signed print:

More Photos of the Day.

Today’s PotD is for the coffee lovers. After a long summer of cold-brewing iced coffee, it’s time to go back to the trusty, beautiful Moka.

Driving on my way to Day 2 of Tough Mudder Seattle on a cold, misty morning in early fall.

Like this one? Purchase a limited edition signed print.

More Photos of the Day.

Shot Tough Mudder Seattle last weekend. My first time in that city – I really loved it. The course was about 45 minutes away at Palmer Coking Coal Company in Black Diamond, WA. Coal country – which meant scary black mud aplenty. Day 1 (Saturday) was overcast and wet. Day 2 was sunny and gorgeous and gave us a new sight – Mt. Rainier peeking out in the distance. Here are some of my favorite shots from the event.

The governor of Washington showed up!