July 19, 2013

Tough Guy competition – in pictures

Espen Rasmussen photographs the competitors as they face walls of mud, fields of barbed wire, electric shocks and fire

Tough Guy - Weekend: Participants of the annual Tough Guy competition begin the race — Participants get underway at last year's Tough Guy competition, held in South Perton, Staffordshire. On average, two-thirds of competitors do not finish the 12km race, which consists of cross-country running and an assault course. Photograph: Espen Rasmussen/Panos Pictures

Tough Guy - Weekend: Tough Guy race. Men who carry a wooden cross are allowed to start earlier. — Men carry wooden crosses, which gives them a head start. Photograph: Espen Rasmussen/Panos Pictures

Tough Guy - Weekend: Men climb up a muddy hill at the annual Tough Guy competition — Participants face a wall of mud. Photograph: Espen Rasmussen/Panos Pictures

Tough Guy - Weekend: Men climb along ropes in muddy conditions — Climbing along ropes in cold and muddy conditions. Photograph: Espen Rasmussen/Panos Pictures

Tough Guy - Weekend: A man jumps through a fire before having to wander through a muddy lake. — One competitor jumps through a fire - then has to wade through a muddy lake.
Photograph: Espen Rasmussen/Panos Pictures Photograph: Espen Rasmussen/Espen Rasmussen/Panos Pictures

Tough Guy - Weekend: A mud covered in mud climbs out of a lake — And yet more mud.
Photograph: Espen Rasmussen/Panos Pictures Photograph: Espen Rasmussen/other

Tough Guy - Weekend: Man in blue helping another man in red with cramp in forest — So near and yet so far – one participant near the finish line helps another who has cramp. Photograph: Espen Rasmussen/Panos Pictures

Tough Guy - Weekend: Men run through muddy canal — Meanwhile, back in the mud... Photograph: Espen Rasmussen/Panos Pictures

Tough Guy - Weekend: image showing man's feet in boots standing on some wet planks — Diving under logs in ice-cold water as a marshal no doubt shouts 'encouragement'. Photograph: Espen Rasmussen/Panos Pictures

Tough Guy - Weekend: Semi-naked man - participant in Tough Guy competition — 'Is this the finishing line I see before me?' Photograph: Espen Rasmussen/Panos Pictures

Tough Guy - Weekend: Men in line for a warm shower after finishing the Tough Guy race 2012. — Waiting for a warm shower after completing the course. Photograph: Espen Rasmussen/Panos Pictures

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