Deadly Dozen vs Tough Mudder: distance, stations, price & difficulty compared (2026-27)

Deadly Dozen is a hybrid fitness race that began with a track race in Macclesfield, England, in mid-2024, founded by Jason Curtis. In the original Track Race, athletes alternate twelve 400 m runs, called Journeys, with twelve functional exercise stations, called Labours, for 4.8 km of running in total.

Athletes can race solo, as pairs who share the Labours, or as a relay team taking turns. Alongside the Track Race, the brand runs Deadly Sprint, Ultra and Hybrid formats, a youth race, a swim edition and gym-based races, including strength and barbell formats, through affiliate gyms. UK track races are held at athletics venues such as Lee Valley, Sheffield, Middlesbrough, Bristol, Macclesfield, Edinburgh, Crawley, Liverpool and Portsmouth, and the organisers say the network now spans 44 countries. First-timers are welcome, and the movements are designed to be accessible while still demanding.

Tough Mudder is an obstacle course event series founded in 2010 by Will Dean and Guy Livingstone, with its first event in Pennsylvania, USA. It has been owned by Spartan Race since 2020. Events are held mainly in the United States and Canada, with regional editions in the UK and other countries.

The main formats are Tough Mudder 5K, with 12 or more obstacles, and Tough Mudder 15K, with 20 or more obstacles over a 15 km course. Infinity events and the World's Toughest Mudder are 8, 12 and 24-hour endurance challenges. Signature obstacles include Arctic Enema, Mudderhorn and Electroshock Therapy. Tough Mudder is built around teamwork rather than finishing times, and most participants sign up as a team. The 5K suits newcomers and groups, while the 15K and endurance formats call for solid running fitness and upper-body strength.