VOA标准英语2012--'Tough Mudder' Course Tests Mettle, Helps US Veterans

 

'Tough Mudder' Course Tests Mettle¹, Helps US Veterans

"Tough Mudder" is not your typical run in the mountains; it is a world-class military-designed obstacle course. In fact, it's the type of thing you're told never to try at home with gut-wrenching obstacles like muddy, electrified² water, ice, and a scorching³ blaze. It's treacherous⁴ and long, and like any other fulfilling adventure, requires participants to sign a liability waiver.

The 20-kilometer course is hidden in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania. The organizers take pride in calling it "probably the toughest event on the planet."

For the 5,000 registered "mudders," bruises⁵, blood, mud, and costumes are all part of the fun. In fact, the course has become so popular that there are 34 events like it this year covering three continents, with more in the works.

So how do you train for something of this magnitude? And why would you pay money months in advance to do this to yourself?

"It's called commitment. That, and a desire to feel invincible⁷, both in mind and spirit," noted⁸ participant Felix Foster.

Since its founding, Tough Mudder has helped to raise more than $3 million for severely⁹ wounded American servicemen and servicewomen in transitioning to civilian¹⁰ life, through a non-profit organization called The Wounded Warrior¹¹ Project.

"They really highly emphasize our fallen ones and our ones who are out there fighting for us. I just put myself in their shoes at that moment, and was like, wow, this one is for them," said Jermoe Axel Brown, another participant in Tough Mudder.

An eight-man team called the "Militants," four from New York and four from Washington, trained together in the weeks leading to the main event. But there are some things you just can't train for - like an obstacle called the "electric eel⁶."

"They tell you, oh it's 10,000 volts¹² and you're going to get shocked. And by the way, if anyone next to you in the water is going to get shocked, you're going to get shocked too," noted Foster.

And then, after all the training comes the moment of truth. The drumbeats of war, complete with piercing battle cries, in this three-hour rush of adrenaline - it all comes together as one, that feeling that while everything can stand in your way, nothing will stop you.

In just two years since its founding, Tough Mudder has captivated more than 500,000 participants worldwide. It has also managed to raise more than $3 million for a cause the organizers feel is a good fit for the course, The Wounded Warrior Project, which provides recovery programs, counseling and employment services to severely wounded American service members as they transition to civilian life. 

1 mettle   

n.勇气，精神

参考例句：

• When the seas are in turmoil,heroes are on their mettle.沧海横流，方显出英雄本色。
• Each and every one of these soldiers has proved his mettle.这些战士个个都是好样的。

2 electrified   

v.使电气化( electrify的过去式和过去分词 )；使兴奋

参考例句：

• The railway line was electrified in the 1950s. 这条铁路线在20世纪50年代就实现了电气化。
• The national railway system has nearly all been electrified. 全国的铁路系统几乎全部实现了电气化。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 scorching   

adj. 灼热的

参考例句：

• a scorching, pitiless sun 灼热的骄阳
• a scorching critique of the government's economic policy 对政府经济政策的严厉批评

4 treacherous   

adj.不可靠的，有暗藏的危险的；adj.背叛的，背信弃义的

参考例句：

• The surface water made the road treacherous for drivers.路面的积水对驾车者构成危险。
• The frozen snow was treacherous to walk on.在冻雪上行走有潜在危险。

5 bruises   

n.瘀伤，伤痕，擦伤( bruise的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• He was covered with bruises after falling off his bicycle. 他从自行车上摔了下来，摔得浑身伤痕。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The pear had bruises of dark spots. 这个梨子有碰伤的黑斑。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 eel   

n.鳗鲡

参考例句：

• He used an eel spear to catch an eel.他用一只捕鳗叉捕鳗鱼。
• In Suzhou,there was a restaurant that specialized in eel noodles.苏州有一家饭馆，他们那里的招牌菜是鳗鱼面。

7 invincible   

adj.不可征服的，难以制服的

参考例句：

• This football team was once reputed to be invincible.这支足球队曾被誉为无敌的劲旅。
• The workers are invincible as long as they hold together.只要工人团结一致，他们就是不可战胜的。

8 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

9 severely   

adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地

参考例句：

• He was severely criticized and removed from his post.他受到了严厉的批评并且被撤了职。
• He is severely put down for his careless work.他因工作上的粗心大意而受到了严厉的批评。

10 civilian   

adj.平民的，民用的，民众的

参考例句：

• There is no reliable information about civilian casualties.关于平民的伤亡还没有确凿的信息。
• He resigned his commission to take up a civilian job.他辞去军职而从事平民工作。

11 warrior   

n.勇士，武士，斗士

参考例句：

• The young man is a bold warrior.这个年轻人是个很英勇的武士。
• A true warrior values glory and honor above life.一个真正的勇士珍视荣誉胜过生命。

12 volts   

n.（电压单位）伏特( volt的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The floating potential, Vf is usually only a few volts below ground. 浮置电势Vf通常只低于接地电位几伏。 来自辞典例句
• If gamma particles are present, potential differences of several thousand volts can be generated. 如果存在γ粒子，可能产生几千伏的电位差。 来自辞典例句