Q

What's driving the popularity of extreme obstacle racing?

Navigating electrical wires, wading through deep pits of mud, swimming through freezing water — one person's worst fears are another's workout.
A competitor participates in the Tough Mudder challenge near Henley-on-Thames in southern England. (Eddie Keogh/Reuters)

Navigating electrical wires, wading through deep pits of mud, swimming through freezing water — these are just some of the tasks facing those who enter the world of extreme obstacle races.

For insight on the culture of these gruelling events, guest host Candy Palmater checks in with Spartan Race participant Tony Matesi as well as Gavin Weedon, UBC Kinesiology PhD student, whose research focuses on these extreme obstacle courses.