Tough Kids My Life

These boys are setting off on the Tough Kids Challenge.

It's a gruelling test of endurance, a battle between the body

and the mind,

on one of the most extreme obstacle courses in the country.

It's known as the Tough Guy Challenge.

Each year, over 5,000 adults flock to Wolverhampton

to try to complete the 16-kilometre course.

It's so demanding that many of them don't make it to the finish line.

Hang in there, man.

This legendary race has never been attempted by children - until now.

120 schoolboys will be put to the test like never before.

Running the course are three 12-year-old boys - Jordan,

Sam

and Daniel.

Each has their own battle to fight.

'It was like a sledgehammer hitting my leg, breaking all my bones.'

It's a time of change, a rite of passage.

I couldn't face the fear. I looked down and that's what doubted me.

They will come to understand what it really means to be tough.

You don't have to be tough like with muscles.

You can be tough in your mind.

By taking risks and facing their fears,

these boys will prove to each other and to themselves

they have what it takes to become men.

This is Woodlands school for boys in Coventry.

It's a specialist sports college

but the Tough Guy Challenge is not just a physical test.

It's also a test of the mind.

It's gonna be tough, it's gonna be hard,

there'll be lots of things you don't want to do.

But you need to make sure that you overcome your fears

and that you do the best that you can do physically and mentally.

Go!

TEACHER SHOUTS ENCOURAGEMENT

There's just one week to go before the race.

Head of Sport, Boyd Young, is putting Year 7 through their paces.

They've got to get fit if they're to get through the race.

The course will be run by 120 boys aged 11 and 12.

It's a competition between the six different houses in the school.

For Sam, one of the smallest boys in the group,

it's all about trying your best.

Everyone who takes part is just the winner.

Like, say for instance my friends, they try really hard

so it's not about winning or losing,

it's the taking part.

Superb! This is where it starts to hurt!

Daniel is also one of the smallest boys in the year.

And he has a bad leg.

But he's determined to try his hardest for his house.

Sometimes you can get really tired and you want to give up.

Your body's aching and you've got cuts and bruises.

But you don't want to let your team down so you push on and help them.

Jordan is favourite to win the race.

He won't settle for anything less.

People always think I'm the strongest in Year 7

cos when I play rugby and they try and tackle me, it's impossible.

TEACHER: Catch him up! Come on!

I think pushing yourself to the limit can transform you

by making you realise you can conquer that course.

You, your friends, can look to that day and say, "I remember that day."

Off you go. Go and get changed.

Sam is 12 years old. He lives alone with his mum

but sees his dad at least twice a week.

Since his parents split up,

Sam has become the man of the house.

Being like the right-hand man in the house

is just - I've never done it before - so I'm like a beginner.

But I'm doing quite well.

Me and my mum are like a team

and whatever my mum goes through, I'll stick up for her all the way.

I'm willing to do that for the rest of my life if it has to.

'Sam may be small, but he's very tough.

'He's tough emotionally

'and he's tough physically.'

-What he's got to watch out is not to go too fast too soon.

-Yeah.

You may not win, but hopefully you'll complete it.

-May the best man win.

-Absolutely.

You'll have fun doing it, I think.

I'm a bit nervous of various things,

that you don't hurt yourself and don't fall off anything

or you don't get burnt feet!

But I'm sure it'll all go really well.

My mum, say, if I got in trouble,

she'd be like, "Oh, Sam, no! Sam!"

And if I hurt myself, she'd be all wimpy

but I'm fine with that, cos mums are mums, aren't they?

'Sam and I are really close.

'We look after each other, amuse each other occasionally.'

-Yeah. Definitely.

-And he does the odd driving me mad

-with his beat boxing.

-Beat boxing.

-That's me.

-But, um, yeah, he's been a real support

when times have been tough

and you don't expect that of your own son, especially one so young.

-But you've been brilliant.

-Thanks, Mum.

You're welcome.

MAN CALLS TO HORSES

The Tough Guy Challenge was invented by Billy Wilson,

otherwise known as Mr Mouse.

He used to be a sergeant major in the army with the Grenadier Guards.

Mr Mouse thinks people are too soft on kids these days.

Throughout history, boys have gone through tests of pain and endurance.

These are called rites of passage, or initiations.

He thinks boys become men by taking risks.

We had to go into the army

which taught you how to be a man.

In my day, we did assault courses,

we did army discipline.

This has been used for centuries. Centuries.

And I haven't invented it. I've recreated it.

The race starts with a one-kilometre warm-up run

down the entire length of the course.

They pass through Great Bear woods

and then on to the first major obstacle

known as "The Tiger's Teeth".

It consists of two giant A-frames covered in wooden beams

and cargo netting.

The boys must climb 15 metres to the top

and then scramble down the other side.

They're gonna be thrilled. They'll be full of adrenaline.

They're gonna fly up it.

That's the start of their adventure.

They know there's more beyond it.

This is where it all gets high, high in the mind.

Coming off the tail of The Tiger is the Somme Surprise.

This is followed by the Stalag Escape,

a 20-metre crawl under a tangled web of barbed wire

just inches above their heads.

Its name comes from a terrifying prisoner-of-war camp called Stalag 17,

run by the Germans in World War II.

It gives you a feeling of what it was like

in those days with trenches and barbed wire

and getting out of these prisons.

They've got to get down on their belly and crawl, snake crawl,

elbow after elbow. Blood on your bum and blood on your belly.

The boys then enter an area known as The Killing Fields.

This is the heart of the Tough Guy course.

The main obstacle here is a 15-metre-high rope walkway called

The Behemoth.

Up there, without hook-up wires, without a helmet,

without anything except their capability,

their risk-taking, to hold on and grip those ropes

because if they let them go, where will they fall to?

The boys will run through fire and water.

They'll crawl through the pitch-black tunnels of the Vietcong

then make one final exhausting push uphill to the very last obstacle

at the highest point on the course,

known as Paradise Climb.

The finale is the one where we'll be gritting our teeth

and biting our nails to see them passing over the top of the big one.

This will find out how much strength of character is in the boys

because when you're up there you're either gonna walk it

or you're gonna crawl it, or you're gonna cry it.

12-year-old Daniel has a personal battle to fight in the race.

Four years ago, he was diagnosed with Perthes' Disease,

a rare illness that affects your bones, making them grow differently.

He had two operations on his left leg when he was ten.

He was in a wheelchair for six months

and then on crutches until just a year ago.

Now he's facing the toughest physical challenge of his life.

I'm a bit nervous. I don't think he can do it cos of his leg.

Some days he can walk OK and some days he's in absolute agony.

He's suffered this week with cramp

so I think he's trying to overdo it before.

I'm a bit apprehensive.

'I have been confident, funnily.'

I have tried to stay strong and have been quite chirpy.

But sometimes I do think, "Why me?"

Everyone that sponsored him knows what he's been through.

Even if he just does two obstacles, they're prepared to pay up.

They know he'll do his best. They know he's a fighter.

That's Daniel. Always has been, always will be.

Where he got it from, I don't know. It's not in my genes!

I'm gonna try and do the best I can.

Not overdo it, nor under.

I'm gonna try my best and give it all I've got.

With the big day approaching,

the boys are getting special coaching from a tough guy expert.

Welcome this morning. We are very lucky to have James Appleton here,

who was the winner of the Tough Guy race you're going to do

as Tough Kids. So a big round of applause for James Appleton.

The first thing to know about Tough Guys is it's not a race.

It's an obstacle course designed to test you

and your limits and push you to them.

So it's about survival.

But not in a way that you think, "That was easy."

If you do, you've not tried hard enough.

It's about crossing the finish line with nothing left.

James gives the boys a taster of the challenges they'll face.

This film is all about his epic victory

in the 2009 Tough Guy Challenge.

The reality of the race is suddenly looming large.

It's dangerous and demanding.

When he reached the end of the race, James collapsed on the finish line.

He had to be taken away for treatment by paramedics.

There'll come a point where your body says, "I've had enough.

"I'm tired, cold, wet, muddy.

"I've been bashed about a bit."

But you then have to decide if you're gonna walk for a bit

and not try any harder, or if you're gonna crack on

and toughen up. You have to work that out for yourselves.

That's what it's about, it's about that moment

when you find out whether you've got grit inside you

or whether you're made of lesser stuff.

Don't let it beat you. You have to beat the course.

OK? Good luck with that.

James's pep talk has got the boys worried.

Pre-match nerves are starting to kick in.

Now that I've seen the actual video,

it's got me thinking and I'm scared.

It's got me thinking if I'm really fit to do it

or if I'm really not fit.

Cos I haven't been training much and it's got me a bit nervous.

Getting me scared is like barbed wire and stuff like that.

And being stuck under those tunnels, that gets me quite scared.

I'll probably be gasping for breath cos I've got asthma

so that might be an issue like holding my breath and stuff.

I don't really like tight spaces cos I'm quite claustrophobic.

And crawling through small places is still kind of nerve-wracking.

I took some tips from the guy that won it last time.

He said you've got to be fit and try and when your body says no,

you say yes. I'll try and push on as hard as I can.

12-year-old Jordan comes from Zimbabwe in South Africa.

Two years ago, Jordan's dad died.

He and his 16-year-old brother, Nicholas,

left Africa and came to live with their mum here in Coventry.

Jordan's a very strong-willed boy. He takes a lot of that from his dad.

Some of it from me, I guess!

He's very motivated. If he's gonna do something, he'll do his best.

I couldn't find what I wanted.

They desperately miss their dad.

His dad passed away, it's almost two years now.

But, in saying that, I think he's doing really well.

He continually tells me he's gonna be like his dad.

So I'm not worried in that department.

He'll make a very good man.

My dad died in 2006. He was sick for quite some time.

He was sick for about two years.

And then I knew something bad was gonna happen

when he went into hospital for the sixth or seventh time.

And then the day I was meant to go and see him,

I got the bad news that he had passed away.

So I wasn't really shocked or really emotional

cos I'd expected that to happen.

He was buried on Christmas Day, which is the worst thing ever!

Jordan and his family are on their way to chapel.

They go at least twice a week, sometimes more.

# I know who I am #

Jordan says his belief in himself

comes from his belief in God.

# I know who I am

# I am yours... #

My faith helps my strength cos sometimes when I feel really down

when I'm doing cross country

I like singing the church song or start praying or something

and then I get that energy boost to carry on going.

# Jesus, you are mine. #

It's the day of the race and there's a buzz of excitement in the air.

Really nervous, but really up for it.

Mum's coming to see me today.

We were getting ready this morning and she was all nervous and that.

But she'll cheer me on and encourage me to get through the race.

I think it'll be really good.

Success would be a great honour to have,

and failure would be a big disappointment

and I'll have to come and do the course again

to overcome my fears, if I have any.

I do get asthma sometimes bad

but I've been taking these tablets and they've been helping me

for a couple of years now.

So I might get a bit asthmatic,

but I'll just see how I go.

I'd imagine they're a bit nervous.

The journey was longer than expected. A few turns now and then.

One boy's been sick on the bus, so he's really scared.

Jordan's looking to be the main man. He's trying to get up there.

I think he'll be pushed hard by quite a few of them.

There's a group of them going off for it right from the start.

Fortunately, I haven't got to keep up with them! Good!

Slide down on your bottoms because the grass is a bit wet.

And take it easy at all points.

Less accidents when you're taking it easy.

Are we ready?

-Are we ready?

-ALL: Yes!

Are we ready? Wooooo!

120 boys and 36 staff and sixth formers

are on their way to becoming Tough Guys.

Keeping an eye on all the action is head marshal, Mr Mouse.

Up the hill! Up the hill!

We're at the bridge.

We're at the bridge.

As they move on to the first obstacles,

the boys are settling in to their rhythm.

The group is starting to spread out and Jordan is speeding up.

As I was running along, I was enjoying it.

I didn't care that I was behind

cos I knew that people would tire out sooner or later.

I paced myself, making sure that I didn't cause myself any harm.

Work as a team. Good. Well done!

Jordan has made it to the front,

but behind race leader, Bradley.

They're neck and neck as they approach The Tiger's Teeth.

It's the first major obstacle on the course.

A 15-metre scramble up and over two massive wooden A-frames.

I think it helped to have the pair of us.

If you have someone there, you fight against them

and try your hardest and push on and be strong.

-DANIEL:

-It feels amazing cos you don't really feel anything,

you just run and you don't want to stop. You can't stop.

Even if you're hurting, got a stitch or something,

you still keep running cos you don't want to let your house down.

You want to do the course.

SAM: When I went up those really high obstacles,

I thought, "I've never done this before"

and to go up so high and look at the countryside is an amazing feeling,

but also really scary.

When you climb up, people were struggling.

You want to get past and carry on

but you have to stay behind until they get over.

So it's a bit frustrating.

The boys are half-way through the course.

But most of the toughest challenges are ahead.

While Jordan and Bradley take on the Behemoth,

Sam and Daniel are not far behind.

They're crawling in the mud at the Stalag Escape.

SAM: I thought, "I've got to do this a certain way.

"I've got to keep my head down and do the race and not worry."

You could look up any time

and have a bit of barbed wire sticking in your head.

More and more runners are entering The Killing Fields.

The obstacles are pushing them to their limits

and separating the men from the boys.

Get in. Here's another.

The first casualties are taken by ambulance to be checked over.

But most of the boys are finding their stride, taking risks

and pushing themselves to the max.

Mr Mouse is enjoying the heat of the battle,

watching the boys become men before his very eyes.

The kids have done something unusual.

It's something that when they get home they'll say,

"Marvellous! I did that!

"I did that. Marvellous!"

They certainly will feel that they're a man, completing this.

They did a man's Tough Guy. That's what they did. Fabulous.

They'll be smiling and happy when they finish.

The front runners, Jordan and Bradley,

are coming to the end of the course.

They're about to approach Paradise Climb.

It's the final and most formidable obstacle on the course.

A series of single planks suspended 15 metres in the air.

They're still neck and neck as they start the climb.

Nice and steady!

Jordan's doing fantastic. I hope he keeps the pace. He's doing so well.

But suddenly Jordan freezes in fear at the highest point on the course.

Bradley streaks ahead towards the finish.

But Jordan's legs give way completely.

He has to sit down to steady his nerves and get across.

Sam is back in The Killing Fields, battling with the elements, fire

and water.

The water was so cold! I was freezing, all my body.

I was like, "I can't do this. I can't do this."

It was like a sledgehammer hitting my legs,

breaking every bone in my body. Horrible!

Daniel's height and his bad leg are working against him on the Behemoth.

He's at full stretch on the ropes.

Jordan's hesitation has lost him the race.

Bradley has won and Jordan is only just on his way down.

As Mr Mouse predicted,

the final obstacle is proving to be the biggest test of all.

Some boys simply can't face it and had to walk round.

Others are finding an inner strength and battling with their fears.

Now they find out what it really means to be tough.

It's just scary because you wouldn't know if you went onto another plank

that it was gonna be stable or not.

You just had adrenaline in your head all the way through it.

And the height was just ridiculous!

Well done! You're doing really well!

At the end, I plucked up my courage and I absolutely went for it.

And I'm really glad I did it.

Keep going!

Sam finishes ninth in the race.

Daniel's not far behind on Paradise Climb.

His leg is getting more and more painful.

Come on, mate, you can do it! You've done so well!

I'm so proud of you, mate!

My mum was encouraging me on, so I couldn't really stop.

I was trying to go as fast as I can

but it's really hurting.

It felt like somebody kept stabbing me in different places

on my legs and arms. It feels like sharp pins and it really hurts.

You kind of have to carry on.

I'm so overwhelmed, I really am. Sorry.

I didn't expect that he could do this.

A year ago he was on crutches.

I didn't think he could do this. I'm so... Oh...

I'm just speechless.

I'm so happy for him. So chuffed to bits.

He is really one tough kid.

He really is one tough little cookie.

He's in a lot of pain. I can see it on his face. But he'll finish it.

Crossing the finish line was like a dream come true.

It was amazing cos I was looking forward to that moment

like for six weeks.

And when I crossed, my mum gave me a cuddle and I got a medal

and I felt so chuffed that I had got a medal for doing it.

My mum was very emotional at the end

because she knew I had a bad leg

and I got all the way through this course.

I felt it was quite embarrassing, really.

For me, it's been absolutely fantastic.

The boys have conquered their fears of heights, going through water,

pushing themselves to the limit. Can't fault them. Brilliant.

As the boys thaw out with a hot drink,

it's time for the prize-giving, to find out which house won.

You've been fantastic completing that course.

The team that has won overall

is Ellis.

They're at the top of the tree.

'Tough Guy has really changed my life.

'It's caused me a lot of pain

'but now I know I can do it again.'

It's made me a tougher person

cos I can go to somebody and say, "Have you done that Tough Guy race?"

And they'll say, "No", and I can tell them about it.

So I think it's a really good thing.

Jordan's moment of fear may have cost him the race,

but it's taught him an important lesson.

'As I got to a place where there was just single planks,

I looked down and I think that's what doubted me.

I couldn't overcome one fear that I've been overcoming the whole race.

One thing, by looking down, just doubted me and then I just lost it.

Next time I'm here, I've got something to achieve, to beat.

I think my dad would be really proud

and I think he'd be like, "Don't worry about what's just happened.

"Just carry on and train and become a better person

"even though you never came first.

"You win some, you lose some.

"Life isn't always about winning." I think he'd be really proud.

'I was a 12-year-old boy,

'a normal 12-year-old.

'But then I became a 12-year-old man, a strong man,

'cos I completed the course.'

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd