But some people seem to thrive on it.
More than a hundred competitors lined up at St Catherine’s breakwater early yesterday to take part in the eighth annual Balls of Steel challenge.
Organiser John Fox says he stages the event in January because that’s when the elements are at their worst, and because it gives competitors a challenge early on in the year.
He also does it to raise money for local charities. Those benefiting this year were Jersey Cheshire Homes, Autism Jersey and CF Research.
The challenge begins with competitors running the length of St Catherine’s breakwater and back, before heading into St Catherine’s Woods. Many of this year’s runners were in fancy dress and included superheroes, a team of huntsmen, and various dogs and other animals.
Then it’s along some of the narrow roads of St Martin and up to the specially designed assault course in the grounds of the adventure centre in the former Haut de la Garenne building.
By now exhausted the competitors’ strength, skill and stamina are tested to the max. It’s difficulty to walk along a slippery wooden beam when you’ve just run eight miles.
What’s perhaps even more daunting is seeing ‘ouch’ sprayed on the grass before you crawl under the electric fence. Fortunately though that challenge comes before wading through two skips full of near freezin