Billed as "the toughest race in the world," the Tough Guy 2012 competition took place yesterday in Perton, England. Every year, thousands of men and women tackle the course, which is described on the Tough Guy website as eight country miles filled with freezing mud and "barbed wire, cuts, scrapes, burns, dehydration, hypothermia, acrophobia, claustrophobia, electric shocks, sprains, twists, joint dislocation and broken bones." Gathered here are some images of the fun had by the tough competitors in this year's event.

A competitor in fancy dress emerges from muddy water during the Tough Guy Challenge endurance race in Perton, England, on January 29, 2012. Every year thousands of people run the 8 mile assault course which involves freezing temperatures, fire and ice. First staged in 1986, it has been widely described as "the toughest race in the world", with up to one-third of the starters failing to finish in a typical year. (Michael Regan/Getty Images)

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A competitor leaps through fire during the Tough Guy Challenge on January 29, 2012 in Perton, England. (Michael Regan/Getty Images) #

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Competitors in the annual Tough Guy event in Perton, England, on January 29, 2012. (AP Photo/Jon Super) #

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A racer tackles a rope bridge during the Tough Guy Challenge, on January 29, 2012. (Michael Regan/Getty Images) #

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Competitors jump into muddy water during Tough Guy 2012. (Reuters/Darren Staples) #

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A man crawls out of an obstacle in the annual Tough Guy race in Perton, England, on January 29, 2012. (AP Photo/Jon Super) #

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A competitor in fancy dress gasps for air while emerging from muddy water in the Tough Guy Challenge, on January 29, 2012. (Michael Regan/Getty Images) #

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Tough Guy racers climb a cargo net in Perton, England, on January 29, 2012. (Reuters/Darren Staples) #

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A competitor's feet hang from an obstacle during Tough Guy 2012. (AP Photo/Jon Super) #

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A man runs through water during the Tough Guy Challenge, on January 29, 2012. (Michael Regan/Getty Images) #

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Army Physical trainer Steve Green carries a cross at the start of the annual Tough Guy event, in Perton, England, on January 29, 2012. (AP Photo/Jon Super) #

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Men and women tackle a rope bridge during the Tough Guy Challenge on January 29, 2012. (Jamie McDonald/Getty Images) #

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Organizer Billy Wilson, who uses the pseudonym "Mr Mouse", stands at the start of the annual Tough Guy event, in Perton, England, on January 29, 2012. (AP Photo/Jon Super) #

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A racer jumps through fire in Tough Guy 2012, on January 29. (Jamie McDonald/Getty Images) #

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A man crosses an obstacle in the annual Tough Guy event, on January 29, 2012. (AP Photo/Jon Super) #

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A competitor bleeds from a head wound during Tough Guy 2012, in Perton, England, on January 29, 2012. (Reuters/Darren Staples) #

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A costumed racer crawls under barbed wire during the Tough Guy Challenge, on January 29, 2012 in Telford, England. Every year thousands of people run the 8 mile assault course which involves freezing temperatures, fire and ice. (Jamie McDonald/Getty Images) #

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A competitor emerges from muddy water during the Tough Guy Challenge on January 29, 2012. (Michael Regan/Getty Images) #

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Racers cross an obstacle at the annual Tough Guy event, on January 29, 2012. (AP Photo/Jon Super) #

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An injured Tough Guy competitor reacts during the event in Perton, England, on January 29, 2012. (Reuters/Darren Staples) #

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A Tough Guy racer catches his breath during the race, on January 29, 2012. (AP Photo/Jon Super) #

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Competitors cross fiery obstacles at in Tough Guy 2012. (AP Photo/Jon Super) #

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Men and women brave freezing, muddy water during the Tough Guy Challenge endurance race on January 29, 2012. (Michael Regan/Getty Images) #

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A competitor runs barefoot through the cold muck during Tough Guy 2012. (Reuters/Darren Staples) #

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A woman crawls under barbed wire during the Tough Guy Challenge 2012 Perton, England. (Jamie McDonald/Getty Images) #

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A man shakes off the mud, while swimming across a water obstacle at the annual Tough Guy event, on January 29, 2012. (AP Photo/Jon Super) #

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A Tough Guy competitor runs through fire during the endurance race, on January 29, 2012. (Michael Regan/Getty Images) #