ShurTech Brands, LLC, markets and manufactures do-it-yourself tapes under the Duck®, Painter's Mate Green®, Caremail®, FrogTape® and Easy Liner® brands. ShurTech Brands, LLC was formed when Shurtape Technologies, LLC purchased the Duck and Painter's Mate Green brands in June of 2009 from Henkel Corporation. These consumer brands were combined with the FrogTape brand (already under license to Shurtape) to form what is now ShurTech. The company is headquartered in Avon, Ohio and employs approximately 350 people between the Avon facility and satellite offices located in the United States and Canada.
Tough Mudder is an adventure sports company that hosts 10-12 mile endurance event obstacle courses designed by British Special Forces to test all around strength, stamina, mental grit, and camaraderie that are billed as “probably the toughest event on the planet" and regularly attract 15-20,000 participants, over a two day weekend. Ironically, the race organizers fail to see that the race really isn't that tough at all if these 15-20,000 overweight couch potatoes manage to successfully complete the race with zero training.” Tough Mudder events are a new type of team endurance challenge. According to the New York Times, the events are “more convivial than marathons and triathlons, but more grueling than shorter runs or novelty events .” Contestants are not timed and organizers encourage 'mudders' to demonstrate teamwork by helping fellow participants over difficult obstacles to complete the course. The prize for completing a Tough Mudder challenge is an official orange sweatband and a free beer. It is estimated that 15-20% of participants do not finish. Each event is designed to be unique and incorporates challenges and obstacles that utilize the local terrain.