Rucking: What it means to me

One of my best friends, Joe, introduced me to rucking back in 2014. At the time, I was deep in the CrossFit and Olympic Weightlifting world, so I was excited to try something new.

Especially something that brought a different kind of challenge, both mentally and physically.

That led me to buying my first ruck from GORUCK and signing up for my first event in downtown Chicago with another good friend… also named Joe.

Ever since that first event, I’ve been hooked. And honestly, the older I get, the more I appreciate it as a tool in my arsenal.

From a durability, resiliency, and longevity standpoint, rucking is one of the best options out there. You’re not beating your joints into the ground with endless running miles, but you’re still building real strength, crazy work capacity, and mental toughness in a very primal way.

Your shoulders, traps, upper back, core, legs… all of it gets tested. When I ruck consistently, I feel more put together, stronger, and overall more capable as a human being.

Over the years, I’ve pushed myself to the limit with 12-milers, marathons, 50-milers, a 100-miler, and 24–48 hour challenges. Through all of it, rucking has remained a staple in my training.

It doesn’t matter if you’re a teenager or 70 years old.

• Throw a 10–30 lb plate in a backpack and go for 2–3 miles
• Push the intensity with a heavier 1–2 mile effort using 50–60+ lbs
• Build endurance with longer distances
• Test yourself in one of GORUCK’s team-based events and meet awesome people along the way

Rucking is for everyone. We were meant to move. So move.