What is Rucking?

What Is Rucking?
Rucking is a method of working out where you have a weighted backpack or vest during your normal walk, hike, or workout. Rucking was originally military-based, but it was found to be a great functional exercise for almost anyone. There are many benefits of rucking, including building strength and endurance, increasing calorie burning, improving posture, improving joint health with controlled loading, and it is a great, efficient way to get a workout.

Moderations of Rucking
My favorite aspect of rucking is that it can easily be added to my daily activities, such as my walk with my wife and son. I get a bonus workout in and burn more calories, which allows for the occasional donut run! (Shout out Sprinkles Donuts in Ada, please sponsor me.) Rucking can be modified for any level of fitness. You can start with a backpack and a couple of books, or you could load up a specialized backpack for rucking with 50+ pounds. This activity has a low cost to jump in and try something new. You can vary the terrain you walk on as well. You can walk a paved walking trail, or maybe walk through the woods to add some challenge. Aspects like uneven terrain or elevation can increase the difficulty with rucking.

What Rucking Is Really About
If you start rucking and think, “This is not hard enough,” you can always try the Go Ruck Challenge. This is a lofty challenge for those who are looking to push themselves and build a community with others who are rucking. The goal of the event is to have your ruck on for 3 hours and go through a series of challenges given to you by a “Cadre” who is a current or retired special operator from varying military branches. The Go Ruck Challenge has a dual purpose: to raise awareness and funding for veterans. As a person who is always up for a challenge, I joined one of these events and loved it. The goal of the event is to work as a team with the other people who signed up and carry your own ruck and external weight given by the cadre through a series of military-based exercises. It is made clear that this event is not a race, but instead, no man left behind. Some exercises include bear crawl, lunges, squats, walking in sand, crawling in sand, carrying teammates, and carrying sandbags. As you sweat and build community with those struggling with you in the event, you finish with the cadre telling the stories of fallen soldiers and how we can remember them. Each event raises money to aid grieving families. If you are up for the challenge and want to support veterans and their families, check out a Go Ruck Challenge.

If you happen to see me rucking around with my green ruck, please stop me and say hello! Call 616.256.8679 or reach out to any one of our clinics to schedule an appointment.