Rucking University Class 003 AAR

The Classroom

Rucking and Social Fitness w/ Cadre Garrett

Sustain: Presentation of Active Resistance Training and the fundamentals.

Improve: More time spent on the nuts-and-bolts of cultivating and running a rucking club. Facebook vs emails, how often to meet, naming/branding, voting/leadership structure, etc.

Rucking History w/ Cadre Garrett

Sustain: I really enjoyed this, even though it was mostly “filler content” between the more practical/useful instruction.

Improve: Maybe examples of the Haversack, 1943 Mountain Ruck, ALICE, MOLLE, etc for people to try out. I understand they can’t get too far into modern carrying equipment without discussing GORUCK’s market competition. Would also be interested in seeing foreign ruck examples, particularly the British and alpine nations.

Hydration & Nutrition w/ Cadre Garrett

Sustain: Everything. This was the best block of instruction. Good, practical info from both Cadre and other athletes in the class on volumes, ratios, types of food and hydration rates. 

Improve: Nothing

Choosing, Sizing, & Packing Rucks w/ Cadre CT
I kinda tuned out during this one since my ruck/water/weight was all good to go. Cadre CT walked everyone through how to pack a ruck snugly and with the weight high and tight. Part of this became a seminar on “why GORUCK is the best.” Which… I dunno. They are about 50% a gear company you can’t blame them for being proud of their product, but it's kind of preaching to the converted. The people present are either already users or coming from a tactical/military background where they developed their own preferences with other equipment.

Overall

Sustain: Getting the perspectives from 2 Cadre. Brunch was at the perfect time for a break in material and to allow digestion prior to the Light. 

Improve: The projector use was a real weak point for an outdoor class.

The Light

Started with a circuit-based ruck workout. Thrusters, Air-squats, Push-ups, Hillclimbs, Flutter Kicks, I think. Groups were random - not scaled by ability - so some people were not challenged while others were really pushed to their limit.

After that, refilled on water and split into platoons with one Cadre each. Deliver-artillery mission, short dip in a pond, leisurely ruck around the hill and back up for a blister/footcare class.

Sustain: Blister class and patch ceremony on top of the hill was cool.

Improve: I’ve never done a Light before, but it seemed pretty easy and short. Cadre Garrett was very clear that this was the minimum time allowed to earn a light patch. I didn’t expect a real soul-crusher since it’s supposed to be a welcoming introduction to rucking and I know we were up against the hard timehack of starting the 5k, but maybe some casualties, maybe some buddy carries/guerrilla drills?

Rucking University Class 003

Kill That 5K

A little rushed for those of us coming from Rucking University graduation. Definitely should have re-applied sunscreen. No one was really clear on weight classes or heats for the race (answer: 1 start time for everyone, no weight classes). Free jerky from Jack Links was nice. I didn’t see anyone take advantage of the food truck they had arranged for, though. Course volunteers were friendly and gave me position updates at each intersection.

Sustain: Jerky beforehand, electrolyte voodoo beverage afterward.

Improve: SHADE. Seriously; we were baking out there and there was very little shady real estate to pop a squat after the race. This cut way down on the after-race camaraderie. I could have use a water point to hose off. Also maybe an official timekeeper.

Could feel my arms burning at this point

Buffalo Trace Presents: War Stories

Arlyn Studios is the coolest place. I wish we had more time just to explore and read the stuff on the walls. Buffalo Trace + Ginger Beer is something I never would have considered on my own, but it was a pretty good sippin’ cocktail.

All above photos by Sam All or Jill Bates, used with permission

The speakers represented Army-infantry, Navy-SEALs, and Marine-Force Reconnaissance and were each engaging in their own way. I wish we would have had time for Garrett or CT to give an SF perspective.

Product suggestions and questions overheard:

• Tac hats made out of the challenge pant/simple pant material.
• Simple Pants in the “Black Olive” color.
• Will GORUCK release rucks with laser-cut PALS?
• Will GORUCK Cache ever come back? Ingress tie-in maybe?

The weight carried and patches acquired