The opportunity to Ruck 22k (13+ miles) with The Inglorious Ruckers on May 22, 2021 was a unique challenge for me. I was excited to help raise awareness for a great cause with an amazing & diverse group of people while also challenging my own physical fitness & mental toughness. My fitness level has suffered over the last couple of years, especially with the pandemic. But I told myself, “Hey… It’s just walking, right? It can’t be THAT bad!” Famous last words…
“Hey… It’s just walking, right? It can’t be THAT bad!” Famous last words…
I’m an introvert by nature. I’m not a very social person and I keep my circle of friends very small. Even in my fitness journey, when I first started out I was a complete loner. I didn’t have any workout buddies. But I was a “regular” at the gym so I soon became part of that community and later on I joined a CrossFit community. After 20 years, I still prefer to do most of my workouts solo, but when it comes to real physical challenges, I prefer to be part of a group… I prefer shared suffering.
Saturday May 22nd was a gorgeous morning at the Barnegat Trail. We all knew it was going to be pretty hot & most were prepared with plenty of water (although not quite acclimated to 90° fahrenheit yet). We had a nice sized group of people at various levels, all happy to be there. I started at the back with my friends Maria & Jon & their dog, but slowly separated from them after a couple of miles. I wanted to pick up my pace & catch up to my BFF Dana. When I did she was keeping pace with a new friend Josmar. I remember feeling really good… Unusually good for that pace with 20 lbs in my ruck. Knowing that my longest ruck prior to that was 8 miles with 15 lbs, I joked that the last half was probably going to be significantly harder (and more painful) than this first half. Truer words were never spoken.
Little by little, everything started to hurt & the heat was taking its toll. At one point Dana called her husband to check on something. After she hung up she joked that she should’ve told him to come get us. About a half mile later I said I should’ve stashed a couple of bikes in the woods. “Whose idea was this anyway?!?!” she yelled with a laugh. I admitted it was mine, “But it’s just walking!” We laughed through the pain realizing just how right I was in the beginning. But it wasn’t just the 2nd half being more challenging. It was the last 2 miles feeling like a marathon. My feet were blistered, hamstrings giving out with every step, friction burn on my back from my sweaty shirt & my ruck, my hands were crazy swollen and I was running low on water. THIS is where my lack of mental toughness usually rears its ugly head. But thanks to Dana and a few David Goggins motivational YouTube videos, we made it!
Sharing your pain with others & being able to encourage one another keeps us from quitting when we think we can’t go on.
I’ve done triathlons, Spartan races and CrossFit competitions, and this 22k ranks up there with the most humbling experiences. Starting out on such a high note and finishing 4 hours later feeling pretty broken. It’s nothing compared to the cause behind this Ruck. But there is a parallel. Suffering together makes all the difference in my opinion. It’s the difference between giving up & finishing. Sharing your pain with others & being able to encourage one another keeps us from quitting when we think we can’t go on. I’m grateful for the ability to take part in experiences like this and grateful to the Inglorious Ruckers for providing them.
Inglorious Ruckers 