Prologue – DO NOT OVERCOMPLICATE RUCKING…he declared as he introduces a multi-volume Rucking Series. The irony is not lost on me. But you don’t have to read any of this treatise. Rucking can be a simple as putting a couple of pounds in a book bag and going for a walk. At first, don’t go too far, too heavy, or too fast but it can be that simple. Just walk with a load. You don’t need permission, it doesn’t require a community, and there is no specific brand, bag, boot, or weight that somehow grants you access to an exclusive club. You can just load up and go and now you are rucking. The barrier to entry is just a bag, any bag, and walking. But we think there is some value in the nuances of these sorts of things. We like the little details, and we are passionate about our passions, go figure. So, we will endeavor to answer all your questions before you even know what questions to ask. Ruck Up.

The best way to build rucking performance is field based progressive load carriage, usually 2-3 times a week, focused on short intense sessions. This statement is at the core of our ruck programming, and it garners more criticism than almost anything else. This shouldn’t be contentious, but it is.

A few weeks ago, I had an exchange with a guy who claimed that rucking was not important for SFAS. This is, of course, absurd and self-apparent. But said heretic demanded the data…so here it is. This question could be interpreted a few ways, so I’ll address the two most common/important. First, how important is rucking to getting selected; second, how important is rucking in preparing for SFAS.

Whether you’re prepping for SFAS, just rucking for fun, or building a solid base for some upcoming school, field time, or general purpose your feet need to be ready. Let’s take a few minutes to get them ready for a lifetime of abuse. It’s never too late to start this and this is a “skill” that will serve you well no matter what career you end up pursuing.

Just going through my gear and getting reset after last weeks land nav adventure and I thought I'd share a little weekend project that you can put together.

The Slosh Pipe - Here’s an easy piece of kit to add to your workout regimen. One of the key weaknesses that will inhibit your ruck performance progress and is often cited by Team Week survivors is core strength. The Slosh Pipe addresses this weakness.

There’s been lots and lots of questions…and confusion…regarding run prep lately, so I thought a post was in order.

This is easily in the Top 5 of post frequency…”How do I go faster?” I find myself writing the same responses often, so it’s time for a post. We’ll cover both running and rucking.