GORUCK: Put Your Team Before Yourself

By Marla Milling February 3, 2015

goruck put team 2 — Image used with permission by copyright holder

You may think your fitness routine is working for you, but have you ever considered training military style? GORUCK provides the opportunity to push the edge of the envelope on your mental and physical endurance while learning how to work effectively as part of a team.

Founder Jason McCarthy enlisted in the military after 9/11 and eventually served with the Green Berets, known as some of the world’s most elite warfighters. He created GORUCK in 2008 with his childhood best friend, Jack Barley. Their vision gives participants the opportunity to experience the world of a soldier first hand.

They came up with the name by combining “go” with “ruck,” which stands for rucksack. As a noun, a rucksack is a backpack, but as a verb “to ruck” means to move with a rucksack implying action, energy and purpose.

You can choose how much you want to sign up for—from a couple hours to a multi-day expedition. It’s grueling, so check in with your doctor first if you have any health concerns. You’ll be signing a “death waiver” if you take part, so be prepared. The goal isn’t to come in first. The goal for GORUCK events is to finish. Your mantra should be “Don’t quit.”

GORUCK offers a variety of events—all open to the public—but the recommended place to begin is with a “Good Livin” event, which are detailed here.

In addition to events, GORUCK offers gear built to last a lifetime. Gear includes a variety of rucksacks, bags, apparel, patches, training sandbags, firearms gear and more. Products are made in the U.S. and come with a lifetime guarantee.

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Marla Hardee Milling is a full-time freelance writer living in a place often called the Paris of the South, Sante Fe of the…

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