How do you feel about ruck runs/marches for PT?

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 15 Jul 2014 23:25:26 -0400

I like to load up, around 45 lbs for 3-4 mile rucks and lighten my load to 25-35 for longer distances. I've been doing this, on straightaways and hilly terrain for about three years now. One of the best PT tools I was introduced to in my Officer Leadership course. Love me some 'rucking, but I rarely find other soldiers wanting to participate. What are your experiences with this fabulous workout?

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 15 at 2014 11:26 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 15 Jul 2014 23:26:43 -0400

I love it...great to help build endurance!

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 15 at 2014 11:31 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 15 Jul 2014 23:31:35 -0400

Holy cow. Where have you people been. I love rucking. I go off to a trail in the woods and ruck. Being away from a military base I just wear civilians but it is such a great exercise on so many levels. It also builds mental toughness. It is not all that hard but it will mess with your head if you let it. I am cautious about running with a ruck. I still do it for when I go down hill but it wears on your. Kudos to you.

Response by Cpl Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 15 at 2014 11:38 PM

Cpl Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 15 Jul 2014 23:38:53 -0400

I enjoy it now as a civi. My last camping trip, I packed in about 65 lbs up a 3 mile hill. I can't wait to hit it again. There are a few places here in TX that I can do primitive camping. Some trails take you in 10 to 20 miles. I just need to work on my endurance, since I just started again after a long stretch of laziness. Yes I know, no excuses! Maybe. I'll try out for the Naked and Afraid reality show, LOL!

Response by SSG V. Michelle Woods made Jul 15 at 2014 11:55 PM

SSG V. Michelle Woods — Tue, 15 Jul 2014 23:55:16 -0400

For me personally, rucking absolutely destroys my body. It leaves me feeling like my chest is caving in, my knees are deteriorated and my ankles demolished. I asked an SF medic what he thought about rucking and he said "It's stupid. It does nothing for your body except hurt you."

I took that to heart and he advised I start doing more strength training. Strengthening my legs, rower machine, upper body and chest exercises. I never would have exercised most of those muscles because frankly, I care more about having a bikini body. The Soldier in me however has to be able to ruck and I found those exercises really help me with rucking, when I have to do it.

Response by SGT Ben Keen made Jul 16 at 2014 9:05 AM

SGT Ben Keen — Wed, 16 Jul 2014 09:05:13 -0400

To me personally, I think some people can really see benefits from rucking while others go about it in a dumb way. What I mean is people need to work up to the longer distances with heavier rucks. You can't just wake up one day, grab your ruck, put in 50 lbs of crap and hit the road. Rucking is a collective exercise putting all your other physical training to the test. Think about it, if you have a hard time completing a 2 mile run in just your PTs, what makes you think you are ready for a 12 mile 35 lbs ruck? Build up to it. You don't really see people going into the gym and throwing on 200 lbs on the bench and nailing it.

Response by LTC Paul Labrador made Jul 16 at 2014 11:22 AM

LTC Paul Labrador — Wed, 16 Jul 2014 11:22:21 -0400

I have short legs. Rucking SUCKS for me. While most of you are merely striding it out, I have to RUN to keep up. Besides, at my age, my back can't handle that kind of PT anymore.

Response by CW5 Sam R. Baker made Jul 16 at 2014 2:00 PM

CW5 Sam R. Baker — Wed, 16 Jul 2014 14:00:05 -0400

I am still trying to figure out why when we do it quarterly for 12 miles at the 101st, why units waste time doing 4, 6 and 9 milers building up to it. If it is quarterly and just like the semi-annual APFT, it should be inherently obvious that one maintain the ability individually and not waste unit training time.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 16 at 2014 2:36 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 16 Jul 2014 14:36:05 -0400

I love it, unfortunately in most units I have been in, it was rarely done

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 16 at 2014 3:04 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 16 Jul 2014 15:04:29 -0400

I love them. However, ruck runs are horrible for the joints and knees. So I do them in special occasions.

Response by GySgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 16 at 2014 5:43 PM

GySgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 16 Jul 2014 17:43:52 -0400

I use to do these things a lot but like many, my knees are now shot :(

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 16 at 2014 9:00 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 16 Jul 2014 21:00:43 -0400

I enjoy ruck marches during PT, I have been know to do a ruck on my own time during the weekends. I think its a great event to conduct for PT, it works your whole body. Yes if you are not wearing the right boots could this destroy your boots of course it will just like wearing the wrong running shoes will do the same. Another PT event I like to do IBA/IOTV runs I think they are also great.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 16 at 2014 9:54 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 16 Jul 2014 21:54:32 -0400

I like to "ruck" 2-3 times per week in the summer to get my legs. It helps with APFT as it strengthens my quads. I usually go with about a 45 pound pack and do 3-5 miles. No matter the distance, I push to maintain a 15:00 mile or better pace for the entire distance.

Response by CSM Michael J. Uhlig made Jul 17 at 2014 3:31 PM

CSM Michael J. Uhlig — Thu, 17 Jul 2014 15:31:18 -0400

Great to add this to your program and get some variety while challenge your mind & body

Response by MSG Wally Carmichael made Jul 22 at 2014 1:53 PM

MSG Wally Carmichael — Tue, 22 Jul 2014 13:53:13 -0400

That's a great question SPC Mulder.
I don't use the H-word often but there's two things I hate about the Army. CQ/Staff duty or any 24 hour duty. It's just stupid to put Soldiers through that. And Forced Ruck Marches/Runs. Don't get me wrong, I do them but I'm hating it the entire time. My feet are really bad and they are on fire for the first 5 miles, until they get numb. Then I can't stop or it starts all over. And don't get me started on my knees. I have many miles under very heavy rucks. I'm glad those days are behind me. If it were not for Insanity and some great nutrition I would be almost in a walker right now.

Response by SPC Daniel Edwards made Oct 26 at 2014 10:38 PM

SPC Daniel Edwards — Sun, 26 Oct 2014 22:38:17 -0400

You got to choose the weight for the different ones? My first unit made it mandatory for 45 lbs on every ruck, no differences, no excuses. One guy decided to be a smart ass used a 45lb weight from the gym. No one cared. But we still didn't have a choice as to how much weight to carry. We started off doing rucks every other Thursday but slacked off with all the going to the FTXs we had to do but still got them in, somehow. I tried to run at different points bc I couldn't do a range walk for the whole thing from start to finish. Everytime I did, I got yelled to walk (can someone elaborate on this).

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 17 at 2017 12:47 PM

CW3 Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 17 Mar 2017 12:47:12 -0400

I speak, to some degree, four foreign languages. Despite this fact, there is not enough profanity in my vocabulary to properly answer the question.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 20 at 2017 6:42 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 20 Aug 2017 18:42:56 -0400

In the infantry, fucking and running are extremely important. Not only for the workout, but for the teamwork and comradery that it builds as well

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 22 at 2017 4:59 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 22 Aug 2017 16:59:36 -0400

Rucking sucks period. I do nothing to prep for rucks prior to schools because im lazy and its all mental will power anyways

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 23 at 2017 10:15 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 23 Aug 2017 10:15:38 -0400

I think there are certain skill sets tailored to your MOS that should be maintained more than others. The reason I say that is because 11B has a very specific job and physical fitness is absolutely essential, among other things. But 91B like me have a totally different skill requirement. We have to be more technically skilled. So rucking wasn't high on our list of PT to dos because we usually had a long ass day ahead of us and didn't have time to devote to it. I wish we did, but the importance of proper packing and weight distribution, along with practicality cannot be overstated. I think leaders should really drill into their soldiers proper ways to pack and how to adjust. The molle pack didn't work for me at all, the weight never sat right. That's another thing that should be considered. Otherwise it's literally all bad news for your back and legs. I had several misgivings with current pt plans in place, mostly because the ones charged with implementing them have no idea what the exercise is supposed to do and thereby ignore the ones that give the most benefit. If you're looking to improve your 2 mile time, running 8 miles 3 times a week won't do you a lick of good.

Response by Hunter Febes made Aug 23 at 2017 10:48 AM

Hunter Febes — Wed, 23 Aug 2017 10:48:10 -0400

I have only done one with my brother he is trying to get me ready for basic and im going to be honest it f**king sucks i may run 5 Ks every other day but ruck runs absolutely suck

Response by MGySgt Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 24 at 2017 10:34 PM

MGySgt Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 24 Aug 2017 22:34:34 -0400

25 to 50 miles monthly when force recon

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 25 at 2017 9:44 AM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 25 Aug 2017 09:44:34 -0400

i like rucking...its fun, but i hate rucking/ running/ pretty much anything on concrete...

Response by Sgt Wayne Wood made Aug 25 at 2017 11:41 AM

Sgt Wayne Wood — Fri, 25 Aug 2017 11:41:02 -0400

Train the way you fight?
The more you sweat in peace the less you bleed in war?

Response by PFC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 25 at 2017 9:15 PM

PFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 25 Aug 2017 21:15:40 -0400

I don't mind it's a good workout.

Response by CPL Zach Cissell made Aug 28 at 2017 6:19 PM

CPL Zach Cissell — Mon, 28 Aug 2017 18:19:35 -0400

Liked them a whole lot better then 4-12 miles runs. My favorite PT was log runs or litter carries. Being an infantryman I felt that rucks were better suited for what we would really being doing in country.

Response by MSG Keith Turner made Sep 1 at 2017 2:15 PM

MSG Keith Turner — Fri, 01 Sep 2017 14:15:52 -0400

Once a month, I'd do 10 miles with 50-75. Personally can ruck for ever, but it is also a tear down if done too often.

Response by Maj John Bell made Sep 2 at 2017 2:22 AM

Maj John Bell — Sat, 02 Sep 2017 02:22:43 -0400

In the picture it looks like you are running. Running with a pack sounded like a great idea in my 20's and 30's. I laughed at the medical personnel who told me it was a bad idea. The sounds coming from my knees in my 50's when I stand, not so great. If I could do it over, I'd do what my son-in-law does. He force runs 5-8 miles down the side of rural roads while dragging a small tractor tire (about 120lbs) via a DIY rig. He can run with a load when he needs to, without damaging his knees when he doesn't have to. I have a friend who runs with a loaded rickshaw contraption with feathered brakes that also appears to work pretty well.

Response by LCpl Steve Stark made Sep 30 at 2017 11:24 AM

LCpl Steve Stark — Sat, 30 Sep 2017 11:24:01 -0400

They are great workouts but when you get into your late thirties your body will regret it.

Response by SMSgt Thor Merich made Sep 30 at 2017 5:45 PM

SMSgt Thor Merich — Sat, 30 Sep 2017 17:45:59 -0400

Rucking is a young persons adventure. But when I was young... yea, I still hated in then too.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made May 27 at 2018 11:19 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 27 May 2018 11:19:23 -0400

Great way to exercise with a lot of opportunity to build community.

Response by SSgt Robert Prest made May 28 at 2018 9:08 PM

SSgt Robert Prest — Mon, 28 May 2018 21:08:39 -0400

Love them. Finished third on the 12 miler at Air Assault School, and I was 33.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 16 at 2019 9:29 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 16 Jun 2019 21:29:38 -0400

Ruck runs are one of the best training tools there are... but I see a lot of folks doing it wrong, jumping right across that hard/stupid line by ruck-running in full battle-rattle and helmet. There are two categories... rucking to increase fitness/cardio and rucking to get used to moving with equipment. Only the first one, being a PT event, should include running/jogging, and should be conducted in PT Shorts and Brown T-Shirt (or combat shirt and OCP bottoms) in comfortable hiking shoes like Merrills (not running shoes). Rucks in full battle-rattle should never include running, and should be done as a planned event with the full complement of risk mitigation measures to include predetermined stops every 60-90 minutes with NCOs assisting Soldiers with footcare and ensuring everyone is hydrating and taking in calories/electrolytes. This style should be the event for the day, and can be followed with an FRG luncheon or other morale/team-building event with great success.