Tag: #ruck

  • GTE #47 – River City

    GTE #47 – River City

    Get ready for the River, Richmond’s rich history and diverse terrain provides the perfect backdrop for this GTE #47 leadership adventure.  F3 men from Richmond and across the east coast will converge on the River City May 3-5 for an unforgettable bonding experience and personal challenge.  Traversing the city’s streets, parks, and trails, they’ll not only test their physical endurance but also strengthen their resolve as men to live right, lead right, and leave right. The city’s cultural landmarks and scenic views will offer moments of reflection and inspiration along the journey from sunset to sunrise. Ultimately, this overnight ruck event promises to be more than just a physical feat—it’s an opportunity to forge lasting memories and deepen connections in the heart of Virginia’s capital.  

    There is still time to sign up for the overnight event or just the GrowSchool.

    What do we do during a GTE? 

    There are 4 phases to a GrowRuck Training Event:

    1. The Rally – The Rally is the Friday night gathering that initiates the GTE.
    2. The King Builder – The KingBuilder is the Saturday morning workout.
    3. GrowSchool – GrowSchool (G3LT) is a Schooling session during which the four quadrants of Preparedness (Get Right, Live Right, Lead Right, Leave Right) are taught in a classroom environment by the GrowRuck Qs. 
    4. The Ruck – The Ruck is the CSAUP (Completely Stupid and Utterly Pointless) Event during which the Leadership Skills of the individual GrowRuck Participants and the Teamwork of the Class is Accelerated through Pain and Chaos.

    Weekend Schedule

    Rally

    Friday, May 3 1800 – 2100 – Bon Air Community Center – 8725 Quaker Lane, Richmond, VA 23235

    Open to all F3 RVA men, out of towners, and GTE Trainers and Cadre.  BBQ will be provided, donations requested to cover the venue and food for the event.   BYOB

    Kingbuilder 

    Saturday, May 4, 0700 – Dogpile – Dogwood Dell Parking

    This will be a one-hour convergence bootcamp at Dogpile led by the GTE trainers.  It will be open to all F3 men with FNGs welcome. This will be a great opportunity to bring an FNG or Kotter to show them what F3 is about

    Growschool – registration is open for the Growschool only, sign up to get a lesson in leadership

    Saturday, May 4 0900-1200 – Relay Run warehouse 

    2720 Decatur Street, Warehouse 29, Richmond, VA 23224

    GTE #47 – Overnight Ruck

    Start – Saturday, May 4, 1800

    GTE #47 Endex – Sunday, May 5, TBD

    GEAR

    Below is a partial packing list for the event.  **Additional items posted on GTE Registration Page

    Required Gear

    • Rucksack (20L minimum suggested volume) 
    • 30lb weight
    • 4L of water (combined total between hydration bladders and bottles). 3L needs to be fresh water without any drink mixes or additives
    • Headlamp w/red light capabilities + 1 full extra set of batteries
    • Reflective bands (minimum of 1) attached to Rucksack
    • Additional items per GTE PreBlast on registration page

    Prohibited Equipment

    • Phone
    • Watch
    • Garmin
    • Other Electronic devices 

    What if I want more detail, or have questions not answered above?

    Reach out to Rosie, DTH or Gomer Pyle

  • 9 share the Hoebag

    The Growruck gang converged for another Rock&Ruck CSAUP with Sandy making an even 10 heavy weights for gloom glory. The PAX started with a wide loop detour around the AO to observe the Latina Market getting set up (oh goody, they’ve got a coffee truck!). Sandy was passed around the PAX like the good little hoebag she is, and there were a couple stops to stretch. Halfway through our time, the PAX were directed to remove their rucks and carry them in some other manner – baby cradle, over head, single shoulder, etc. Carrying both Sandy and an untethered ruck proved a formidable 100+ pound challenge. Photo shoot completed with single file rucks overhead. For the last half perimeter, State Farm suggested we restore rucks to our backs and army shuffle run to the end. Awesome challenge, enjoyable chatter, and decent warmup for the Big Rig slaughter fest to come. Welcome aboard to RODEO CLOWN who’s now registered for GYE#47, and MELVILLE is one step closer to registration! Love being with you guys! Yours, DTH

  • Huge Logs

    Nine GTE brothers converged for a short OTB ruck and to do some experimental hefting of new logs. We brought Sandy and passed her solid 60 pounds around the PAX while rucking a big neighborhood loop. The PAX ended up in the woods behind Casa de DTH to discover a freshly felled dead pine tree with 16’ and 19’ trunk segments waiting for a ride. The PAX shouldered the 16’ segment and carefully maneuvered her out of the woods into the back yard. The PAX were ordered tallest to shortest and each PAX had 1-2 guys to rotate with, leaving 5-6 guys shouldering the log. It was manageable, but some good lessons learned just taking the log for a walk around the property. The PAX then made an effort with the heavier 19’ log but didn’t get it fully off the ground. The plan is to chainsaw off the bottom 5’ to see whether 14’ of this thicker piece of trunk might serve as our 2nd GTE log option. TCLAPS to my brothers showing up to help assess the log situation. We’ll do this again real soon. Yours, DTH

  • Vertical & Hairy

    The night watch nine assembled at the Bell Isle parking lot just as the last light of day descended to the West and the skyline of City lights welcomed the night. With a refreshing Spring breeze stirring our spirits these GTE HIM’s conquered the following terrain:

    The THANG: 

    RUCK-FREE WARMERAMA: 

    • Form up at the base of the Grass Hill
    • Variable movement up and down the hill a few times – run, burpees, run, bear crawls, lunges, run, bernie, etc
    • Rucks ON
    • Welcome & Disclaimer
    • Let’s GO!

    THE INITIAL RUCK:

    • Quick march across the swinging bridge to Bell Isle and proceed 1.5 times around the broad gravel outside loop

    COP INTERMISSION:

    • Rucks Off, Stretch
    • Don Q’s & Imp. Squat Walkers IC
    • Variable Upper Body reps holding rucks

    THE VERTICAL & HAIRY RUCK:

    • Biodome led the PAX up some steep treacherous muddy rooted trails around the central heights of Bell Isle – no hobos or psychos encountered, and no PAX slipped into the quarry. 

    RETURN RUCK:

    • On the double back around the island, over the bridge, stop for pictures, and back to the parking lot.

    THE GRAND FINALE:

    • Find a tiny rock at the bottom of the hill with “John 3:16” painted on it – verse recited for the PAX 
    • Run up the hill, walk around the pond, run up the 2nd hill, cross the road, run up the third hill to the war memorial, take a Rocky style picture of the conquering warriors
    • Stopping time at just over 90min total

    COT:

    • Counterama # 9
    • Namerama
    • Meaningful words shared by YHC regarding patriotic and religious freedoms, the power of CSAUP bonds, and enthusiasm for the GTE to come
    • YHC took the PAX out in Prayer

    NMS:  It is a powerful experience to be accompanied by such a faithful band of brothers enthusiastically achieving new heights together. And just think, this amazing 90 minutes was just a fraction (about 1/8th to be precise) of the real deal happening in 32 days! With the right men beside you, nothing is impossible. Yours, DTH

    Announcements (SEE SLACK!)

    • Wed 0530 RUCK from Huguenot HS – among other rucking fun, we’ll be hefting a large log a short distance. Come on out… it’ll be fun… 😎💪🔥

  • Sandy pushin us over 100

    8 gloom warriors took to the Rockwood trails for a 1 hour ruck training opportunity – today’s challenge were two sandbags, one 50 pounds, the other 60 pounds, which were passed between the PAX every 100-200 yards. For those of us already carrying 50+ pound rucks, we definitely went slower than usual also hefting the Sandies. McRib found us toward the end having enjoyed the surprise blessing of prayerful solitude. I appreciate this perspective – while he could have been disappointed to be unable to find the PAX for most of the hour, he instead embraced the opportunity as a blessing to get some quiet time with the Lord. If we look at life, no matter the hardships or frustrations, Jesus always provides a silver lining – we just have to maintain a Kingdom perspective to perceive it. As always, appreciate your company and conversation brothers. Yours, DTH

    #SOJ 💪 !!WHUA WHUA!! 🔥

  • Discovering new areas and neighborhoods

    3 amigos from the Bermuda boys(Posh, Shaw-Shank and yours truly) decided to do a little rucking this morning(I needed something after the week I had). We took off from the lot, ventured behind the football field where there’s a trail with a bridge. The trail once it gets warmer will beat great spot for sprints and farmers carries cause it gradually goes uphill so the legs will get a nice burn. After that we were in a neighborhood that the homes were very nice(probably in that 400-700k range). Walking around the neighborhood, seeing a couple little dogs yelping early in the morning as they saw us, nice and quiet good mumble chatter about the neighborhood, weather, the guys NASCAR adventure this Sunday. It was a nice stroll as we made our way back, spotted another trail for future investigating.

    We returned, then we were figuring new things on our Garmin watches(Shaw-Shank had a Fenix 7, Push and I have the Instinct 2x solar). He and I received our Frosty badge for this morning, I will say we have a lot of things to still check out but when you can get a ton of battery life(right now I have 38 days left), I am sure the possibilities are endless plus wait as we get more sunlight and it fully charges on its own. 2.5 miles, we departed for our day ahead

    i encourage those to either go to Dogpile or come to RNR(do the single or double ruck/workout) weather will not be raining (finally no offense but I can train in it after a while though I don’t want to see anymore). I would like to come out more, yet it’s hard working at Amazon with the hours I can post 3-4 times(5 on occasion) I am content. I think I am allowed a little give since I average 6-8 miles on an average night(hit over 10 Tuesday) I still get movement in. I have the Q tomorrow at RNR(the mind had new things and variations plus make sure I bring the right speaker). Close up and enjoy the day time, see you tomorrow

  • Bearing Burdens

    8 macho men took the trails of Machismo’s backyard for a multi-wooded ruck. We started heading through waterlogged fields, crossed a damn, over the hill, through the woods, but to Grandma’s we dare not go. No, there on the return, there was yet another log. This one weighing in at a speculative 800#s together we hoisted said burden to varied shoulders and marched near 300 yards. Maybe this log is better left in the woods.

    Prayer requests for DTHs acquaintance going through detox from Alchoholism. Dad’s family bearing the burden of his father’s death. Also add Machismos neighbor Kerri at the time of the ruck YHC didn’t know she had passed on from her battle with Cancer.

    We bear each other’s burdens.

  • Monsoon Ruck

    Six SOJ studmuffins donned their rucks and embraced the soaking suck as they put in a full hour of Rockwood speed-rucking. Two stops were made to first exhaust the quads with ruck squats, then later Mudslide led the PAX working the upper body through a variety of ruck-holding reps. TClaps to these HIM’s not only embracing the monsoon ruck but then going on to conquer the flesh with a truly challenging Florence beatdown. Getting stronger TOGETHER! ~DTH

  • Heavyweights

    5 SOJ HIM’s rucked a few miles of Huguenot Flatwater this morning, all wearing more weight than they’re used to. Slightly slower pace/mile, but sufficiently challenging and excellent conversation. Also, a big WELCOME BACK to our brother XO, an ex-Navy guy who makes heavyweight rucking look easy. SYITG fellas, DTH

  • Every Day Pain

    The pre-dawn gloom of Forrest Hill Park welcomed 11 GrowRuck warriors to an epic beatdown. With only 47 days left to train for GTE #47, today’s challenge was a taste of the real deal, but only 1/6th the duration. Here’s how these HIM’s turned green to celebrate the holiday and conquer the flesh:

    ROSIE’s “WARM-UP”: 

    • Warm up on the tennis court – SSH, Ukrainian Soldiers, Helicopter, Imperial Walkers.
    • PT test prep with 30 HRM and 35 WWII’s.
    • Over to the hill for 11’s – Squats at the top, Mtn Climbers at the bottom. 
    • Finish at the bottom and bear crawl up half the hill and lunge the rest. 
    • Circle up for some weighted OH press, cleans and squats.

    THE RUCK LOOPS:

    • DTH directs the PAX to the coupon trailer to collect x3 Logs (8’ segments of telephone pole), and x3 Sandbags (weights of 25#, 50#, 60#)
    • PAX rotate Implements of Woe as needed
    • Ruck down the paved path alongside Forrest Hill Ave
    • Once pond is reached, PAX un-shoulder burdens and Speed Ruck Loop #1
    • Plank it up – Mission Challenge, x5 Merkins awarded each time a PAX member messes up stating the F3 mission …20 merkins completed
    • Loop #2 carrying the logs&bags
    • Plank it up, merkins awarded for messing up the Credo …15 merkins completed
    • Loop #3 another speed ruck
    • Plank it up, merkins awarded for messing up the 5 Core Principles…5 merkins
    • Final Loop #4 carrying logs/bags, stop at the long paved road up to the parking lot
    • Plank it up, hold plank while all together reciting the F3 Mission, Credo, and 5 Core Principles 
    • Re-shoulder Implements of Woe and Ruck them aaaaaalllllll the way up the hill and back to the trailer. 

    GRAND FINALE:

    • Each PAX collect a cinderblock from the coupon trailer
    • Circle up near the stone House to complete IC reps of Overhead Presses, Straight arm lifts, Pulls, Skull Crushers
    • TUG OF WAR – split pax 5v6 with House Party and Mudslide as anchors on each end. HP’s team of six easily yanked the other team over the line. x10 Burpees for the losers while the winners do Squats.
    • Round 2, the extra man goes to Mudslide’s team… but then the House Party team of 5 still yank us over the line easily… HMMM. Burpees again (vomit a little in mouth)…
    • Round 3, Dealer is called to join the losing side. House Party doesn’t look worried as his team of 4 takes on 7. Finally, Mudslide’s team gains a win. Everyone does 5 burpees.
    • Pick up the cindies and ruck across the field to the far hill – MURDER BUNNIES to the top of the hill. 
    • Carrying cindies overhead, run back down the hill and up the other side, then return cindies back to the coupon trailer.
    • Mosey BTTF for COT

    COT:

    • Counterama # 11
    • Namerama
    • Announcerama (see Below)
    • BIODOME took the PAX out in Prayer

    NMS:  Well, that was hard – like, harder than The Hardest Mile level of hard. Definitely wouldn’t have done it without you HIM’s, and only bummed we didn’t get the whole lot of the GTE-Registered PAX out there to experience it. Good number of guys out of town or sick/recuperating, but we’ll do this again in a couple weeks. SUPER stoked to have SABLE’s HC on Registering today, and BIODOME is a SC that’s steadily getting hard. Proud of you men! SYITG, DTH

    “Do something every day that you don’t want to do; this is the golden rule for acquiring the habit of doing your duty without pain.” Mark Twain

    Announcements (SEE SLACK!)