Thursday, May 07, 2015

Thursday Ruck in the rain

The rain today caught be completely off guard. I thought we were done with any chance of rain for this year so I stopped checking. Nothing dramatic but with the drought we are having every little bit helps!

Plus I love to do outside endurance stuff in light rain, keeps me cooled off and the engine from overheating

Tracy is back from a week long flu so we took it extra easy today and just did five laps. Fast still but one less.
Ruck weight was 43 lbs
Time : 50 minutes

The above mountain is Mt Whitney, the highest mountain ( 14,550 ft) in the lower 48 states. It's a pretty much straight walk up to the summitt I am told.No technical climbing at all. Since GoRuck doesn't seem to want to schedule the Ft Bragg Challenge any time soon I am changing my goal towards hiking this bad boy some time in the near future.
It's 11 miles up and then 11 miles down. A two day hike for me I believe. There are many ways I could challenge myself for this ruck, hell, it's called road marching- I could just measure out 12 miles, load the pack up and walk it :)

And I just might do that.
But the idea of an adventure to climb a tall mountain for my 60th birthday challenge seems even cooler
We'll see what transpires.
For me, the key is to have a big goal like this in mind, it's what motivates me on the day to day stuff that i do.
Whether I actually achieve it or not is secondary to the idea of it. That's what keeps me motivated and that's what keeps me consistent

Which is the whole ballgame :)

datsit
neverquit


9 comments:

Unknown said...

Mark,

The old Army road marching standards for at least Infantry was 12 miles in 3 hours, at least that's what I recall from Expert Infantryman Badge standards...

Dexter

Diana said...

"just measure out 12 miles and go".....love that!

When training for my marathon, I had the hubs drive me out whatever distance I was going to run that day and then run home. I loved those runs. You have no choice but to do it!

I think your 60th B-day is going to be epic!

Mark Reifkind said...

Dexter

I've read certain groups can do it in 4 hrs to qualify and some need to do 3 to do so.
3 hours is NOT going to happen for me nor do I need to. 4 hours would be FINE with me with 55 lb and 12 miles. that was my goals with the Ft Bragg Ruck

I don't want to try to turn it into a slow jog and 15 min miles would have to be that. No point to that for me
thanks!

when you guys did road marches were you actually on the roads?

Mark Reifkind said...

Dexter

I've read certain groups can do it in 4 hrs to qualify and some need to do 3 to do so.
3 hours is NOT going to happen for me nor do I need to. 4 hours would be FINE with me with 55 lb and 12 miles. that was my goals with the Ft Bragg Ruck

I don't want to try to turn it into a slow jog and 15 min miles would have to be that. No point to that for me
thanks!

when you guys did road marches were you actually on the roads?

Mark Reifkind said...

Diana

when I did my 50 mile run back in the day that's just what I did; measure out the distance and run it myself :)
worked out just fine
much more options that way too :)

Mark Reifkind said...

and yes having to run home is a great idea No choice but to finish PLUS you are always getting closer to home which is a great motivator when you get tired

Unknown said...

Mark,

Typically, yes on the road (hardball)...They usually add some time for hilly terrain, especially for qual courses for the super studs... The pack weight we used for our typical rucks was 35lbs plus rifle, helmet, and load bearing get (the kids call it OCIE now).

Yes, slight jogging tended to happen for the shorter folks, me included...What boils my mind is that I hear that the IDF Soldiers do a 50 mile ruck from Mosada to cap off their basic training. Crazy ultra distance...

Dex

Unknown said...

Mark,

I think four hours is more rational to prevent having to run. Running with a ruck is a young Man's game. My last major ruck was a quick 6 miler up a mountain in Arizona. Three up and three down in teams finishing an one hour and 10 min with a 35lbs ruck. It was a tip of the hat to Band of Brothers, our Brigade Commander must have been a 101st guy. Lol... My ruck strap on my left shoulder broke and had to keep the strap in my hand on the way down, tons o' fun!

Dex

Mark Reifkind said...

Curahee! lol. Yes running in general seems to be a young man's game. Hey, at this stage of my life I am more than happy to be walking at all, much less with a weighted pack for ANY distance.
I remember NOT to be greedy with my training and not push too hard.
Appreciation of what I already have is key.
Yes 4 MPH with a heavy ruck is fast enough for this old guy

155 x 3 x 5, 160 x 3 x 5, 20 kg swings 5 x 8/8, floor pushups 40, 35

 Thought about going back to 5x5 for a hot second then my left shoulder  reminded me why I stopped doing them before. It doesn't seem to...