Back to Rucking! (The Fortress) – 2/17/18

3fs, mission, principles

10 PAX: Bambi, Bourbon, Casper, Flo (6:00 pickup), Huffy, Jennay, Mother Rucker, Shakira, Stark, Tupac, Woodstock (Q). Jennay’s dog also rucked with us this morning and did amazing.

The thang – 5.85 miles in ~1:45, 60 & 40 lb coupons for the first hour rusted every 2 minutes. No coupons for last :45.

Moleskin – YHC had a plan to throw down some mileage (7+ routed), get in some simple coupon switching practice, and just overall get back to rucking after personally missing a couple and having a few alternative rucks thrown in (@bambi)…

Well, it’s funny how a simple missed turn can change those plans. Kinda seems like a metaphor for life – even the best laid plans can go screwy with a simple mistake or wrong turn. Being prepared for and accepting of those twists and turns has a major influence on what happens next, both the good and the bad. In the case of this ruck, that missed turn resulted in not being able to attain the mileage desired (bad), but a great 2nd half of the ruck that led to many great conversations with PAX that I see everyday and those that I just met recently – the time, miles, and gloom flew by while discussing the future of our 2 hour rukcus, Spartan race, mountain biking, wrastlin, the merits of a good run, sarcasm and children, new babies/expectant Father’s, and so much more. YHC could also hear the Mumble chatter behind as the PAX rucked and rotated up to take the colors and head the columns. This ruck became every bit of a 2nd f (bonus points @ ticket? 😉 ) and it was amazing. Just like in life, it’s not always going to go according to plan but if you are prepared and adaptable, and surround yourself with great people, amazing things came happen out of the unexpected.

As Rocky said: yo Adrian, I did it.

Oh wait, wrong quote. How about: let me tell you something you already know. Life ain’t all sunshine and rainbows. It’s a very mean and nasty place and I don’t care how tough you are it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain’t about how hard ya hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward. That’s how winning is done!

This ruck and the wrong turn was nothing compared to some things we are all dealing with like sick kids and injuries, decisions about our futures, and so much more , but these lessons tend to help us train our brains and our spirits to not let speed bumps turn into some insurmountable object. Fight the urge to give up or concede. If you are going to lose, lose on your terms and never go down without a fight.