RUCKS & GEAR

In 1754, Benjamin Franklin published America’s first political cartoon for the Pennsylvania Gazette, an early American newspaper. The cartoon is a representation of all of the British Colonies in a cut-up segmented rattlesnake, which Franklin described as “the present disunited state of the British Colonies.” It was based on a superstition that if a snake was cut into pieces and the pieces were put together before sunset, the snake would come back to life.

The French and Indian War was a part of the Seven Years' War which pitted Great Britain alongside the Thirteen Colonies and their native allies against the French and their native allies. During that time, the American colonists were divided on whether or not to risk fighting the French for control of the lands west of the Appalachian Mountains. Franklin had been chosen as a delegate for an upcoming conference in Albany, New York, to deal with a combined threat to the British from French and Indian forces, and the cartoon was his first attempt to unite the colonies against the French.

Even though the cartoon was published long before the American Revolution, the illustration was later reused to promote independence from Britain. And that’s how most folks remember it nowadays.

Welcome to the Join or Die Ruck. You and your team will create your own “snake” from sandbags connected with carabiners, and then join together to carry it for the distance of your choice (3-5 miles). Ben Franklin’s snake had 8 segments, the length and weight of your team’s snake is up to you (we recommend 3-6 sandbags based upon the size of your club). As you move out together, you’ll need to coordinate a rotation of participants so that each person contributes effort throughout the ruck. You’re gonna want to schedule a ruckoff after this one to hoist a few frosty beverages in triumph.

DETAILS:

• Link 3-6 sandbags together to form a “snake”

• Connect them with carabiners

• Choose 20, 40, 60, 80, or 120 lb sandbags based on your team’s abilities…and the sandbags you have available

• Distance: 3–5 miles, your choice based on the level of your team

• Weight: rucker's choice

• Share on social media using #RUCKCLUBCALLOUT and tag @goruck

The Pizza Ruck is a food-themed challenge to complete with friends and family. Plan this one whenever you want. Minimum distance is 3 miles (but more miles means you can enjoy more slices) and you get to pick the weight you carry. Where you get your pizza is up to you, as are the toppings. You could end your ruck at a local pizzeria, create a route and buy a slice at each stop, or even arrange to have pizza delivered to your destination. Mangia!

It’s time for Brew Ruck with your friends and family. Pick a few of your favorite breweries, create a route, and ruck up to go throw some down (Root Beer for the kids!). You decide the weight you carry, the distance of the ruck, and when you run it. It feels good to relax with your friends after a ruck while supporting your local watering holes. Cheers!

It’s time for a Coffee Ruck with your friends and family. Pick one or more of your favorite coffee shops, create a route, and ruck up to enjoy a cup o’ joe (hot cocoa for the kids). You decide the weight you carry, the distance of the ruck, and when you run it. You’ll be wide awake after this one!

Grab a ruck and a sandbag - you choose the weight. Bring some friends or make some when you get there. Start outside, stay outside, spread out, turn the music up, do some ruck PT, ruck some miles, then drink some beer when you’re done. This is how like-minded people meet like-minded people - by doing the work together.

Cloverleaf is not about how heavy your ruck, or your sandbag is. It’s about challenging yourself and the community being accountable to each other. The choice is yours.

We have compiled a list of different WODs that can be used during the Ruck Club Cloverleaf Events. Feel free to use any WODs from the list, do the Tribe Monthly WOD, or come up with your own!

Ruck Club Cloverleaf WOD List

• Bronze: 3 HOURS, 3 WORKOUTS, 3 MOVEMENTS.

• 3 Hours MAX
• 3 Workouts
• 3 Movements (you choose the mileage) in between each workout

Active recovery prepares your body (and mind) for the next workout.

• Silver: 4 HOURS, 4 WORKOUTS, 4 MOVEMENTS.

• 4 Hours MAX
• 4 Workouts
• 4 Movements (you choose the mileage) in between each workout

Active recovery prepares your body (and mind) for the next workout.

• GOLD: 5 HOURS, 5 WORKOUTS, 5 MOVEMENTS.

• 5 Hours MAX
• 5 Workouts
• 5 Movements (you choose the mileage) in between each workout

Active recovery prepares your body (and mind) for the next workout.

That’s right, we Americans are willing to cross a frozen river on Christmas to come get you. And yes, it’s time to earn your annual Polar Plunge patch just like our nation’s founders did 250 years ago.

As we embark on America’s 250th anniversary, we think back to that frigid night of December 25, 1776 when General George Washington led ~2,400 Continental Army troops across the icy, storm-swept Delaware River to execute a surprise attack on Hessian forces in Trenton, New Jersey. This daring crossing was a critical maneuver after a series of defeats, intended to boost sagging American morale with a much-needed victory. Despite delays and a blizzard, they successfully reached Trenton, launching an attack that resulted in a decisive American victory with minimal casualties.

Take your ruck crew for a few miles and a dip in cold water to remember the hearty spirit of our forebears. Ruck distance: Do your plunge, do some PT and ruck 3-5 miles to warm yourself up. Hot cocoa or coffee at the finish! (For those in warmer climates, be creative. We know you will!) Bonus #coolpoints for those who submerge all the way in icy water.

• Distance: 3-5 miles
• Weight: Rucker's choice
• Optional: Throw in a few sets of PT to warm up after your plunge.
• Share on social media using #RUCKCLUBCALLOUT and tag @goruck

Buffalo Soldiers were U.S. Army regiments composed exclusively of black American soldiers, formed during the 19th century to serve on the American frontier after the Civil War. The Buffalo Soldiers played crucial roles in westward expansion, the Indian Wars, and early National Parks, all while overcoming intense racism and segregation, thereby proving black military capability and paving the way for greater integration.

Many of these soldiers also served in California's Sierra Nevada as some of our nation's first park rangers. For this month’s Ruck Club Callout, we’ll perform a service project honoring their service protecting Yosemite and Sequoia before the Park Service even existed.

• Begin with a brief story about the Buffalo Soldiers’ early role as park rangers
• Perform a trail cleanup ruck or adopt a section of a local road for cleanup
• Include a moment of silence or reflection in a scenic area
• End with a statement of stewardship, e.g., “We protect what they protected.”
• Minimum distance: your call
• Weight: rucker's choice
• Share on social media using #RUCKCLUBCALLOUT and tag @goruck

“Everybody can be great...because anybody can serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve. You don't have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.” ― Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

February's Ruck Club Callout is the Heart of Grace Ruck. You pick a charity or organization that helps others and execute a service project for them with your team. A few idea starters:

• Donate non-perishables to a food bank
• Collect used coats/clothing for a homeless shelter
• Food drive for an animal shelter
• Volunteer at a soup kitchen
• Organize a car wash and donate the profits
• Read to residents at a nursing home
• Adopt a local highway or road and clean up trash

Add mileage where it makes sense. For food drives, it's a natural for everyone to carry the items to their destination. For other projects, you might prefer to add 2-3 miles beforehand or to a ruckoff afterwards. Have fun, put in the work, and do some good!

In the 1987 action/sci-fi classic Predator, a deadly alien comes to Earth and attacks a bunch of SF dudes in the middle of the jungle. Do you remember how Arnold Schwarzenegger ended up tricking the Predator? The Predator has thermal vision, so it can see you all the time. Well, Arnold got smart and covered himself from head to toe in mud which lowered his thermal signature, and the Predator couldn’t find him. Do you see where we’re going with this?

Welcome to the Predator Ruck. The whole team has to get muddy at the start of their ruck, as muddy as you can (or want), and as always…cool points for being original. Then, once you’re safe from the Predator, head out for the ruck. Four miles (or more) as a group covered in mud. Nothing too crazy. Have some fun and take lots of pictures!

OPTIONAL: If you’ve done a Mud Ruck before and want to change this one up, divide your group into two teams, pick your “landing zone” for extraction and then each team muddies up and sets off in an opposite direction with the goal of arriving at the LZ first. But you’ll be hunting one another along the way. If either team spots the other, get within +/- 30 feet and take a photo, then yell out “Ambush!” to the other team. The ambushers then allow the dead to “earn their lives back” with 5 minutes of #GoodLivin (the ambushers get to pick what kind of #GoodLivin to dole out). When both teams go their separate ways, there’s a 5 minute safe period for each team before any additional ambushes can take place, so…get to the choppah! Play continues until one team reaches the LZ, where the winning team gets to decide what kind of #GoodLivin the other team gets to enjoy. For an extra challenge, hold this Callout at night! Regular safety protocols apply, natch.

• 4 miles minimum (distance starts as soon as you are muddy)
• 4 people or more
• Bonus cool points for getting muddy/unmuddy in a fun/unique way
• No weight requirement, use your regular training weight
• Share on social media and use #RUCKCLUBCALLOUT and tag @goruck

“There’s children throwing snowballs, instead of throwing heads, they’re busy building toys and absolutely no one’s dead.”

— Jack Skellington

The Nightmare WOD Before Christmas is a GORUCK community tradition continued by Chris Strasser of Vice City Ruckers as an annual fundraiser and way to spend time with his Ruck Club around the holidays. Chris gave us permission to share a version of this spirited workout of the day with GORUCK Nation and Tribe. The patch will be available on December 1 and we invite you to collectively do this 2-part WOD on December 2 and 9. That said, you can plan your club’s Nightmare WOD any time this month.

Day 1 (Saturday, Dec 2): “Jack Skellington”

Expert/Rx: Ruck (30#/20#) for all movements except burpees Burpees (slick/unweighted)

Scaled: slick/unweighted for entire wod

• BUY IN: 1 mile run/shuffle
• 50 burpees
• 50 sit ups
• 50 push-ups
• 50 air squats
• 50 4ct mountain climbers
• 50 4ct jumping jacks
• 50 4ct flutter kicks

Day 2 (Sunday, Dec 9): “Lock, Shock, and Barrel”

Expert/Rx: Sandbag (60#/40#) & Ruck (30#/20#) for all movements except Russian Twist & Leg Raises use ruck only (30#/20#)

Scaled: Ruck only for entire wod (30#/20#)

• 10 man makers
• 50 plank ruck pull through
• 400m ruck
• 10 man makers
• 50 ruck pressed leg lifts
• 400m ruck
• 10 man makers
• 50 ruck twists (2 ct)

The Challenge

On September 26, unite with fellow ruckers around the world by putting on a rucksack, taking to the streets or trails, and being a part of Ruck The World Day. The distance and weight carried is up to you (and whoever you've talked into joining you).

Ruck The World Day is a global celebration of rucking — moving with weight on your back — as a way to bring people together, build resilience, and strengthen communities. Started by GORUCK, The Rucking Company, this day honors the origins of the civilian rucking movement and its transformative power for individuals everywhere.

The date, September 26, commemorates a pivotal moment in rucking history: the very first official GORUCK Challenge, held in San Francisco in 2010. Designed to test GORUCK gear under the harshest conditions, the Challenge drew inspiration from U.S. Special Forces training. Participants endured hours of physical and mental trials, relying on teamwork, grit, and perseverance to succeed.

That day marked more than just a test of endurance. It signaled the historic shift of rucking from an exclusive military training method to an inclusive, civilian-led movement. Today, ruckers from every walk of life carry this tradition forward, finding in it purpose, camaraderie, and strength.

On September 26, GORUCK Clubs and communities across the globe will ruck in solidarity, carrying not only weight on their backs, but also the shared belief that we are stronger together. One day each year when the world moves as one. One World. One Patch. One Ruck.

Every movement needs a mascot and ours showed up already rucking. Calm, social, and unfazed, Cappy the Rucker is a capybara who carries too much weight and doesn’t care. He’s unexpectedly lovable, weirdly badass, and the perfect symbol of what Ruck The World Day is all about: resilience, community, and a little humor along the way. Just like the first GORUCK Challenge transformed rucking into something anyone could embrace, Cappy transforms toughness into something welcoming. He’s here to remind us that rucking is about carrying weight together, sometimes heavy, sometimes light, but always moving forward.

The GORUCK TAKEOVER is more than your typical ruck meet-up - it’s a high-energy, full-send community event built to bring people together and show them what the GORUCK life is all about. Think grit, teamwork, and unforgettable vibes - with full support from GORUCK HQ to make it happen.

• Social Fitness
• Active Recovery Training
• Gets You Outside - in the real world.

To learn more about how you can host a GORUCK TAKEOVER for your community, check out this page HERE.

In January of 1776, Thomas Paine published a small pamphlet called Common Sense. Written in clear, direct language that everyday citizens could understand, it laid out a powerful argument for American independence from Britain. The pamphlet spread rapidly throughout the colonies, helping shift public opinion and preparing the ground for the Declaration of Independence just six months later.

Paine believed that the ideas of ordinary people could be refined into something greater. As he wrote in Common Sense:
“Could the straggling thoughts of individuals be collected, they would frequently form materials for wise and able men to improve into useful matter.”

That’s exactly what America’s Founding Fathers did. Drawing from philosophy, history, and their own experience, they gathered the scattered ideas of liberty and self-government and forged them into the principles that guide the nation we are fortunate to live in today.

For this month’s Ruck Club Callout, we’re taking that spirit of civic engagement to the streets with the Common Sense Ruck. Organize a ruck through the institutions that form the backbone of your community: libraries, city halls, courthouses, post offices, monuments, and other civic landmarks. Think of it as a civics scavenger hunt, a chance to explore the places where local government, public service, and community life intersect.

Paine also reminded us that government itself must always be examined with clear eyes:
“Society in every state is a blessing, but government even in its best state is but a necessary evil; in its worst state an intolerable one…”

The freedoms we enjoy depend on engaged citizens who understand the institutions that protect them. So shoulder the ruck, gather your crew, and chart a route through the civic heart of your city. Learn something along the way, appreciate the systems that serve your community, and remember that the American experiment depends on the participation of its people.

• Create a route that includes several local institutions and/or landmarks. You can also use these localized Star Course hit lists as some thought-starters. Here are a few examples:
  
  • Libraries
  • City Hall
  • Courthouses
  • Parks
  • Monuments
  • Bridges
• Stop at each one for a quick discussion of the importance of these locations to your city and perhaps the role they played throughout local history
• Distance: 3–12 miles, your choice based on the level of your team (5 miles is the sweet spot for this one, but it’s your call)
• Weight: rucker's choice
• Share on social media using #RUCKCLUBCALLOUT and tag @goruck

Welcome to the 12 Mile Timed Ruck. This kind of ruck march has been historically utilized by the US Army, and it’s an excellent opportunity to get your mind right, work on your pace, and test the gear you’ve chosen for GORUCK’s Heavy, Tough, or City Ruck events.

You’ll need to either maintain a 17:30 minute pace the entire time or intersperse some ruck shuffles with your regular rucking pace in order to make the time hack of 3.5 hours. NOTE: Running with a ruck is NOT recommended under any circumstances. We suggest planning a route that is as flat as possible and avoids traffic crossings.

• Minimum 3 people
• Distance: 12 miles
• Time Hack
• Standard - 12 miles in 3.5 hours or less (17:30 min/mi pace)
• Advanced: 12 miles in 3 hours or less (15:00 min/mi pace)
• Minimum ruck weight: 10 lbs. If you’re preparing for a GORUCK event, you should carry the weight listed in the event requirements. Advanced ruckers should complete it with 45 lbs dry.
• Share on social media and use #RUCKCLUBCALLOUT and tag @goruck

Giving up is easy. Don't F***king Quit! Quality embroidered 2" x 3" patch with VELCRO® "hook" backing.