Ruckmarching/backpacking/hiking

[RangerDanger830]

Anyone Ruck on their leg days before or after working out?

What do you think about it? Why do you do it? Or why not?

[OdinsOtherSon]

I'd say rucking on leg day may or may not be beneficial depending on your goals and the structure of your established work out routine. I was considering attending SFAS some years back and have done quite a lot of research in regards to rucking and preparing for the course in general. From what I've read, rucking is the preferred method for conditioning legs, feet, and of course its going to help in terms of cardiovascular conditioning as well. In lieu of rucking, SFAS prep literature suggested squatting your ruck weight (which should NEVER exceed 50-55lbs) for 100 reps. Yes, in SFAS you'll be rucking upwards of 80-100lbs during the course, but properly preparing for the course via 12-20 mile rucks w/ 45-55lbs on a consistent basis and coming in under the suggested time of no less than a 15min mile is the best and most sound method of preparation. Over training is highly discouraged and regularly stated as a common reason for failure in the course. If you're planning a 10 mile ruck after a typical leg workout of squatting/leg pressing, extensions, stiff leg dead lifts, etc, imho, you're asking for a much increased likelihood of injury. Of course, if you're approach or goals aren't laid out anything like I've describe, I'm talking out my @$$! Lol.

[RangerDanger830]

Well it is good to have someone to talk about these things with, I was hoping someone on here knew what I was talking about. I passed selection in 2010 but broke my wrist in the Q course and they dropped me. I would have loved to have gone back. I remember rucking my feet off before going, I teamed up with my PSG at the time and we went to selection together.

I always went above and beyond when training for it. I never did take that advice, I went as heavy as I could get my ruck. I did work my way up to rucking heavy over the course of a year though because of other schools I had went to prior to that. I remember throwing metal chock blocks in it with bricks and having to buddy team lift the ruck. I am not talking about rucking like that anymore. This time I am more talking about standard Army 35lbs. We did have a boatload of injuries in selection.

I am no longer in the military so distance is not a concern for me. I should have clarified, didn't think about it. I was talking about something along the lines of doing my normal leg day routine then right after heading to some stairs or a steep hill and just going up and down with 30-50lbs in the ruck.

[OdinsOtherSon]

Damn brother...that sucks on getting dropped from the Q. I think I'd rather have not even been selected as opposed to that fate! I know that had to weigh on you something terrible. I wanted to go so bad, but the wife wasn't down with the idea, AT ALL.

Ok, yeah, I hear ya on what you're looking to do now. You've done the whole over training thing and get it. I'd say go for it and see how it plays out for you. Experimentation with your proposed idea should clue you in as to its feasibility for your workout routine and goals. Sounds like you've given it some thought and already feel pretty good about it. Go for it bro! Check back in when you have time and let me know how it's working for you.

[RangerDanger830]

Damn brother...that sucks on getting dropped from the Q. I think I'd rather have not even been selected as opposed to that fate! I know that had to weigh on you something terrible. I wanted to go so bad, but the wife wasn't down with the idea, AT ALL.

Ok, yeah, I hear ya on what you're looking to do now. You've done the whole over training thing and get it. I'd say go for it and see how it plays out for you. Experimentation with your proposed idea should clue you in as to its feasibility for your workout routine and goals. Sounds like you've given it some thought and already feel pretty good about it. Go for it bro! Check back in when you have time and let me know how it's working for you.

I was devastated at the time, I am man enough to admit I shed a few tears. I wanted it so bad. However, within a month from getting back to my unit I had my first child on the way. Part of me was thankful I didn't make it through so I could spend more time with him and as he got older that idea was just solidified. My wife at the time was completely against the idea of SF once she got pregnant anyway.

It did make me feel better that my PSG made it through with me to the end of selection only to not get selected. They told him to come back and he probably would. They wouldn't tell him why but he was an arrogant douche, so it was probably his lack of teamwork.

My main reason for wanting to add it is because I just miss rucking sometimes. I don't care much for rucking in straight lines for 12 miles at a time on pavement but if you give me a good trail I could do it all day. I just like having something to look at.

Thanks for the support and feedback.

[tarmyg]

I trained for a 100km march (did it two times) and I probably over trained. I would get on the treadmill 5 days/week and drop a 20kg weight into it and walk for 90minutes. I did finish both years with no problem however, beyond exhausted but finished. I did not do this on leg days though. The days I felt like I should I knew I had not pushed my legs hard enough.

[RangerDanger830]

I trained for a 100km march (did it two times) and I probably over trained. I would get on the treadmill 5 days/week and drop a 20kg weight into it and walk for 90minutes. I did finish both years with no problem however, beyond exhausted but finished. I did not do this on leg days though. The days I felt like I should I knew I had not pushed my legs hard enough.

Oh man I have done two of these and they SUCK. The first time I was okay, taped my feet up good, just had a bunch of aching bones and muscles. My feet killed me before I finished. The second one I got my first blister 7 miles in, it was terrible, I bled through my boot. We did them ten miles at a time and would rest for 15mins every ten miles.