More to the ruck challenge than just weighted running
A Saturday spent running or walking 15 to 20 miles and doing calisthenics with a 65-pound pack strapped to your back might not be everyones favorite way to spend a weekend. But that is exactly what Zac Sessa, a 2014 graduate of the College of Wooster from Butler, Pa., and a few other daring souls spent many Saturdays doing while in school. The group could loosely be defined as a club, and they found that they not only liked the physical challenges presented by rucking, they wanted to share it with the campus population.So Sessa and a close friend, Elliot Flautt, also a 2014 graduate from New York City, began advertising rucking – moving with energy, action and purpose while carrying a rucksack – with fliers hung throughout campus buildings. After a few setbacks – the school took Sessa and Flautts first round of fliers down because they were not a school-sanctioned club – the guys held an informational meeting about the sport on campus. We had about 10 to 15 people show up, Sessa said. We wanted to start a club, but it was more of a whoever-wants-to-come-ruck-with-us kind of thing.That open door policy led to a lot of Saturday rucks, followed by a barbecue and beverage, according to Sessa. It was about as American as it gets, he said.While in the club, both Sessa and Flautt participated in various GORUCK (go ruck) Challenges in Pennsylvania and Virginia. The event is led by a former member of Special Operations and the class is led through a military-style workout throughout the night, Sessa said. I first got interested in rucking because we did a 12-hour GORUCK event in Pittsburgh together last August, Flautt said. The guys also both participated in GORUCK Nasty in Virginia last September.Although the core group driving the formation of the club has now graduated, Sessa hopes the interest doesnt die at the College of Wooster. Its not just about the physical benefits of rucking, but what rucking can do for any participant mentally. I want people to challenge themselves, he said. People have perceived limits of their physical and mental abilities and its not until you push past what you thought were your limits that you truly begin to live a different life.There are still a few guys left at Wooster that occasionally came out and rucked with us so hopefully theyll dive back in next school year.Sessas ultimate plan for the club included a custom GORUCK Challenge in Wooster. To do that, the club would need to be able to find 30 people willing to pay to participate in an eight-to-10-hour race. Its hard to get college students to fork over $100 to go through probably the most physically demanding thing theyve ever done, he said. Flautt also found other joys in the sport and will continue to participate in rucks. My favorite thing about the sport is the solitary nature of it, he said. Similar to running, youve got to force yourself to go faster, longer and generally regulate the intensity of your ruck. Both men are planning on entering military service in the future. Flautt will go into the Army in November and Sessa hopes to be selected for Marine Corps Officer Candidates School.
