Just Ruck It

The 12 Rucks of Christmas
After a couple of months away from the mic, I’m back with a festive, low-pressure episode designed to bring a little joy, movement, and momentum back into your routine. Life has been… a lot. Between caregiving, the time change, and feeling like the cheese slid right off my cracker (let’s be honest—I don’t even know where the cracker went), this season has been about surviving more than thriving. But now that I’ve settled into a new rhythm, I’m ready to bring some lighthearted energy back to Just Ruck It.
In this episode, I introduce The 12 Rucks of Christmas—a fun, flexible holiday challenge packed with tiny, joyful ways to keep yourself moving through December. Each “day” offers a simple ruck idea you can fit into even the busiest or most chaotic moment of the season. From gingerbread-light strolls to mall laps, snowy wanders, gratitude walks, and a year-end Let-It-Go ruck, this challenge is all about rediscovering movement your way.
You’ll also hear a quick safety reminder for rucking during the dark, cold winter months, plus a challenge to start imagining your 2026 goals—not the pressure-filled kind, but the real dreams you quietly hold for yourself.
Whether you’re running on empty or feeling festive and ready to move, this episode is designed to meet you exactly where you are.
⭐ What’s Inside This Episode
Why I’ve been away & what life looks like now
A warm, humorous re-entry into movement
The 12 Rucks of Christmas — 12 bite-sized holiday ruck ideas
Quick winter rucking safety tips
A reflective challenge to start imagining your 2026 goals
A reminder that life is rucking wonderful—especially when you let a little holiday magic fuel your miles
⭐ Stay Connected
Follow my rucking adventures, upcoming challenges, and behind-the-scenes updates:
 • Substack: Just Ruck It
• Instagram: @JustRuckingIt
• Facebook: @JustRuckingIt
⭐ If You Loved This Episode…
Leave a review, share it with a friend, or tag me on social with your holiday rucks! Every share helps more people find movement, joy, and confidence through rucking.

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Life is Rucking Wonderful!

As the seasons shift from sunny summer to chilly fall, it gets harder to stay motivated. The days get shorter, the rain gets colder, and the lure of holiday food is strong. That’s where goals come in.
In this episode of Just Ruck It, Lindsay shares why goal setting matters, how to build both big goals and micro-goals, and the many ways you can use your ruck as a full-body training tool. From the Great Range Athlete “Dismal Wilderness Challenge” to her own personal redemption goals, this episode will inspire you to set your own path before winter hibernation mode kicks in.
🔑 What You’ll Learn:
Why seasonal changes make goals more important than ever.
How “big goals” and “micro-goals” work together to keep momentum going.
Creative ways to use your ruck beyond walking with weight — from squats and presses to front carries and burpee rucks.
The role of accountability — whether from a team, a coach, or just your own calendar.
The October Challenge: pick one big goal, one micro-goal, and set both a reward and a penalty.
🧭 Resources & Links:
Learn more about Seek to Do More and the Great Range Athlete program here (not affiliated): 46Outdoors.com

Follow Lindsay on social: Instagram & Facebook @JustRuckingIt
More articles, accountability check-ins, and community: JustRuckIt.Substack.com

Katmai National Park’s Fat Bear Week info: nps.gov/fat-bear-week

Fat Bear Week overview from DOI: doi.gov/blog/everything-you-want-know-about-katmai-national-parks-fat-bears

📣 October Challenge:
One big goal for the rest of the year.
One micro-goal just for October.
One penalty if you fail.
One reward if you succeed.
Share your goals with Lindsay on Instagram or Facebook @JustRuckingIt or on Substack at JustRuckIt.Substack.com
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Life is Rucking Wonderful!

This episode of Just Ruck It gets real. What started as a four-mountain weekend for my 46Climbs challenge turned into something I didn’t expect: a panic attack on the descent from Phelps Mountain.
I share the raw audio from the trail—slips, butt scoots, tears, and all—and reflect on how rucking prepared me to face that moment. From pacing and micro-goals to humor and humility, the trail taught me that resilience isn’t about being unbreakable. It’s about showing up, resetting, and carrying forward even when confidence slips.
Whether you’ve rucked a mile or climbed a mountain, I hope this story reminds you that sometimes the bravest thing you can do is keep moving—at your own pace, on your own terms.
💡 Resources
If you or someone you love is struggling, please know you are not alone. Help is out there:
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (U.S.) → Dial 988 or visit 988lifeline.org
Crisis Text Line → Text HOME to 741741 (free, 24/7 in the U.S. & Canada)
International Directory of Hotlines → findahelpline.com
Learn more about and support the cause I hiked for:
46Climbs – Suicide Prevention Fundraiser → 46climbs.com

Follow my journey and join the conversation:
Instagram & Facebook → @JustRuckingIt
Substack → justruckit.substack.com

Until next time—Life is Rucking Wonderful, even if you cried and peed yourself a little.
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Life is Rucking Wonderful!

You don’t have to run to line up at a race. In this episode of Just Ruck It, I take you inside the Pound the Ground 5K — a local run/walk to support the Veterans Outreach Center — and show you how I turned it into a rucking win. From choosing weight and gear, to race-day etiquette, to the unexpected joy of finishing strong after a setback, this episode is your guide to bringing a ruck to your first 5K.
Whether you’re new to rucking or looking for your next challenge, you’ll walk away with practical tips, inspiration, and maybe even the push you need to sign up for that local charity 5K.
References & Shoutouts
Pound the Ground 5K – Benefitting the Veterans Outreach Center, Rochester NY

Rochester Ruck Club – carrying the flag and cheering the field
Mammoth March (Letchworth State Park) – story to come in a future episode
Connect with Me
Instagram: @JustRuckingIt
Facebook: @JustRuckingIt
Substack: JustRuckIt.Substack.com

Tagline
Life is Rucking Wonderful. Because sometimes the smallest races bring the biggest wins.
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Life is Rucking Wonderful!

What does it really mean to be strong? We all think we know — lifting, pushing, enduring. But the roots of the word tell a deeper story: one of tension, strain, and holding firm under pressure.
In this episode, I dig into the etymology of strong and strength, tracing the word from Old English strang to the Proto-Indo-European string-, meaning “tight, drawn together.” We explore how strength has always been about more than muscle — it’s about mental grit, emotional steadiness, and moral resilience.
I also share insights from Michael Joseph Gross’s book Stronger: The Untold Story of Muscle and Strength — including why ancient physicians distrusted muscle, how modern science reframes it as a partner to the soul, and the inspiring story of 90-year-olds regaining strength through training. Finally, I connect this history to my own journey of rucking, and how carrying weight on the trail has shifted my mindset from I can’t to let’s try.
If you’ve ever wondered what it really means to ruck strong — this one’s for you.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode
The surprising linguistic roots of “strong” and “strength.”
How strength expanded from physical power to include mental, emotional, and moral resilience.
Why history once split “brains vs. brawn” — and how rucking bridges the gap.
Michael Joseph Gross’s insights from Stronger on tension, training, and freedom.
My own story of finding freedom through rucking as I approach 50.
Citations & Sources
Gross, Michael Joseph. Stronger: The Untold Story of Muscle in Our Lives. Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2025.
Etymology references: Old English strang, Proto-Germanic strangaz, Proto-Indo-European root strenk- / string- (Etymonline, Oxford English Dictionary).
Galen’s writings on muscle and the soul (historical summaries, secondary sources).
Dr. Maria Fiatarone Singh’s studies on resistance training in nonagenarians (cited in Gross, Stronger).
Let’s Connect
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@JustRuckingIt
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Life is Rucking Wonderful!