Just Ruck It

• How to Ruck a 5K #26

  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 & ShoutoutsPound the Ground 5K – Benefitting the Veterans Outreach Center, Rochester NYRochester Ruck Club – carrying the flag and cheering the fieldMammoth March (Letchworth State Park) – story to come in a future episodeConnect with MeInstagram: @JustRuckingItFacebook: @JustRuckingItSubstack: JustRuckIt.Substack.comTagline Life is Rucking Wonderful. Because sometimes the smallest races bring the biggest wins.Send us a textLife is Rucking Wonderful!

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• Ruck Strong – What the Word ‘Strength’ Really Means #25

  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 EpisodeThe 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 & SourcesGross, 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📲 Follow me on Facebook & Instagram @JustRuckingIt ✍️ Read more on Substack – weekly bonus stories, challenges, and reflections 🎧 Don’t forget to subscribe, share, and leave a review to help grow this rucking community!Send us a textLife is Rucking Wonderful!

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• 1 Year of Rucking - What Rucking Taught Me About Strength, Grit, and Showing Up #24

  1 Year of Rucking – What Rucking Taught Me About Strength, Grit, and Showing UpOne year ago, I was standing on Mount Jo, out of breath and wondering how the hell I let things get that hard. My knees hurt, my spirit was low, and I knew something had to change. So I picked up a pack. I picked up a coach. And I decided to start showing up for myself.In this episode, I’m celebrating a full year of rucking—through injury, grief, chaos, weather, and every excuse in the book. I’m reflecting on what that journey taught me about discipline, healing, and grit. From my first ruck with a pair of dumbbells in a CamelBak to backpacking trips, races, and summit bourbon toasts—I’ve carried more than just weight.This episode is for anyone curious about what happens when you commit to something—even imperfectly. Whether you’re just starting or already deep in your own journey, I hope my story reminds you that strength is built one step at a time.💥 Want to start your own journey? I’ve got a challenge for you inside. Whether you're a brand-new rucker or looking for your next big goal, this week’s two-part challenge will help you take that next step.🌐 Links & Resources:📸 Follow along on Instagram: @JustRuckingIt 📬 Join the crew on Substack: justruckit.substack.com 🥾 Explore Seek to Do More + Great Range Athlete: 46Outdoors.com 🎒 Rucking Events: mammothmarch.com 🌲 Cranberry Lake 50 Info: cranberrylake50.org 🔥 Firetower Challenge & ADK Info: adk.orgLife is rucking wonderful—because it starts with just one step, and it can change everything.Send us a textLife is Rucking Wonderful!

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• This Rucking Sucks: But I'm still going #23

   Links: Instagram: @JustRuckingIt Substack: JustRuckIt.Substack.comEpisode Summary:This one’s personal.In this raw and real episode, Lindsay opens up about hitting a wall—mentally, physically, emotionally. She’s home from vacation, facing chaos at work, grief on the farm, and a body that seems to be resisting every effort to train.With a 20-mile Mammoth March looming in the rugged hills of Letchworth State Park, the question isn’t just how to keep going—it’s why.This episode isn’t a pep talk. It’s a permission slip. To slow down. To be honest. To find your footing when life feels too heavy to lift a pack.In This Episode:What happens when your body doesn’t bounce back like it used toThe invisible weight of solo training and emotional burnoutReframing training to match your capacity (not your calendar)A challenge for listeners who feel like giving upAnd a gentle reminder: you don’t need to be at your best to still show upSend us a textLife is Rucking Wonderful!

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• Rucking off the Bandwagon #22

  Episode Summary:In this honest and hard-hitting episode of Just Ruck It, Lindsay tackles something every rucker (and every human) faces sooner or later: what to do when you've fallen off the bandwagon—and how to start again when the weight you carry isn't just in your pack, but in your heart, body, and mind.Whether you're dealing with injury, burnout, grief, or plain old life chaos, this episode is your permission slip to take a breath, reset, and begin again—without shame.What You’ll Hear in This Episode:Lindsay’s own “Olympic-level” dive off the bandwagon (hello, poison ivy and prednisone)Why comebacks never look like movie montages—and that’s okayThe truth about injury recovery and the courage it takes to ask for helpHow to start small, show up consistently, and build momentum againReal strategies for pushing past mental resistance and reclaiming your rucking rhythmA weekly challenge you can do today—even if your shoes have dust on themKey Takeaways:You’re not starting from scratch—you’re starting from experience.Your comeback doesn’t have to be big. It has to be real.Progress starts with standing up—literally.Consistency will get you farther than motivation ever will.🏁 This Week’s Challenge: Go for one walk—just one. No weight required. No pressure. Just you, your shoes, and the decision to show up.💬 Join the Conversation: Have a comeback story or a weekend win to share? Tag @JustRuckingIt on Instagram or join the community at JustRuckIt.Substack.com. You might even be featured in an upcoming episode!Mentioned in this Episode:Injury recovery and the value of physical therapyBuilding a sustainable, low-pressure routineRucking during heat waves and navigating mental slumpsSend us a textLife is Rucking Wonderful!

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