Author: Toby Asplin

Photos: Ashley Quinn, Jade Dent, Lexie Dent

FTC Disclosure: The author was provided a free entry by GORUCK in exchange for this review of the GORUCK Light.

“If you can do a mud-run or a 5K, you can do Light.” So says the marketing material for the GORUCK Light, an introduction to GORUCK’s (www.goruck.com) team-based training similar to that found in military Special Operations.

Should be easy, right?

If you choose to do a GORUCK Light, you will learn - in the first few minutes - that Light does not equal easy. Frankly, I must respectfully disagree with GORUCK’s marketing for this event. Just because you can complete a 5K or a mud run doesn’t guarantee success at a GORUCK Light. You’re going to need to dig far deeper. You’re going to need to work much harder. You’re going to suffer more and for a longer period of time. You’re going to be pressured to keep up with your team … or support your weaker team members. But, if you’re looking to push yourself to the next level and you like working with a team, the GORUCK Light is an excellent step up from 5K’s and mud runs.

Gettin’ Work Done

One individual who participated in this GORUCK Light was in exactly the position described in GORUCK’s marketing pitch. He had completed several obstacle races and mud runs and had even finished a 10K. About halfway through our Light, I asked him what he thought of GORUCK’s Light marketing pitch. I won’t print his exact words, this is a relatively family-friendly blog, but he strenuously disagreed.

Welcome to the Party

Typically, GORUCK events start with a “welcome party”. The Welcome Party is intended to break everyone down to the same level - exhaustion. Our cadre (what GORUCK calls the former special operations soldiers who lead these events), Mickey, decided to mix things up a bit. He started us with a few eight-count body-builders and then sent the team out on its first “mision”. (GORUCK events are generally comprised of several navigational, goal-oriented challenges called missions. Each mission must be accomplished in a set time-frame.) Class 388 accomplished its first mission in less than the allotted time.

GORUCK Light

First Mission Accomplished

GORUCK Light

On the Move with Old Glory

GORUCK Light

Pretty Packs All in a Row

“Congratulations, you made the time hack. Now, it’s time for some fun!”

The “fun” was a relay race with each team member carrying a 40-ish pound pack (mine weighed 38 lbs at the beginning of the event) filled with bricks. Each team member sprinted about 40 yards, up two flights of steps, touched a light pole and then turned around to bear crawl back down the hill and, finally, sprint the 40 flat yards back to their team … all while carrying our packs.

“Winning has it’s advantages,” Cadre Mickey informed us.

The “advantage” was that the winning team got to do PT (physical training) right along with the losing team. After all, even though we divided up for this portion of the challenge, we were one big team … right? Right.

Good livin’, as GORUCK cadre like to say.

GORUCK Light

Good Livin’ in the Water

GORUCK Light

Low Crawl!

GORUCK Light

The Last Three Push-ups

Another mission later, Cadre Mickey felt badly that the team had missed out on its initial welcome party and proceeded to throw a lovely party on the sandy, driftwood-strewn shore of the Missouri river. Push-ups, body-builders, log lifts and carries, more PT in the river, rolling in the sand for camouflage, bear crawls (a favorite of Mickey’s), crab walks and a couple fireman carries thrown in for good measure. Most of the team was gassed, light-headed and badly in need of water.

If that kind of party sounds like fun to you then you should definitely sign up for a GORUCK event.

Route Map

One of the best things about GORUCK is that it’s not a competition. It’s all about building a successful team. Our team bonded quickly, pitching in to help the weaker members and working together to accomplish  missions. Rapidly forming a strong team is really the only way to get everyone across the finish line in a GORUCK. Every member of GORUCK class 388 completed the entire challenge. Some of us had to carry multiple packs. Some of us had to carry bricks from other team members’ packs. We all did what was necessary to leave no man (or woman) behind.

Putting Our Heads Together to Accomplish the Mission

The dynamic of a good team. The assistance, camaraderie and encouragement. It’s powerful stuff - powerful enough to pull people through things they previously thought impossible. Even if you’ve only run a 5K or a mud-run, the Light is a great introduction to GORUCK and a great way to challenge yourself - perhaps as never before. The river water, sand, dirt and, in our case, milk shakes taste great and with fewer bricks in your pack, than a GORUCK Challenge, the Light is, indeed, less filling.

The Patch

Get some!