The best kind of spicy!
I just signed up for this a few days ago.... Best decision or worst decision of 2018 so far remains to be seen!
What is it?
Well this event is going to basically be a 50 mile photo scavenger hunt that has to be done in 20 hours or less. It is going to be run by GORUCK (obviously) here in DC and will require a team or 2-5 plot a course to take check in via team selfies at various landmarks and other locations in the area. The minimum distance covered will be equal to or greater than 50 miles depending on route selection...
Why, why, why???????
Two former presidents are the main impetus behind the birth of this event. Teddy Roosevelt first instructed that all officers of the military be able to complete a 50 mile march in 20 hours over 3 consecutive days.
This morphed into 50 miles in 20 hours straight through.
Enter John F. Kennedy...
He discovered the old Roosevelt order and asked the Marine Commandant if Marines of the 1960s could complete 50 miles in 20 hours or less.
The presidents brother, Robert F. Kennedy, decided he was going to give it a shot himeself.... He walked from Great Falls, VA to Camp David, MD in 17 hours and 50 minutes... wearing leather dress shoes.
The Marine's didn't take long to get in on the action and big march at Quantico was done not long after.
Then the rest of the country decided to lace up their walking shoes... A bit of a national craze was born.
Source: https://www.artofmanliness.com/2017/05/24/take-trjfk-50-mile-challenge/
Enter GORUCK
GORUCK was founded by a Green Beret... A large portion of Special Forces Selection is rucking.... rucking a lot from what I've been told. Part of the culminating exercise is "the long walk"... Just keep walking and hoping you're moving fast enough to get selected.
I've done a good bit of rucking in my day, but never more than 20 miles or so in a day.
So, naturally I rounded up some of my best friends and said lets do this, because who wouldn't want to walk for 20 hours straight for no good reason other than pride and a sense of accomplishment!
So in May we'll be strapping 20 pounds plus water, lickies and chewies (snacks), and a change of socks to our backs and making our way around DC all in an attempt to prove that Americans aren't quite as soft as we're made out to be.... And, of course, to earn the GORUCK 50MI Star Course patch that will never be for sale!
I've done a few rucking posts in the past, but I'll likely try and start some sort of series as I prep for this event. I've got about 3 months to prepare and while the pace doesn't have to be too fast to make it in under 20 hours it is a significant distance and shouldn't be taken too lightly!