GR Echo

Recently, I decided that training for a GRC with a North face backpack wasn't cutting it. The straps would loosen while running with a full set of bricks, and it didn't sit well on my back. Also, since I now use my GR1 for just about everything, I figured it might be a bad idea to stank it up while training. I wanted to train with another GORUCK product, and after checking out the specs of the GR Echo, it looked like it would fit six bricks which was all I needed. I wasn't disappointed. It's like a mini-GR1, the back is comfortably padded, and the straps don't loosen or slip while running. It's a tight fit for the six bricks, but it works. I went for my first ruck since GRC: DC using the Echo, and I realized I have a long way to go to get back to GRC shape before Alaska in July. 

Starting the Day Off Right

One thing I fail to do on a regular basis is start my day off with a good breakfast. I'm usually either in a hurry to get out the door and go to work, or I sleep so late that by the time I actually get around to making some sort of food, it's more of a lunch-type thing instead. What I've discovered, thanks to my new blender, is that all of the random fruits and veggies in my fridge that normally go bad before they get eaten can actually come together in a delicious way. Today, I give you my Green Breakfast Smoothie.

First off, I have to thank Mustache Man for the inspiration for this one. Second, this doesn't necessarily have to be a breakfast smoothie; it's great any time of the day, even more so after a solid workout. Add a scoop of your favorite protein powder (I'd recommend vanilla) and you're good to go!

1 cup fresh blueberries
2 cups baby spinach (I use a good-sized handful)
2 clementines or mandarin orange
1/2 medium (7-8") banana, sliced (I only use half, as the flavor can be rather overpowering if you use a whole one)
1 cup skim milk
4 or 5 ice cubes
dash of cinnamon

Peel the citrus and divide the sections, removing any seeds you might find. Put the ice in your blender, use the "crush" setting to turn it into a nice snow, then add the other ingredients. Pulse on high for about 30 seconds and then you're good to go. This makes roughly 20oz of fluid.

Nutrition info
Calories: 300
Fat: 2g
Carbohydrates: 77g
Fiber: 15g
Protein: 21g
Lots and lots and lots of vitamins and minerals.

New and Improved!

So, now that we've all enjoyed a nice lengthy holiday break from training, it's finally time to get back in the saddle. Tom emailed me the other day and suggested a few ways to spruce up the blog, the major parts of which you're looking at right now: exciting colors, fancy fonts, and a fun new picture to illustrate (even if it's just a little bit) what it is we've decided to start putting ourselves through. We also have a new links section for some of the activities we participate in, as well as the charities they support in conjunction with their participants. We will also be adding links to other training blogs so you can see just what the other crazy ruckers out there are up to...first one to check out is Mud Run Maniac, hosted by Paul, a fellow GORUCK Challenge Class 093 participant. He's got a lot of awesome training tips (not to mention his own pretty darn good write-up of our adventure) so please check it out and give him some love.

We're both hoping to keep this a little more active, maybe by posting weekly workout summaries, some of our own training tips, and most importantly, telling you all what it is that motivates us to do all this wild and crazy stuff....and trust me--it is pretty freaking crazy but I already love it.

So, thanks to Tom for the suggestions, and thanks also for convincing me to sign up for GRC back in December. It's helped me start down an exciting and ultimately incredibly positive new path in my life and I'm proud to have you as my battle buddy.

Let's make with the Good Livin'!!!

How many days left?

It seems like time is quickly running out to get ready for this. Tri State Tough Mudder is less than 2 months away, and then it will be GORUCK time before we know it.
Luckily, I've been able to cross the 4 mile threshold while wearing the 20lb pack. Plus I've started carrying 2.5 lb dumbbells in each arm while running. The weight seems insignificant for the first two miles, but after that it starts to feel like 25 lbs in each arm.
Thanks for the advice about the lunges and burpees. I'd been doing squats but my legs need all the work they can get. It was funny you mentioned burpees...the following day the Washington Post ran an article about them, and how they were once considered the ideal workout and are starting to make a comeback.
I'm a little jealous that you have access to equipment to help your workout at your place of work. I can't say I have access to anything quite like that at the Census. Unless of course I decide to start beating the shit out of a printer with a sledgehammer (Office Space style).

Training

I've been doing a variety of exercises, sort of a combination of specific training for the GORUCK as well as general fitness and strength building exercises. I'm trying to run with my pack at least 3 days a week, I'm up to right around 3 miles now (at about a 10/10:30 pace). If I'm at work, I'll actually wear an SCBA (somewhere in the vicinity of 25lbs) instead of my brick pack, and do my running on the treadmill. I've also started doing sprint intervals, generally without any weight, but I'll probably start adding that in just because.

As far as the other stuff, I've been doing a lot of focus on my legs. I'll do lunges with my pack on, as well as while carrying a 20-ish pound weight in front. Right now I can usually make it through about 25 each leg before I'm ready to fall over. I'm also filtering in bear crawls and burpees while wearing the pack. In addition to that, I've started using a tractor tire we have at the station for a bunch of exercises. The tire weighs something like 425 pounds, so I'll do dead lifts and flip it as many times as I can; I'll do "ninja jumps" (standing jump onto the tire, landing as lightly as possible on the balls of my feet, hold for a second, then jump back down); and my favorite, basically beating the shit out of it with a sledgehammer. I'm guessing you don't have access to something like that where you are, but check out "tractor tire workout" on YouTube to get a feel for what I'm talking about.

I'm throwing some general P90x-type stuff in there as well, for legs and abs, as well as general fitness. I don't really have a strict workout by any means, but the biggest things I'm trying to do is wear a weighted pack as much as possible, even just when walking around, and hammering on my legs. I think these things are going to come down to physical and mental endurance more than anything else, but I'm certainly not going to sit idly by and wait for the day to come!

Training

I was hoping the bricks would start to feel lighter with each workout. Right now it doesn't seem to be working that way.
What are you doing for training Jon?
I've been trying to make it 4 miles without stopping (with the full 20 lbs.) but can't seem to make it past 3 without walking a half mile, and then running the final half mile. I've also been trying to do a lot of the 'Tough Mudder' exercises while wearing the backpack (with varying levels of success).
I'm thinking eventually we'll need to start having designated days that we just wear the backpacks all day to get ready for the 8 to 12 hours we'll be wearing it the day of the challenge.
Good luck!

Shedding Pounds

Today is my birthday, so I decided that a good gift to myself would be a good ass-kicking early morning run. After a quick breakfast of peanut butter on a slice of wheat and a protein drink, I filled up my camelbak, strapped it into my backpack and loaded in my bricks, and off I went.

It was still nice and cool outside, but the sun was already starting to pop above the trees, so I knew it was going to get hot before I was done. I took a slightly different route today, one with plenty of nice gradual hills at a good grade--I definitely felt the burn! 2.5 miles and 25 minutes later, I jogged back into my driveway, soaked in sweat and breathing nice and heavy, but damn did I feel good. As I went inside and shrugged off my bag, a thought struck me.

Four short months ago, I was carrying all of that extra weight with me all the time. Once I finally got my act together and quit smoking, started exercising and eating better, and generally taking a more proactive role in my health and fitness, the pounds just started melting away. Today, I laughed to myself a little bit when I realized that I now control when I carry that extra weight around--it doesn't control me. It's a challenge running with it on my back, and it's a welcome challenge; but the fact that I don't have to have those extra 20 pounds with me all the time makes me feel even better that I've started this new journey in my life.

Happy birthday, indeed.