Quote:
Originally Posted by matthew.tentis
...Is it more muscular endurance, cardiovascular fitness, muscular strength, a combination of all that come into play during the journey, etc.?
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Was the answers given above not enough for you Matt?
It is combination when broken down to just the physical part of it. However I, as I and others did earlier, submit that it cannot be simply broken down to its physical part(s) unless you are talking short distances, and even then I would argue there is more to it when discussing its tactical application.
As Dave said, a ruck is OUR home for the time we are in the field, whatever/wherever that may be. Rucking on a hardball road is very different than moving tactically across a variety of terrains. The muscles used to cross streams, duck under low branches, weave thru vines, etc arent generally worked in a standard ruck march. A soldier's mind must be in the game to function under such circumstances and to program your mind to do so, time and mileage must be put on your body. I am not talking about a couple hours; I am talking day in and day out on hardball roads, sand (as found at CMK), on hills, thru water, etc. I have seen guys who could run 9 minute/miles with a ruck but couldn't keep up with the patrol because they were constantly shifting or stopping to adjust the weight, on just didnt have mentally what it takes to stay with it in the long haul. Rucking is a great way to separate those with a strong body from those with a strong mind who have properly prepared their body.
If you want to break it down to its purest form (with training in mind), put the damn thing on your back with 55lbs in it and walk, walk until you cant put one foot in front of the other (working up to this goal of course), on a variety of terrains. You will meet both the physical and mental aspects of the task for which you are training.
When it comes to rucking there is but one standard and neither CF or any of the other fad workouts will get you anywhere near it.
BTW, this topic has been covered many times.
Crip