Rucking on a treadmill while deployed

[Suivez Moi]

I am currently in Iraq on a small FOB. I have been trying to find a battle buddy to ruck with me with no luck. Is ruck marching on a treadmill a good idea or is there a reason I should not do it?

I searched the forum and did not come up with any results.

[Dusty]

Originally Posted by Suivez Moi

I am currently in Iraq on a small FOB. I have been trying to find a battle buddy to ruck with me with no luck. Is ruck marching on a treadmill a good idea or is there a reason I should not do it?

I searched the forum and did not come up with any results.

Do you ascertain a difference between rucking in sand (or on a road) and rucking on a treadmill that would cause physical damage?

Personally, I don't; if I were in your position, I'd ruck on a treadmill or up and down stairs or even "in place" if I had to do it to stay in condition in the event I needed to be in good enough shape to save my ass.

However, I'm not a Medic-there may indeed be a caveat of which I'm unaware.

[Fatum Me Ducat]

Not a medic, dr, etc...
You'll be fine unless you fall down (seen it happen... funny stuff). The only thing you really have to worry about is the normal wear and tear your body takes from rucking as in any other environment. The treadmill will take the worst of it. Most PFC's don't allow you to wear boots on the treadmill with rucksacks because it tears up the equipment quicker.

[Suivez Moi]

Originally Posted by Fatum Me Ducat

Not a medic, dr, etc...
You'll be fine unless you fall down (seen it happen... funny stuff). The only thing you really have to worry about is the normal wear and tear your body takes from rucking as in any other environment. The treadmill will take the worst of it. Most PFC's don't allow you to wear boots on the treadmill with rucksacks because it tears up the equipment quicker.

I didn't think of the gym not allowing it. That is definitely something to consider.

Surgicalcric: I understand and I wish there was a better way of doing it. I have been bugging everyone in my platoon since we got here to go run and ruck with me.

We don't have any stairs here on the FOB. Everything is one story.

Thank you for the responses.

[Dusty]

Originally Posted by Suivez Moi

I have been bugging everyone in my platoon since we got here to go run and ruck with me.

Just outta curiosity, Bro-how does the rest of your platoon stay in shape?

[Pete]

Small is relative.

Even something with a walkable interior of a 100 meters per side gives you a 1/4 mile +/- track - and at least the view changes.

People might look at you funny but on a small FOB the word should get around pretty quick you're going out for SFAS.

If Plan A, the tread mill, falls through you can revert to Plan B walking the inside perimeter.

[Suivez Moi]

Originally Posted by Dusty

Just outta curiosity, Bro-how does the rest of your platoon stay in shape?

Most of them are either out of shape or all they do is lift weights. Some of them run on the treadmill but most of them don't. We spend a lot of time out on missions and most of them just sit around when we come back if there is nothing else to do.


I am the lowest ranking person in the platoon but I have been giving everyone crap about being out of shape. Two guys have started coming with me to the gym and my section sgt goes pretty often now. None of them want to ruck with me or run outside though.

[Surgicalcric]

Originally Posted by Suivez Moi

...Is ruck marching on a treadmill a good idea or is there a reason I should not do it?

Drive on but understand that rucking on a treadmill is very different from rucking on the road or over rough terrain, just like running. While it is better than nothing I wouldn't show up to Camp McKall expecting to enjoy SFAS too much.

HTH,

Crip