This month, I’m taking on a new challenge:
Rucking 50 miles to raise awareness — and real support — for Stop Soldier Suicide.

Rucking started as a way to carry the burdens of others.
Today, we carry them still — for ourselves, for each other, and for those still fighting battles we cannot always see.

If you want to join the mission, there are a few ways you can help:

🔗 Support My 50-Mile Ruck Challenge:
👉 https://www.facebook.com/donate/3842860572691106/

🔗 Start Your Own 50-Mile Challenge:
👉 https://oclp.goodunited.io/1401/login

🔗 If You or Someone You Know Needs Immediate Help:
📞 Call 984-223-5721 — Stop Soldier Suicide Crisis Line (24/7, confidential)
🌐 Visit Stop Soldier Suicide Help Page Here

Send us a text

Life is Rucking Wonderful!

We dive deep into one of the most important questions in ruck training: how much weight should you carry?

You’ll hear:

• Why men and women tend to make different mistakes when choosing pack weight
• What military research says about safe load carriage and injury risk
• How thru-hikers are redefining what “smart weight” looks like on the trail
• Personal lessons from Lindsay’s evolution—from a 10 lb beginner to 40 lb competitor
• Practical tips and a weekly challenge to help you ruck smarter, not harder

💪 Your Weekly Challenge:

Step-by-step instructions to weigh yourself, assess your pack, and adjust intentionally for your goals. Bonus points if you share your loadout with the community!

📚 Sources & References:

• Easter, M. (2022). Two Percent with Michael Easter: How much weight should you ruck with? Substack Article
• Knapik, J. et al. (1990). Physiological, biomechanical and medical aspects of load carriage. Military Medicine, 155(3), 117–122.
• Orr, R. et al. (2011). Load carriage and its force impact. Journal of Military and Veterans’ Health, 19(3), 25–30.
• Hamonko, M. et al. (2011). Injuries Related to Hiking With a Pack During National Outdoor Leadership School Courses: A Risk Factor Analysis. Wilderness Environ Med, 22(1), 2–6. doi:10.1016/j.wem.2010.09.010

📩 Stay Connected:

• Subscribe to Just Ruck It on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you ruck and roll
• Follow Lindsay on Instagram: @JustRuckingIt
• Share your ruck weight and tag your post with #JustRuckItChallenge

Send us a text

Life is Rucking Wonderful!

Welcome back, Ruckers!
Today’s episode is a story about persistence, pain, laughter, and what happens when you stop waiting for perfect conditions and start moving anyway.

Since 2023, I’ve been piecing together a 32-mile challenge across three of Rochester’s historic trail systems:

• Genesee Valley Greenway
• Lehigh Valley Trail
• Auburn Trail

This personal project, now known as the ROC Rail-to-Trail Trifecta, took me through 8 towns, 3 counties, and one massive transformation.

🟢 It started on horseback...
🟡 Shifted to rucking...
🔵 Ended with strength, resilience, and a pack full of stories.

This isn’t just a recap—it’s a blueprint for what happens when you show up, even when it’s messy. From urban chaos and grief-fueled solo hikes to the joy of finishing with a stranger-turned-teammate, this one’s got heart.

Whether you’re dreaming up your next adventure or still trying to find your “why,” you’ll want to hear this.

🔑 What You'll Hear:

• How the idea of the ROC Trifecta was born
• Why horseback riding pushed me to start rucking
• What grief, failure, and a surprise protein shake can teach you on the trail
• Why I doubled back just to hit a perfect GPS number
• The unexpected community you find when you keep showing up
• The new challenge I’m chasing next (and how to join me)

💬 Your Turn:

What’s your next challenge?
Use the hashtag #JustRuckItChallenge and tag @justruckingit on Instagram to share your goals, routes, and ruck-selfies.

You can also leave your story or “why” as a voice message on the Just Ruck It Substack for a chance to be featured in a future episode.

🔗 Links & Resources:

🎯 Take on the ROC Rail-to-Trail Trifecta Challenge:
ruckingrochester.com/product/roc-rail-to-trail-trifecta

Send us a text

Life is Rucking Wonderful!