GORUCK HEAVY CHALLENGE
THE ULTIMATE TEAM EVENT
- 24+ Hours, 40+ Miles - an extreme Rite of Passage
- Always a Team Event, Never a Race
- Led by current and former Special Forces
The GORUCK Challenge is our flagship and original team building event - we’ve led over 10,000 since 2010. The Heavy is the pinnacle GORUCK Challenge. You need to train hard with a rucksack and a sandbag prior to showing up. Not so that we can test you as an individual, but so that you can better serve your team. The weight will be heavy, the distance will be long, and there is no way to get through this without the people to your left and the people to your right. That requires a mindset forged through adversity in dedication to something greater than yourself. This is a life changing event, a rite of passage where you will learn about yourself under conditions of physical and mental stress. You’ll learn about leadership and teamwork and you get to take that back with you to your daily life. This should NOT be your first GORUCK Event.
When you successfully complete the Heavy, your Cadre will hand you a cold beer and a patch that will never be for sale.
WHAT TO BRING - REQUIRED
- A rucksack (Rucker recommended) - must have reflectivity
- Ruck Plate (or equivalent) in your rucksack = to your weight requirement
- If you weigh >150 lbs = 30 lb. Ruck Plate
- If you weigh < 150 lbs = 20 lb. Ruck Plate
- Water/Hydration. 4L minimum required. Hydration Bladder and a Nalgene recommended.
- Dry Bag (or equivalent, such as a contractor bag) for keeping everything in your ruck dry.
- Windbreaker or waterproof jacket. You will get wet, you will want to warm up. Pay close attention to the weather — if it’s gonna be cold, make sure you have sufficient layers to include a hat and gloves
- One (1) pair of merino wool socks in your dry bag (Two pairs recommended)
- Any medication you might need
- Photo ID
- Smiles
RECOMMENDED (BUT NOT REQUIRED) ITEMS
- Gloves (1 pair) Not medical gloves, working gloves
- A full change of clothes and shoes/flip-flops for after the event. Apres-Ruck is much nicer in flip-flops
- Supportive footwear. GORUCK recommended because it’s the best for people who carry weight and live on their feet.
- Food, snacks, electrolytes as desired
- As a class, you need one (1) 25 lb. class weight and one American Flag. If you’re new to GORUCK, don’t sweat it. If you’ve done an event or ten, organize with your class — it must be in compliance with Special Forces Rule #1: Always Look Cool
CADRE CLEVE
Serving just shy of ten years in the United States Marine Corps, Cleve served at all three Reconnaissance Battalions before making his way to 1st Force Reconnaissance Company. Cleve served on four combat deployments and has led Marines in Iraq, Afghanistan, in and around the Horn of Africa and Southeast Asia. Out of service, Cleve spends his free time traveling the world with his wife and kids and supporting combat veterans that battle from the war within. Cleve is the brains behind the Recon Raider HTB, a series of events that pays homage to Marine Special Operations done every Fall near San Diego.
CADRE HAND
Cadre Hand loves America, “Old Glory”, and a cold beer after issuing a good GORUCK beatdown. Aaron is dedicated to building better Americans through Special Forces based teamwork (and tough love). Aaron is a U.S. Army Veteran and civilian DOD Emergency R.N. who has 33 years of combined Federal service, with 21 years of military service, including 13 years of Special Operations experience as an Airborne Ranger Sniper in the 3rd Ranger Battalion of the 75th Ranger Regiment (3/75) at Fort Benning Georgia and as a Green Beret communications expert with 2nd Battalion, 5th Special Forces Group (2/5) at Fort Campbell Kentucky. He has deployed to Somalia, Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Iraq, Kuwait, Jordan, Egypt and Panama. His qualifications include United States Army Sniper School, JFK Special Warfare Center and School Special Operations Target Interdiction Course (SOTIC), Tactical Combat Casualty Care Course (TCCC), Advanced Cardiovascular Lifesaver Course (ACLS), Pediatric Advanced Lifesaver Course, Trauma Nursing Core Course (TNCC). Cadre Hand can hit ‘em from a mile away, and patch up the wounded, while calling in an airstrike. These days he likes to focus on GORUCK team challenges, teaching teamwork and leadership under stress.
CADRE MOCHA
Mocha Mike is sometimes called Million Dollar Mike because of all the titanium hardware that is holding him together. Mocha grew up in the Hells Kitchen area of Manhattan, where he found himself going in the wrong path and joined the Army where he truly found a home and family. Serving with the great units such as 2/75 Ranger Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, 1st and 2nd Battalion 1st Special Forces Group. Mocha has a military family; his wife of 24-years is serving in the United States Army Reserves, and their two children both born and raised on various military bases. When not leading great GORUCK events in order to instill pride and faith in Americans, Mocha enjoys traveling with his family and long walks with their pack of six dogs.
Use the chat feature on the Sandlot platform to coordinate any details or training tips with your Cadre and the rest of the awesome folks that signed up. To join the chat complete the steps below:
- Click the link below
- Join the fistbump
- Create your Sandlot profile
- Click the chat button