What is Goruck?

Goruck. What is it?:

Goruck is a military style event based off of military special forces training through rucking, moving with weight on your back (hiking). One of Goruck's tag lines is to "Build better Americans". This is through introducing you to working out in team-based training similar to those who attend Special Operations training in the Armed Forces. These events are social events and team building events. They are also leadership events. They force you to forget about yourself and worry more about your team.

There are 4 typical types of Goruck events:

• Goruck Light - 5-7 hours covering anywhere from 7-10 miles. Carry weight depending on body weight. For me (a big guy) I carry a base weight of 20#. Pass rate average is 100%.
• Goruck Tough - sometimes called Goruck Challenge is 10-12 hours covering 15-20 miles. Carry weight depends on body weight. For me (still a big guy) I carry a base weight of 30#. Average pass rate 94%.
• Goruck Heavy - 24+ hours covering 40+ miles. For me I would carry a base weight of 30#. Average pass rate 50%.
• Goruck Selection - many have tried and many have failed. Average pass rate is extremely low. Usually 1-3 people pass in a class of 30-40.

My 30# cast iron plate.

The base weight you carry is literally just that - brick wrapped in duct tape and bubble wrap to give you a base weight to start with. You can also use a cast iron plate or a sand-filler bag (I don't recommend the sand bag as most events end up in some form of water and this would create extra weight for you). It ensures that everyone is at a similar level. Bigger people carry bigger weight. Smaller people carry smaller weight (if you weigh under 150 pounds you only carry 10# during a Light and 20# during a Tough and a Heavy). 

Add water and other items on the packing list and you can easily have at least 30-40 pounds of gear. That doesn't sound like a lot, but I encourage you to try to ruck with 30 pounds. It might appear easy at first but it will start to wear on your feet. Try doing a push up with an extra 30-40 pounds on your back or a bear crawl or a duck walk or a belly crawl........you get the idea. It can be hard! It is hard.

Most of my gear for my September 11th Goruck Event.

Attention to detail is important during these events. Come with the items listed on the packing list and not much more. Pay close attention to instructions. Check your ego at the door. No joke. Trying to understand why you are doing something isn't important. Just doing it is more important. As you and your team (referred to as a Class) receive instruction from a Cadre (the trainer for the event who is either ex-Special Operations military or current Special Operations military). Pay attention to detail. Act with swiftness. These Cadre are no joke and they will prove it. They can appear mean with no sympathy, but every instruction comes with purpose. They are trying to teach you something. I have often asked, "What am I supposed to learn from this?" They are there to push you to your limit and then push you further. (I left my last event feeling like I wasn't extremely physically challenged UNTIL I woke up the next two mornings. I was sore all over.)

Sometimes you get to play in a pond with your heavy backpack on.

Goruckers (often referred to as Ruckers or GRTs after your first event, which stands for Goruck Trained) are a salty bunch at times. You may not approve of the language, but they have the softest hearts in the world and often would do anything to help you out during an event or in life. Being GRT makes you a part of a family.

During the event your team will carry flags and a team weight. You get a lot of funny looks when a group of GRTs are walking down the road with an American flag and heavy rucks. You usually get honks and glares (of the good variety). 

Your patch is just a piece of cloth you earn at the end of your event. For me though, it is a key to memories. While the event lasts just hours, I have put long hours of preparation into an event by working out, packing and repacking my backpack, and sometimes picturing the worst while hoping for the best. I am not in perfect shape. In fact, I am usually one of the bigger people there- but that doesn't stop me. It never will. Physicality is a huge part of passing any of these four events, but mental toughness is probably the biggest part of being endex'ed (passing the class and getting your patch!). There will be plenty of times during these events when you will ask, "What am I doing here and why am I doing this?" Push through it. Don't let your brain tell you what you can and can't do. There are plenty of things I thought I couldn't do, but with a little motivation and a little yelling, I was able.

I have attended 2 Lights (Class #675 and #945) and am scheduled to do a Tough in November 2015. November's event will be my first 12 hour event and, to be brutally honest, I am a bit intimidated. 

Why I Started Rucking and Attending Goruck Events:

My Goruck journey started about 3.5 years ago. I battled with my weight as a Scout leader. I had been overweight for about 20 years. Hiking with my Scouts was an extreme chore. For years my weight would yo-yo; I would lose 20-30 pounds and then put it right back on. To save my soul from dying while hiking, I looked into light- weight backpacking and came across Brian's Backpacking Blog. Seeing that Brian had done a Goruck event inspired me to want to do a Goruck event, but didn't provide the motivation to start losing the weight. Brian is a stellar athelete and a dang good hiker. It took me almost 3 years to get up the nerve to actually put foot to sidewalk to attempt a Goruck event. I had to get my mind right.

Goruck Light Class #675. The young lady to my right told me humbly she had the month before broken the US Female record for 100 miles race. She ran it in 14.5 hours -- that is a 14.5 minute miles average. She was physically challenged during this event.

So about 18 months ago, realizing my life was a mess because of my addiction to food, I started attending the LDS Church's Addiction Recovery class. I hoped to focus on what food really was after 2 failed marriages and a lifetime of not liking who I was. I started my journey at 367 pounds in August of 2014. As of September of this year, I am down to 295. I have not put any weight (other than 5 pounds back and forth) back on. I am most proud of the fact that my weight is not yo-yoing this time. Taking off weight can be easy at times, but keeping it off can be extremely hard. I actually started practicing portion control as well. At times I still eat stuff I should avoid, but I am not eating tons and tons and tons of it.

While working on the outside by attending the LDS Addiction Recovery class, I started working on the inside. I read The Continuous Atonement by Brad Wilcox. I have always had self esteem issues and this book convinced me that while I make mistakes in life, the Lord makes all the difference in my life. I knew that previously, but I had to put my beliefs into action. I am doing that with reasonable success.

Two of my closest friends are also my workout partners. I workout with one at 5 AM and the other at night. My get-healthy journey could not have happened without them. Exercise is more like therapy to me as we talk about life, discuss and solve the problems of the world, and sometimes just vent about life while walking, running or yes even doing yoga when the weather is bad--I can't believe I am admitting that.  Accountability partners have also been key to my success in losing and keeping off weight. My local friends have seen the challenges I have been asked to endure and surrounded me like family.

I have a lot to be grateful for. Setting my ship right, knowing where the Lord wants me and being there, losing weight and having friends and family that love me close, especially when I struggle. Other than winning the lottery and an eternal companion, I have everything I need in life. 

Duck walk......

This post was written for www.imafitmormon.com to introduce people to Goruck events.

Why I Quit My Goruck Tough Challenge - AAR

My Goruck Tough Challenge was a beast. I am spent 2 days later.

9 PM is way past my bed time. I am old, fat and I love my sleep.

Most of this event was a blur but I will say that I had many on my team checking on me constantly to see how I was doing. They were caring and funny. They were foul-mouthed and hilarious. They were problem solvers and great Americans. They shared their Veteran's stories with me and I was proud to be with them. I saw parts of Downtown Dallas that I have never seen before. We rucked through a lot of it at not very safe hours.

So 14 hours later at about 11 AM on Saturday morning we were hiked across a creek, over a fence and over a pedestrian bridge. We then were put in bear crawl position and told to bear down a hill. My arms and shoulders were so spent I could not keep myself up. I ended up dragging myself down the hill. Not even close to good form. We were given 5 seconds to run back up the hill to get to our rucks and I just couldn't do it. I got back to my ruck and we were put in bear crawl position again to crawl down the hill. I couldn't do it. I grabbed my pack told the guy next to me I was done and walked away from the group. Within seconds I was surrounded by my newest 17 friends begging me to stay and telling me I could do it. I was pretty sure I couldn't. In fact, at that point I knew I couldn't do any more. Even having lost 70 pounds I am still a big dude and not in the shape I want to be, though I am heading in the right direction.

The Cadre separated me from the group and I told him I was done. He had asked us at 9 PM the night before that if we wanted to quit to think about all those who had passed during military service and to think about how they would want to be in our shoes and able to see their loved ones. I had but I was so very tired. He told me he knew I could do it if I would just come back to the group and asked me to give it a try. Cadre CT had been extremely nice to the group. Some Cadres physically smoke classes but CT had been fair. He talked about an exercise we had done in the wee hours of the morning where a classmate had jumped up and placed a sticker on a wall and then with our encouragement had been able to jump higher and place a sticker higher than her original. Nothing had changed except the group encourging her to jump higher and she had been able to jump higher. I agreed to go back to the group even though I was embarrassed as hell and I was humiliated by my actions, but I wanted to complete this event as much as my fellow GRTs wanted to complete it. I didn't want to throw 14 hours away even though I was so very tired.

I returned and we were put in bear crawl position again. We bear crawled halfway down the hill and told to lay on our stomachs and then the song below was played for us. 

I love this song. I have known it for a long time and there is some great history about it. It is worth the read. I sang along with most of the lyrics. It is a touching hymn to military sacrifice. At that point, I would have done anything we were asked to do.

My biggest disappointment in myself out of all of this is the 5 minutes of feeling sorry for myself, feeling like I couldn't do this and feeling like I "should" be done. In that moment it became about me instead of about my team. I didn't put them first, I didn't communicate with them where I was at physically and mentally, and I just gave up.

Some in the GRT community may think I am a quitter and don't deserve my patch, to which I would reply,  I 100% agree with you. I honestly don't feel like I deserve it. I made a 5 minute bad decision following 14 hours of physical, mental and emotion stretching. I am sure most GRTs have thought of quitting at some point during an event, but haven't done it. I, on the other hand, have quit. I regret it but I hope to use it as a learning opportunity in the future.

To Cadre Chris (CT) - thank you for believing in me and seeing where I am at physically and stretching me from there instead of holding me to someone else's standard.

To my fellow GRTs who suffered right beside me and probably picked up a ton of my slack - thank you from the bottom of my heart for believing in me when I didn't believe in myself. Everywhere I went you helped me. You extended your arm to help me. Thank you.

12+ Hours of Mental Toughness

Friday night at 9 PM I know where I will be...... And I know where I will be all night. It won't be in my bed.

It will be a long, sleepless night and morning with heavy weight on my back and about 20 of my newest friends to celebrate Veteran's Day in a very special way--by being tortured physically. I regretted signing up for this event as soon as I paid half price for it. I will not be in my comfort zone.

Unlike my last event though, I am less scared even though I know I am going to get physically smoked more than ever I ever have before.* I am a smarter packer, a better foot taper (to alleviate blisters) and more strong willed. The Cadre will not get me quit. I will not quit on myself or my team.
 
I won't be the fastest. I won't be the slowest.
I won't be the strongest. I won't be the weakest.
I won't ever give up on myself or my team.
This isn't about me.
Grateful for those who served and grateful for those who I personally know that served me.

So here is to hoping it is only a 12 hour event instead of 15 but either way I am smashing it even if I have to crawl to complete it.

*I am pretty sure it will be worse than Carry the Load but ready to embrace the suck.

September 11th and Goruck Ready

What a touching day today has been to remind me of the sacrafice made 14 years ago.

Tomorrow I do my own very own memorial with their names in my bag next to my American, Texan and Gonzales flags. It is gonna be a good day especially to remind myself that I am not an individual but part of something bigger. Hopefully my head follows my body.

American flag, Texan flag, Gonzales flag, 9/11 list of those who passed that day, 20# weight, 3 liters water, gummy bears, Clif bars, mechanic's gloves, blue duct tape, waterproof paper, flashlight and my Concord hat. That is a crap load of gear.

In the October 2002 General Conference, President James E. Faust shared the following remarks.

On September 11, 2001, the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York City were hit by terrorist-controlled airliners that caused both towers to collapse. Thousands of people were killed. Out of this tragedy have come hundreds of stories of courageous, unselfish acts. One very poignant and heroic account is the Washington Post’s story of retired army Colonel Cyril “Rick” Rescorla, who was working as vice president for corporate security of Morgan Stanley Dean Witter.

Rick was a very experienced ex-military combat leader. He was in his office when “the first plane struck the north tower at 8:48 A.M. … He took a call from the 71st floor reporting the fireball in One World Trade Center, and he immediately ordered an evacuation of all 2,700 employees in Building Two,” as well as 1,000 more in Building Five. Using his bullhorn, he moved up the floors, working through a bottleneck on the 44th and going as high as the 72nd, helping to evacuate the people from each floor. One friend who saw Rick reassuring people in the 10th-floor stairwell told him, “Rick, you’ve got to get out, too.”

“As soon as I make sure everyone else is out,” he replied.

“He was not rattled at all. He was putting the lives of his colleagues ahead of his own.” He called headquarters to say he was going back up to search for stragglers.

His wife had watched the United Airlines jet go through his tower. “After a while, her phone rang. It was Rick.

“‘I don’t want you to cry,’ he said. ‘I have to evacuate my people now.’

“She kept sobbing.

“‘If something happens to me, I want you to know that you made my life.’

“The phone went dead.” Rick did not make it out.

“Morgan Stanley lost only six of its 2,700 employees in the south tower on Sept. 11, an isolated miracle amid the carnage. And company officials say Rescorla deserves most of the credit. He drew up the evacuation plan. He hustled his colleagues to safety. And then he apparently went back into the inferno to search for stragglers. He was the last man out of the south tower after the World Trade Center bombing in 1993, and no one seems to doubt that he would’ve been again last month if the skyscraper hadn’t collapsed on him first.”

Amid the great evil and carnage of September 11, 2001, Rick was not looking for what might be in it for him; instead he was unselfishly thinking about others and the danger they were in. Rick Rescorla was the “right man in the right place at the right time.” Rick, “a 62-year-old mountain of a man cooly [sacrificed] his life for others.” 20 As the Savior Himself said, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” 21

Most of us don’t demonstrate our unselfishness in such a dramatic way, but for each of us unselfishness can mean being the right person at the right time in the right place to render service. Almost every day brings opportunities to perform unselfish acts for others. Such acts are unlimited and can be as simple as a kind word, a helping hand, or a gracious smile.

The Savior reminds us, “He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.” 22 One of life’s paradoxes is that a person who approaches everything with a what’s-in-it-for-me attitude may acquire money, property, and land, but in the end will lose the fulfillment and the happiness that a person enjoys who shares his talents and gifts generously with others.

I wish to testify that the greatest fulfilling service to be rendered by any of us is in the service of the Master. In the various pursuits of my life, none has been as rewarding or beneficial as responding to the calls for service in this Church. Each has been different. Each one has brought a separate blessing. The greatest fulfillment in life comes by rendering service to others, and not being obsessed with “what’s in it for me.”

Goruck Event #2 Around the Corner and Scared

My next Goruck event is around the corner. It has been 6 months since my last one. I am in better shape and lost a bit more weight yet..............

I am scared.

The group will be huge as it is a memorial event for September 11th and I am very sure I can hide pretty well in a group (kind of like I did at my first one). There is a posibility that a mission buddy and a family member will be there with me with another friend shadowing the group. I know I can do it. I have done it before yet........

I am scared.

I hate the unknown. New cadre means different experience. New location means different challenges. Different people means different group chemistry. Different means I don't know what to expect. I literally wish I had the ability to turn off my brain, the doubt, the scared, the doubt and just do what I need to do. No ones life depends on how well I do. All I need is the ability to walk away from the event knowing I did my best and not being hurt. Yet.....

I am scared.

I guess it doesn't really matter honestly. I am going to do it anyways. I may just pee my pants in the process.

Expect me to be more scared in November. 12 hour event is harder than a 5-7 hour event.

4:30 AM is still last night

I still take off my clothes and don't exactly love what I see. My belly looks much smaller, at least to me, when I have a shirt on. It looks huge with my shirt off.  I am still 295 which I actually see as a good sign as I have not gained the 67 pounds back. I still see all the stretch marks and a fat butt. My body is gross. Maybe it is my age, maybe it is me, maybe it is because I am overweight or maybe a combination of the 3.

But I was gross-er* 67 pounds ago. I can still see my toes. I am a guy. I am not supposed to really care what my body looks like.

4:30 am workout is freaking early. Most days I still get up even though I sleep only between 4-5 hours. My body seems to hate sleep though it loves naps. My daily goal is to walk 9 miles - 7 through exercise and 2 through every day stuff.

I see a lot of people working out as I work out. Most appear in better shape than me. I often wonder what they think as they see this guy the size of a refrigerator running or walking past them. I am jealous of them because most are in much better shape than me.

4 weeks from tomorrow I prove passing a Goruck event wasn't a fluke (pictures). I am nervous. I have done it before but to expect that it will be the same even though there will be a different cadre would be unrealistic. The event has 3 cadre listed. This scares me. I know about 60+ people are signed up. This is a September 11th memorial event. I have a feeling they are going to try and waste us physically. I think I am ready.....or I should say more ready than last time (try holding 50 pounds over your head for 5 minutes--it will blow your mind). I will get smoked either way. I paid half price for the event. Some how I have convinced myself that will make the pain less....  I may actually have friends and family doing the event with me. Lets all get physically smoked together by the cadre. Some how we will lift each other up!

This article is a good read. I think some could find it offensive but I think when I read I am reminded of the day I truly started working out and began to change my life. The reason some mind find this offensive is because the "fat girl" is actually a fat guy. I know the author was trying to hide his friends identity. You can read a follow up here. Another pretty good read. 

* Call the grammar police.

3 Weeks, Accountability and feeling loved

For me as I have lost a decent amount of weight and been a bit healthier, a work out partner has been key. A Fitbit has helped, posting my daily stats to Facebook has helped (because some have asked me why I haven't hit my daily goals), portion control has helped, learning to say no to foods that I LOVE has helped and learning to treat food like fuel instead of a replacement for comfort to drama of x, y and z but my main success has come because I know someone is going to be waiting for me at 5 AM to work out--and J has been waiting for me for almost 3 years. I think that is right--and mind you 4:30 in my book is still the previous night. Or knowing someone is going to be waiting for me at 5:30, 6 or 6:30 or a Facebook group that wants to hear how I am doing on my Couch to 5K program. Accountability is the key!! At least for me it is.

My regular accountability partner has been out of town for about 3 weeks due to vacation and work. The first day I didn't even get out of bed to work out and I was again reminded I need that daily motivation of knowing someone is waiting on me to show up. I knew I was in serious trouble especially with my personal upcoming events. So through the power of Facebook and Church I found another to endure long walks with me while I carried heavy weights. The company of A was great! The heat and humidity and the 30 pound cast iron plate strapped to my back sucked. Eventually you just get used to the weight but at times mentally it is always there.

My 5th Fitbit. I destroy them with ease.

Sweat stain from only half way through 10 miles today.

This 3 weeks with A as my workout partner has been interesting because:

• Blood blisters the size of Texas. I am getting really good at taping my feet to prevent blisters. Leukotape and Benzoin tincture swabs have become my best friends due to my very soft, supple feet.
• Multiple attempts by drivers to kill us with their cars. Eldorado is a deathtrap for those on foot.
• Heat and humidity that only can be described as stupid hot. When you wake up at 5 AM it should NOT be 80 degrees outside. Bring on the winter.
• A 40 pound backpack is flippin' heavy. These plates are going to make a huge difference in my training and I am glad to be done with the bulky bricks especially when you can put messages on them with a paint Sharpee.
• There is a huge, HUGE difference in getting up at 4:30 AM and 5 AM. Seminary has nothing on my wake up time.  
  
  

Spend the time to watch this video and you will understand this - don't let life ring your bell (and it isn't the bell you would think it is). Don't personally ring your bell. Find a partner in all their available shapes and sizes and allow them to help you while you help them. Encourage your workout partner to break through their barriers all the time standing by their side. Challenge them to check something off their bucket list like doing a triathlon. Get out there and wear through a pair of shoes.

I have said this so many times but I am grateful for all the help I have gotten in the many ways I have received it. The past 11 months have been very unique and a significant portion of this trial will be over soon with what appears a decent resolve. I can't wait for that freedom! I have had more good friends step up to encourage and support my children and I, discovered new friends who also encouraged and supported my children and I, spent more time with family than I have in a long time, Skype'd more with family than I ever have before, spent time on my knees, spent time reading Good Books, opened my eyes to see Higher Help, realized I am nothing, realized I am something, looked at the past, looked at the potential for the future and seen that I am my own worst critic (and semi repented). If you have been part of that, been my workout partner at any time or both - I appreciate you.

J and B - you guys have been ridiculous good friends. Thanks for making sure my kids and I got to Nauvoo. That trip was definitely for us.

E and M - you married good guys. Thanks for including me in your family activities and feeding me. Cooking for one SUCKS!!! Thanks for trying to help fix things.

A - thanks for the 3 weeks of different workouts and conversation.

J and L - thanks for the listening ear and unconditional love when I have felt like a failure.

A, C (sometimes called I) and S - you too.

J - thanks for the advice and the lawyer. She is a freaking bulldog.

C and J - thanks for the learning opportunities to remind me what I want.

I know I could go on and on but I am bound to forget someone so I will just stop. I feel loved.

Upcoming personal events:

• Goruck Light DFW September 12th to commemorate September 11th.
• Tough Mudder October 2nd
• 5K on November 7th
• Goruck Tough DFW November 13th - this event actually has me more scared than the triathlon.
• Olympic distance Triathlon in October 2016

Goruck in Pictures

Before the pain. The young lady to my right told me humbly she had the month before broken the US Female record for 100 miles race. She ran it in 14.5 hours -- that is a 14.5 minute miles average. CRAZY!!

Hold heavy crap over your head.

Push up position.

Belly crawl.

Me belly crawling.

Bear crawl.

My Goruck Experience

Goruck is a military style event similar to Special Forces training.  It is a small glimpse into what Special Operators go through to prepare to defend our country.  I learned about Goruck after following Brian's Backpacking Blog.  Brian is the kind of guy I would be friends with if he lived next door.  I chose the Goruck Light version that was a 5-7 hour event--I didn't want to die too bad.   Here is a Youtube video of another class.

3 years ago I decided to do one of these events but wasn't quick to do the hard work required to prepare.  About 8 months ago while dealing with a trial I started training hard and to date have lost 66 pounds.  I am still out of shape and Goruck taught me that but I will get into that.

We arrive and were quickly oriented on first aid, how we work together (similar a Scout patrol) and the importance of working as a team in all the things we do.

We did all of the following with a 25 pound backpack.  Only my backpack was 45 pounds.  I carried extra weight.  You carry bricks in your backpack.  I have shared with some of you a letter I attached to my bricks.  Carrying these bricks was a bit emotional for me and I am glad to be done.  I no longer have to carry the mental and emotional weight attached to my bricks.  

We hiked to the first park and here is where I received my first reality check.  My sister in law was shadowing us for a little bit and I am sure she got some great pictures of me with the expression "You want me to do what????"  We started by doing 8 exercises which included: the bear crawl, pushups, low crawls (one of my least favorite exercises--pulling yourself across the ground with your butt and your head down), squats, flutter kicks, lunges and reverse lunges.  I did horribly.  It was embarrassing with my sister in law taking pictures of me just struggling.  I took my medicine though and just did the best I could. 

We traveled to park two and in the process got separated by a very busy street and traffic.  Because we got separated we learned the 8 point push up which is a push up with burpee blended in.  I think this exercise can be described as pure hell.  My class learned quickly to never to get separated again.

We refueled and filled our water bladders at a local gas station in downtown Dallas.

This shirt was made by a friend for me and fits me to a "t".  I love this quote because it is so true!!

We then traveled to another park on the Trinity River.  Normally they make classes get into the river and do water exercises but we did not and I could be more grateful to not have had to climb into that nasty river.  When we hiked to the Trinity we climbed up a wall to get onto the bridge.  I did better on this than I thought and needed almost no help.  We were then told we had 20 minutes to hike to the end of the bridge and then back.  Previous in the day we had a lady almost pass out and another guy pull a muscle so I was concerned we would not make it as we were told there would be a punishment if we did not.  We got to the end of the bridge in about 7 minutes and the Cadre (a title of a military trainer) then had us remove a shoe and hike the other half mile back.  We completed it in 15 minutes.  We then were instructed that 8 of our group of 37 were injured and we needed to carry them back to our starting point of our event.  We hiked the 3-4 miles back to our starting point with some carrying others rucks (backpacks) and 3 people alternating between carrying and being the injured person.  That took us forever.  It was painful to say the least.

Everywhere we went in downtown Dallas we got stares.  We had a Texas and American flag at the front of our group always and we were constantly running with our heavy backpacks.  It was crazy.  

We completed our course 90 minutes early--in 5 hours.  I was a bit scared by that as I have heard stories of false ends.  They tell you you are done, get you to relax and then slap you with more to do.  I knew until I got my patch in my hand, I wasn't done.  We did though over 10 miles of rucking.  I am pretty sure we did closer to 12.

I got my patch.  Am proud of it.  Will wear it often.  

My feet hurt, I am pretty sure my shoulders are bruised, I am sunburned and I am extremely tired but glad I did it.  I would do another one but I would train a bit differently.

So what did I learn from this 3 year experience?

• I have a lot more friends than I thought.  They are constantly cheering me.  I hope in return I am cheering them.  Having this kind of support has been very humbling and my parents have constantly mention often on how grateful they are that I have such good friend.
• I can do hard things.  I preached it to my Scouts and today I lived it.  There were parts where I questioned why I was out there torturing my body.  Either way I lived up one of Goruck's tag lines -- DFW - Don't freaking quit.
• Team before self.  You could replace word "team" with God, family or friends.  Serving others is huge!
• I learned by watch others who were given the opportunity to lead during the day that screaming isn't a good leadership skill.  Yes it was loud downtown but constantly yelling at those we lead doesn't work.  In fact for me, it was just the opposite.  I wanted to ignore one of my classmates.
• I still have a lot of work to do physically.  After being overweight for most of my life and being really overweight for the past 20 years due to using eating as a crutch, I am done being fat.  It is exhausting.  Doesn't mean I won't enjoy a Code Red every once in a while but it means I am finally committed do make much better choices in my life in relationship to how I deal with stress, what I eat and the amount of exercise I will be doing.   I have 60 more pounds to go and I can do it!
• I am proud of myself.  About 8 months ago I didn't think this was possible.  Today it is.  I wasn't the fastest or the best but I tried my hardest and I finished and earned my patch.  I am beginning to love myself for the very first time.

I can endure more than I think.
I can suffer more than I think.
I can do more than I think.
I have freakin' ridiculous friends.  What else could a guy want?

Class 675

More pictures to follow........

It has been a long day.  I am going to bed!!