WEDNESDAY
STAMINA - LOAD BEARING
60 Minute Hike/Ruck with 45lb pack. The pace should be a fast walk.
Isn't a long run the same or even better? No. The reason we alternate between runs and hikes is because they each serve a different purpose. A long run is used to build/maintain an aerobic base with little to no resistance. You can move fast and cover relatively long distances with these types of efforts. A ruck or hike is designed to be a load bearing effort, where you are moving with external weight on your body You obviously cannot move as fast, but there are other factors that come into play. The way you move is different, your stride length and stride frequency changes, and you feel the use of different stabilizing muscles to support your load. There is also a different feel to a ruck/hike...your shoulders feel the straps of your pack pulling against them, your lower back has to work harder to maintain forward progress, and you are generally getting more comfortable with the discomfort of carrying things on your back. Is is very mode specific. Firefighters carry SCBA's and Soldiers carry rucks. You can be awesome at running, but if you don't train in the mode that is required of you, you will not be as effective.
