They’re calling for a nasty storm today. It’s already begun to snow. The wind has started to howl. I’ve already been on a four-mile ruck with a good friend of mine. Kiss me, winter.
Before you write this off as some toxic boast, “Oh, isn’t he so tough…” Please. Hear me out.
I used to dread winter. I love the fall. My birthday is in the fall. But seldom did I ever feel like I could enjoy it knowing what was just around the corner. I liken it to Sundays. A day for rest but anxiety keeps you crying over what’s next. Monday. Back to work. Back to the grind. Back to the rat race that if ever you should actually win, you’re still just a rat.
Soapbox alert: I loathe ‘Monday’ jokes. Coffee jokes too. While I’m on it, more than any, I can’t stand guy-bacon jokes. It’s like saying “I’m a man and that’s what men joke about. Right guys? Right? Please laugh so I’ll know that you believe I’m really a man!” Anyways. Remember when you were young?
They say winter is an Old Man. Maybe that’s why I liked him so much as a kid. Older folks often let you get away with things. Like skipping school to sled ride with friends while the parents were still at work. We’d be out there for hours. We’d be so damn cold, but having way too much fun to care. It was awesome!
I won’t lie. Something about it did make me feel tough. I’d imagine I was in a scene from Star Wars, Empire Strikes Back. The film opens with a battle scene taking place in some vast, arctic arena in a galaxy far, far away. That was me! That was where I was!
Back to the future. I’ve been rucking for a few years now. If you’re not familiar, it’s basically a hike with purposeful, and additional heft. I have a GoRuck pack. A solid pair of boots. Several ruck plates, each varying in weight. Today I sported 35 lbs. Heavy, but not too heavy. It’s been a minute since I’ve been out. Loving it!
We’ve had a fairly mild December till now. Still, as the temps have started to drop, I’ve felt myself slump down into the place of loathing winter again. Hating the cold. Desiring to check out till Springtime clocks in.
Something about rucking though. It gets you out there. In it. Like, you’re no longer on the sidelines as some bystander who’s taking hits but not really imparting anything to the game. I love the scene of a white carpet and earthy grey ceiling. Leafless trees that read like binoculars, allowing me to see far beyond the norm. The sound of snow crunching underneath my boots. Cool air snapping across my face. Feeling ever so pioneer!
I get to be one with winter. Seems all too awful until I am. And when I am the cold doesn’t bother me so much. I become young again. Wild. Free of dumb jokes that overly domesticated guys tell because they lust to look the part without actually being it. Just kidding. Kind of…
Maybe that’s why so many of us are disgruntled. Life is just happening to us. We’re taking hits but not contributing anything significant. Probably you didn’t see this coming from a blog about rucking in the winter. But here it is. Life. Let’s get some!
Thanks for listening!
good stuff, hermano!
poignant - Free of dumb jokes that overly domesticated guys tell because they lust to look the part without actually being it. Just kidding. Kind of…
Maybe that’s why so many of us are disgruntled. Life is just happening to us. We’re taking hits but not contributing anything to the game. Probably you didn’t see that coming from a blog about rucking in the winter. But there it is. Life. Go get some!