An Epic Austin City Ruck Weekend

The Austin City Ruck Series offered a range of challenges designed to test both mental and physical toughness. Here's a rundown of what went down:

• Bat City Shakeout: This event kicked off the Austin series, allowing participants to meet up, dial in their gear, and shake off those pre-event nerves. More Perfect Union started things off by asking the participants to share what freedom means to each person. Ruckers then hit the trail in the 90-degree heat toward Lady Bird Lake and the Ann W. Richards Congress Avenue Bridge to see the largest urban bat colony in North America fly at dusk. It was the perfect way to get into the rucking spirit!

• Lone Star 50 Miler City Ruck: The ultimate test of endurance, the 50-miler challenged participants to cover 50 miles in under 20 hours. Visiting many landmarks in Austin: Lady Bird Lake, Mount Bonnell, Yeti, Longhorns Football Stadium and more. It was a true test of grit and determination, with every blister and step contributing to a monumental achievement.

• Lone Star 26.2 Miler City Ruck: For those looking for a marathon-length ruck, this event was the perfect fit. While hitting many city landmarks, ruckers completed 26.2 miles in under 11 hours, showcasing sheer willpower and pushing past the pain.

• Lone Star 12 Miler City Ruck: This challenge mirrored the U.S. Army’s Expert Infantryman Badge assessment, requiring ruckers to battle grit, sweat, and blisters to meet a high standard while rucking around Lady Bird Lake.

• Lone Star 5K City Ruck: The rucking community showed up strong for a family-friendly 5K that brought out ruckers of all ages—plus a few four-legged teammates. It was fun, it was sweaty, and it was all about showing up together. Jenn Dummond, World record holder and the first woman to climb the seven second summits, joined the crew, along with her son, Joe. 

The dedication and grit from every participant was nothing short of badass. Those who crossed the finish line didn’t just earn serious bragging rights—they proved their mental and physical toughness in true GORUCK fashion. Big shout-out to our partners—Dollamur, Montana Knife Company, and Yeti—for hooking up our winners with gear as tough as they are.

This wasn’t just about checking off miles—it was about the experience. GORUCK’s Street Team led the charge with a free 8-week training series, built by our Director of Training, to get ruckers ready for whatever Austin threw their way.

And Austin delivered. The energy was high, the community strong, and the course took ruckers through iconic spots with a crew that pushed, pulled, and supported each other every step of the way.

Post-ruck, the celebration kicked in. Squatch Frontier Fitness hosted, and the vibes were high with fitness activations by Madabolic Austin, Deep End Fitness Austin, and Street Parking. The Fitness Farmer’s Market brought out our people—More Perfect Union, 1st Phorm, Garmin, Hopdoddy, Force of Nature, Tim Kennedy, and ProFriction. Ruckers, families, and friends showed up, showed out, and made this one for the books.

The Austin City Ruck Weekend was a prime example of what GORUCK does best—bringing people together to train hard, show up, and earn it alongside a community that’s got your back. From first-timers to seasoned vets, everyone had the chance to prepare, connect, and crush it.

Wherever you are in your rucking journey, there’s an event with your name on it. So keep training, and we’ll see you at the next one.