Rucking Deep Dive Part 3
A conversation with Ben Pfeffer from the Austin Ruck Club
Welcome to Sweat Ventures. I write about M&A and Investment themes that catch my eye in Fitness, Outdoor Recreation, and Sports.
The following is a Q&A with Ben Pfeffer, co-founder of the Austin Ruck Club.
Joel Van Essen: What first got you into rucking?
Ben Pfeffer: I had been familiar with rucking and the benefits of training with weight for a few years given my CrossFit experience but the real turning point came when my good friend (and co-founder of Austin Ruck Club) Patrick Johnson recommended I read Michael Easter’s book The Comfort Crisis. Essentially, the book is half science half memoir. Easter details humanity’s own chronic discomfort with everything from food, shelter, friendships, work, etc. He argues that only in the past .04% of human existence have we had the level of comfort we have and by putting ourselves in uncomfortable situations we can be happier, healthier, and more productive. Easter dovetails this with an epic account of a month-long Alaska hunting expedition. Anyways, rucking and GORUCK were one of the activities and businesses highlighted in the book. I bought my first weighted vest a week later.
JVE: What personal benefits have you experienced from rucking?
BP: The benefits of Rucking that I’ve experienced personally have been both physical and mental. Physically, my core is stronger, my endurance has increased, and I feel more grounded and solid all around. Mentally, by far the biggest change has been around my approach to adversity. Rucking is unique among other fitness activities/sports as it truly is minor discomfort stretched over however long or as far as you want to go. You really just have to put one foot in front of another. My mental toughness has increased dramatically, especially after a few of us did the GORUCK Austin 50 Mile event – that was brutal.
JVE: What inspired you to start the Austin Ruck Club?
BP: Two things. 1) Patrick and I looked around and simply no one was doing it. We would see people on the trail rucking but always solo. We are both builders at heart so decided Austin needed its own formal group. 2) The community. I truly believe that bringing people together through fitness and movement is one of the best ways to build community. Starting Thursday and Saturday mornings with a group of like-minded people all suffering through the same thing is oddly magical.
JVE: How would you describe the Austin rucking community today?
BP: The Austin Rucking community today is broad, energetic, and diverse. The type of people attracted to rucking in general tend to be the hybrid athletes, CrossFitter’s, nature lovers of the world, etc. Add to that the weirdness that is Austin and you get a potent mix of people that want to do hard things, have fun, and form strong relationships.
JVE: Why do you think people are drawn to rucking as a fitness tool and/or the sense of community?
BP: Rucking is probably the most accessible and scalable fitness modality out there today. All you need is your feet a backpack and some weight. In great shape? Awesome! Load up your bag heavy? Older or recovering from something? No problem – take it easy with just a few pounds. Rucking is essentially free and can be done anywhere and at any time. As to the community, I think it’s simple. First, unlike running or other methods of training you’re performing at likely below a Zone 2 heart rate. It’s easy to connect, build relationships, and talk with people without huffing and puffing.
JVE: Why do you think rucking is growing in popularity right now?
BP: People are looking for fitness options that are more cost effective, sustainable, and fun. Other offerings like CrossFit, Pilates, HYROX, etc. are all great in their own way but they are typically expensive ($20+/class), leave you banged up or incredibly sore, and intimidating to get into. Rucking meets you where you are and can be done at any age or skill level.
JVE: How do you see rucking fitting into the broader fitness ecosystem?
BP: I think Rucking is a great compliment to other sports and training efforts. We see cyclists, CrossFitters, Yogies, etc. all come out to Ruck Club as a way to cross-train, build strength, or simply just get active. I also think, that like pickle ball or other racquet sports, Rucking is something that you can do your entire life. Unlike CrossFit or Basketball I think you will see this generation of Ruckers continue to stick with the sport into the middle and later stages of their lives.
JVE: Have you noticed more awareness or curiosity about rucking from people outside the usual fitness crowd?
BP: Absolutely, especially in Austin, we are getting more interest and curiosity on the trail. The act of rucking itself is the sports best form of advertisement. A really interesting trend I’m seeing is couples and young parents rucking together. Typically, one person has a walking habit and the other will start to join and carry a ruck.
JVE: Where can we find out more about the Austin Ruck Club?
BP: Check us out at austinruckclub.com or on Instagram at @austinruckclub!