By Martie Thompson
editor@floridanewsline.com
On Veterans Day, Nov. 11, Longleaf Church and Training For Warriors – Julington Creek hosted Ruck St. Johns to benefit St. Johns County’s in-transition and homeless students at the St. Johns County A.S.S.I.S.T Program. Rucking is the action of walking with weight on one’s back. Hiking is rucking in the mountains and urban hiking is simply called rucking. Walking with a weighted rucksack (or backpack) is a low-impact exercise based on military training workouts.
For the Ruck St. Johns, participants warmed up with Coach Colin Woodmansee of Training For Warriors at 8:45 a.m. and then began the ruck at RiverTown Amenity Center at 9 a.m. Nearly 80 people of all ages participated in the ruck, which followed a 3.25 mile course through RiverTown.
“We always schedule this ruck around Veterans Day,” said Jeff St. Clair, pastor at Longleaf Church. “We start with a tribute to our veterans including saying the Pledge of Allegiance and then we all ruck together, following the military mindset of no one left behind.”
St. Clair said each participant carried his or her own weighted backpack and then for an added challenge, there were about three kettlebells that the walkers took turns carrying. Additionally, at various checkpoints along the ruck, Woodmansee offered various partnered physical fitness challenges such as pushups or squats.
After the ruck, there were fun activities, refreshments and an opportunity to win prizes — all in an effort to promote camaraderie among participants.
“What really stood out to me this year was the number of young people participating,” St. Clair said. “We try hard to make it a family friendly event.”
St. Clair said that between registrations and sponsorships, the organizers expect to have a donation of approximately $3,000 for the ASSIST program. ASSIST, which stands for “Aid and Support for Students in Sudden Transition,” offers supportive services and emergency assistance for homeless students in St. Johns County.
“The vision behind this event is to build community,” St. Clair said. “Sometimes people are confused about what a ruck is, but we want people to know it’s a team effort and an incredible way to build community within St. Johns to include local businesses, residents, and the school community — all while supporting a great cause.”
Visit www.stjohns.k12.fl.us/homeless/to learn more about the ASSIST program and visit longleafchurch.net to learn more about Longleaf Church and next year’s fifth annual Ruck St. Johns.
Photo courtesy Jeff St. Clair
Walkers of all ages participated in Ruck St. Johns on Veterans Day.
