Today (I wrote this text on the 20th of September, 2024), I decided to add more barbell plates to my rucksack.
The truth is that since I started rucking (Rucking is walking with a heavy rucksack; I started doing it on the 18th of August, 2024), I tell others that I do not go to the gym. Still, I carry the gym on my shoulders. How did I load my rucksack? I added barbell plates weighing 10 kg (22 lbs). After one month of rucking, I added two additional barbell plates (2 x 1 kg). Thus, after one month of rucking, I carry an extra 12 kg (26.5 lbs) in my rucksack.
It is precisely 15% of my total body weight.
For beginners, walking with a maximum of 15% of one’s total body weight of extra weight is recommended in a rucksack. The benefits of this activity are numerous, including improved cardiovascular health, increased strength and endurance, and a unique way to enjoy the outdoors. How do I feel after walking more than 11k steps for almost two hours and carrying an extra 12 kg in my rucksack? I feel great. Still, I must admit that my muscles hurt a little bit. Which muscles precisely hurt me? I would say I feel pain practically everywhere: from down parts of my legs, via chest and back, and ending on the shoulders and neck.
Also, today, while rucking, I started to sing in my mind one of the most magical Beatles songs (from the “Abbey Road” album), “Carry That Weight:”
Boy, you’re gonna carry that weight
Carry that weight a long time.
The truth is that since I started rucking (of course, I also do it while doing street photography), my photo walks have become two hours of extraordinary challenges. I sometimes worry whether I will manage to finish my walk at home or whether to call a taxi and return home by Bolt/Uber. I had similar thoughts while walking in summer clothes in frigid temperatures. Luckily, for today, I’ve never had to call a taxi for a safe return.
