Today (I wrote this text on the 21st of April 2025), I had a break from rucking. Why?
I had a break from rucking because two days ago, when I picked up the 32 kg (71 lbs) rucksack, my lower back started to hurt. I believed it was connected with the way I tried to pick up my heavy backpack (I did it without squatting, but with straight legs – it was one of the worst things I could do for myself), but also the fact that I was working too many hours during the last weeks (I was sitting too frequently). The truth is that I had similar pains in the past, and I know it is probably a matter of a few days before the pain disappears.
Today, I was doing street photography without carrying a rucksack.
How many steps did I take? I took over 12k steps. How many photos did I take? I did almost 200 pictures. Was I happy? Yes, I was tremendously pleased, and I still am. Even if I had to take a break from rucking because of a force majeure connected with health, I was still grateful I could do street photography and picture the mundane reality surrounding me. What was the difference between rucking and walking without a heavy rucksack? After all, the last time I did street photography without a heavy backpack was in the middle of August 2024.
It’s been almost nine months since I did it for the last time.
Well, I felt like a light arrow that could go anywhere quickly. The truth is that with a heavy backpack on my back and shoulders, I feel like a slow turtle. This turtle is constantly being held and stopped by the invisible hand. Today, I felt like a light traveler who made quick steps on his journey to discover the streets of the capital of Poland.
