GORUCK Marine Recon HTB ’23

2023.11.03 18:00 | 2023.11.04 22:00 | 2023.11.05 13:00

Training and Preparation

I’ll start with this – I had no intention of participating in these events until two days prior. I have been in a funk and thought this might benefit my mental and emotional health. That being said, my training has been relatively standard. Some running, gym 4-5 days/week, light rucking for my commute to/from the gym, occasional mobility, and the infrequent hike. My workout regimen has not been as intense over the recent two months, but is generally consistent.

Travel

I drove down to the hotel on Friday afternoon, a 5-minute walk from the start point. I packed my gear and clothes in a storage bin. My ruck was sorted out and packed. I stayed over until Monday after deciding Sunday morning that I would be too tired to drive home after the conclusion of the events.

Upon arrival at the hotel, I laid out my clothes and packed my nutrition into bags for each event. I filled my water bladder to 75% and Nalgene with ~1 inch of water and a packet of Liquid IV. I lightly taped my feet and went to grab some grub with a few people. After that, I had some time and hung out with some others. Eventually, I changed, got my contacts in, and headed over to the start point.

Gear

Pack: GORUCK Rucker 3.0

I only use this pack for GORUCK events. It’s perfect for PT. Do not overpack. These packs annoy my shoulders, but it is what it is.

Outfit

• Hiking pants
• Merino Wool top base layer
• T-shirt
• Hat
• Woxer 5″ Boxers
• Sports Bra
• Ininji Toe Socks + MudGear Socks
• Altra Lone Peaks
• Whoop + Whoop Hydrosleeve

Packed

• Headlamp + winter cap (in small dry bag, front pocket)
• All required items that are listed on the GORUCK event website with important items dry-bagged (id, extra socks, med kit, etc)
• Extra items: hand warmers, eye drops, chapstick, tape
• Food & Water (see below)

Reflection: I kept it light. I had everything I needed and did not overpack. Mission accomplished. Also, I did not bring my phone with me. I’ve had issues even with a double-dry bag and my phone getting wet.

Nutrition

Pre-Event

• Thursday Night: Solid dinner + liquids
• Friday Morning: Some normal breakfast + water + electrolyte drinks
• Friday Afternoon/Evening: Subway, chips, and a cookie. A bar, pretzels, other snacks, electrolytes, and water.

Event

• 3L water bladder, ~2L filled
• 1L Nalgene with liquid IV, ~20% filled
• Packed: 1-3 Snickers bars, 1-2 protein bars, 1 Caffeinated Clif Blok/Stinger, 1-3 small packs of fruit snacks, a small baggie of Swedish Fish + Mike&Ikes, 1-3 extra liquid IV packets

Reflection: I ate everything I brought on the Heavy. I also ate generally well on the Tough. No food is really required for the Basic, though I bring something small, just in case. I also packed a small dry bag of food in the front of my pack for easy access on the move. These then moved to my pockets after the beach session.

Between Events

Heavy -> Tough

• Upon returning to my room I ate half a banana, my second Subway sub, and the second cookie. I drank some Pedialyte.
• After my nap I munched on some pretzels and the rest of the banana. I drank more Pedialyte.
• En route to the Start Point I ate a plain bagel and drank a water

Tough -> Basic

• Upon returning to the hotel there was still time to hit the breakfast buffet. I ate eggs, ham, a waffle, fruit loops, a pastry, and some apple juice
• After my nap I ate some Mike&Ikes and pretzels and drank Pedialyte
• En route to the Start Point, I drank some water

Reflection: Real food is a necessity. Even if you don’t feel hungry you need to get in some calories. Have your food and drinks set up in obvious places so you won’t forget or avoid them.

Admin

After the Heavy roll call, not being capable of counting, and being punished with some overhead and squat holds, we quickly moved away from the Start Point. The Admin phase of the Tough was also quick. During the Basic Admin phase, HTB candidates were instructed to run. The Basic candidates then ran and we gathered as a team.

Cadres are Cleve, JC, J Dub, and Pog. I know Cleve and JC. J Dub was my first Cadre at my first event in June 2021 (D-Day Tough, San Diego). This was my first time meeting Pog.

The Events (HTB)

Heavy

Everyone was moving pretty well to get there and didn’t turn on headlamps, which was lovely. It was pretty warm out, but I still wore my base layer knowing that the sand in this area is rough. I think we went further down the beach to start than the last two years. I think we had the kettlebell sandbags from the start.

Once we got to the beach, we split into two groups. The first half of us went into the water (no rucks) and did water things – lunges as a team, flutter kicks, etc. My headlamp busted in the first 5 minutes. I was going to keep it in my pack but assumed the purpose of the headlamps were to keep you in sight if you got pulled out to sea. We flipped after and low-crawled around in the sand as a unit. Lots of sugar cookies.

Cadre instructed us to do kettlebell swings (a mix of 35# and 44#) until the beach units completed their drill. We moved to the beach and started coverage drills where we went up and down the beach using “I’m up, they see me, I’m down.” I believe we lost someone in this evolution in our group. They were struggling to get off the ground – we carried their pack. We lost maybe three teammates on the beach. We then finished with the sandbags for brickyard manmakers. The females used their rucks instead of the sandbags based on the duration of these iterations. We may have done the beach drills again, but I can’t remember exactly.

After this, we began to move toward the base. Our weights consisted of ~5 water jugs, a handful of water bladders, the team weight, ~10-60# sandbags, ~10 sandbag kettlebells, a large ruck (med kit), and a few metal med kits that had some smaller sandbags in them throughout the time. We may have dumped the kettlebells in a truck before walking on base.

We made our way through Pendleton (what I think was a long way). We then bushwhacked through a trail and then began up Horno. Someone dropped right before this. I’m not sure if we had all of the sandbags during this or not – we may have been able to dump a few after making time hacks. At one point on our way up, JC said he “put a red light” up ahead – if we made it up within a specific time, we would get rewarded. He never lies, but if you put two and two together, you would have figured out very quickly that it was the top of the hill, heh. Someone gave up their ruck – they were overheating and hurting. Noting I went to only my t-shirt (no base layer) early on the climb.

It was refreshing to run and get in a good WOD. We dropped the remaining sandbags, leaving us with water and all other gear. Afterward, we moved on to the Horno Crosses – there were a few hills we had to get through to get there. Some team members had more difficulty navigating the hills than others, so it took longer than expected.

The Horno Crosses are always emotional for everyone. I don’t focus on this during the AAR, because I believe these moments are cherished by the people there. The Cadre are especially vulnerable during this time and while they’re telling stories of friends – I can’t express enough how much I appreciate this. I recommend checking out @dansellcreative for more images and an incredible write-up.

We then made our way “down,” which really are rolling hills. Cadre instructed us to stay together, which is tough on an incline. There is definitely a spectrum of skill sets in navigating rocky hills. I’m not judging. I’ve spent more time in the mountains since my first Recon HTB in 2021 and even since the HTB last year. I’ve gotten more comfortable, but I definitely recommend anyone looking to attempt this GORUCK Heavy to spend some time on terrain other than pavement.

We made our way through Pendleton. We saw a few friends who offered us a re-supply (Gatorade, water, bananas, Advil, Tums, etc) from their car. We were allowed to grab stuff, but one at a time, and everyone else had to hold their rucks overhead. I skipped my turn, not to be a hero, but because I packed exactly what I needed. A banana would have been nice, but I was prepped with what I had. Also, everyone only had 30 seconds to eat. This made me chuckle.

We then headed back to Endex with a time hack. It was tight with the coupons we still were carrying. There were a lot of tired candidates causing our pace to slow. A few of us worked to keep the group together and distribute coupons. I felt like I ran 15 last-man sprints, some with weights. I applaud those who really pushed those last two miles – I know it wasn’t easy.

Patch ceremony. Headed back to the hotel. Showered, ate, prepped my pack and clothes, slept a solid 1h45m, woke up, dressed, ate again, and strolled off to the Tough.

Tough

It was COLD at the start point. But, a little tip from our GBF friends – be bold, start cold. I started with my base layer on still because of the beach. We had the KBs, all water, and team weights. At the beach, we filled the 60# sandbags and a few heavier ones, including the 200#. We didn’t realize sandbags were left behind in the one metal container, one we weren’t told to bring to the beach.

We gathered back with the group and started our movement. I volunteered as one of the 3-man teams to carry the 200# from the start. We eventually dropped the 200# and a handful of KBs in the truck.

We started to move into Pendleton. It was so cold. We made a pit stop outside of the gas station area. I made my first sock change ever during an event since I thought it would help warm me up a bit. I also put on my jacket. We started to move. It was a bit of a trek before we began movement up 1st Sgts Hill. For this stretch, we had one coupon per pair. I partnered up with Josh. We then made it to the start of 1st Sgts. We struggled to stay together because there was a broad range of hikers. Every small team of 4 shared three coupons – 2 “heavy” and 1 “light.” I was frustrated, so I grabbed my trusty BFF, Jack the Log, and pushed up the first climb (being sure to stay behind the flag).

Just after this, JC called everyone together and split the females from the males. I’m now even more frustrated because I feel like this is a repeat of 2022. The female group takes the 2 KBs we have (I think they are a 35# and 44#). Either way, there are 6 of us with these 2 KBs. We have to stay together and keep up to JC. I feel like Taryn and I spent a healthy amount time under these KBs. I wasn’t in the best state of mind – if you’ve never been told to “slow down” or “wait” on the side of a hill, let me tell you – it’s not comfortable, burns out your calves, and I frankly don’t want to hear about how hard it is to go up hills – we’re all here and are aware of the training needed for this. The men eventually caught up to us. I had successfully handed off my KB just before this. I took a water bladder from one of the guys who had been under it for a while. He was cracking me up and providing good banter after I commented how if someone “pushes” me up the hill I would punch them in the face. Once we hit a certain point, JC explained that he heard many guys complaining and bickering and not the women, so that’s why he split the group. I respect it and it’s a good lesson to not make assumptions.

We visited two memorial sites and were able to walk around. Everyone thinks we “lost” Ryan – we didn’t. We then began our descent and I started to recognize that I was getting sleepy. I keep thinking there is a turnoff, but there’s not. I continually switch between my jacket on and off. Taryn and I keep swapping this KB for the decent. We then ran into the truck – yes, it was real. We were gifted more coupons back. We continued moving and then ended up somewhere. I really don’t remember specifically where.

I slammed water and salt during this time and then had to pee so badly once we split into teams of two. The area was built similar to Middle Eastern villages. Our group ran a drill where half were in the building and injured and the others had to get them out. I’m so sorry to Justin, who I dragged so far before someone else showed up to help carry off of the ground. We then switched roles. After this, we had time with JDub and learned to use a tourniquet kit. Now a thank you to Justin for helping me even though I dragged your ass across the ground.

After this, we started moving through the base again. It’s a long way back. I spent a lot of time chatting with Taryn and a few others. We carried a lot of different gear, mostly switching between a KB, water bladder, and team weight. We stopped very close to the starting point (I only know this because I’ve been in the area before).

After bios, we moved a bit and lined up for a relay race. We had to put our new skills to use – run down to a point, apply a tourniquet to your partner, and then fireman carry them back (both parties wearing rucks). And you had to perform both roles. Taryn went first – I don’t think I’m great at being carried. We raced back and watched some of the other pairs struggle a bit (dragging each other). The back story is that Squatting and I are not BFFs yet. So, I practice getting Taryn up on my back before we take off and am a little more confident. She’s also a very supportive teammate. We got down, I applied the tourniquet, and then fireman carried her back confidently.

We wrap up at the Start Point and I head back to the hotel. I work in a semi-different order – eat at the breakfast buffet, shower, prep by pack for the basic, and sleep for ~45 minutes. On the walk to the SP, I drink water and probably eat.

Basic

We had a time hack, but the rest of the Basic group joined us, so we teamed up with them – it’s a team event.

We then head to the beach. At the beach, we broke off into groups. One of the hardest rotations was the water – we were on large, unstable rocks and the surf was high. Take away the rocks and I would have enjoyed this more. I was not looking to mess up my ankle, which got stuck more than once. There was a mental challenge with JC – this one definitely could have gone better. The other two stations were PT-focused with sandbags and KB sandbags.

After this, JC told all HTB candidates to select two rocks and not cheat ourselves. We got to hang out with our babies – do lunges with them, push them up sand, and throw sand. Eventually, we placed them back in the ocean. We then played silently with a large rock as a team. We regrouped with the Basic to carry things. We then returned to the start point. I don’t think any mind games were played.

The Basic class got their patches. And then 22 of us were patched as the 2023 Recon HTB class. Jess and Cadre Cleve shared a nice moment for the first patching. I drank about half a beer, which is more than usual. We took pictures. I snuck off and showered. I came back for more socializing and tacos.

Personal Reflection

We can only control ourselves

You can only control your own thoughts and actions. This lesson constantly shows up in adverse situations. When alone in the mountains, there are conditions you cannot control. The problem with people is that they are also uncontrollable and tend to be even more unpredictable. There were many points throughout the event where I had to remind myself to not react to someone’s comments or complaints. I’m not perfect and do become reactive at the moment.

Learnings

1. Don’t assume you know the reason for something. There is more going on around you than you can see.
2. Don’t let emotions dictate action. If we allow feelings and emotions dictate how we do things, we may never get anything done.
3. Be open to new relationships. I was bummed when my go-to crew wasn’t around for all or certain parts of the weekend. I felt closed off a few times, but once I was open, the conversations started flowing.

Final Thoughts

This HTB felt extremely well-planned and thought out. There were clear evolutions. We learned valuable skills and covered a lot of ground. There wasn’t unnecessary, excessive PT. Clear goals and expectations were set from the start. I really appreciate all of the work from the cadre that went into this challenge.

For anyone considering any part of the Recon HTB, you need to train. Hard. You must be capable of carrying weight up hills. Get off the road and get on some trails. If you don’t have any elevation near you – get on the stair master, incline the treadmill, or find something else that will mimic climbing.

Congrats to all 22 Recon HTB 2023 finishers!

Until the next. 🍫😄🌄