How to find the best rucking events in the UK
Rucking isn’t a new fitness phenomenon, but it’s enjoying a wave of civilian popularity. Did you know that there are rucking events and challenges all around the UK that you can enter to challenge your rucking fitness? Here’s how you can get involved in the growing sport of rucking.
Are there mass participation rucking events?
Rucking is a great activity to do by yourself or with a group of friends, but you can also do rucking events. It’s a bit like doing a mass participation running event – except that rucking events tend to be less busy.
Rucking events, also known as loaded marches or tabbing challenges, involve covering specific distances with a weighted rucksack on your back. These events are usually on challenging terrain and some of them have constraints like time limits, weight categories, or navigation elements. In this blog we’ll look at rucking events and rucking challenges so you can start looking for your next training goal.
Can you do rucking as a competitive sport?
Rucking is rooted in military training, but it’s now a mainstream activity. The beauty of rucking is that it’s pretty much free (once you’ve got yourself a decent weighted ruckpack) and almost anyone can do it.
Entering a rucking event or specific rucking challenge is a great way to give your rucks a focus, and to benchmark your fitness. Whilst traditional events like the famous Fan Dance remain the gold standard, there are lots of civilian events that offer competitive categories. These typically include weight divisions (often 15kg, 25kg, and 35kg), age groups, and both individual and team classifications. And just like running events, you’ll get an official time, ranking, and sometimes even a medal for finishing.
How to find rucking or tabbing events in the UK
This is what you’re here for – how exactly do you find rucking events to enter in the UK? We recommend you start with these resources:
- Follow rucking event organisers on social media or sign up to their email lists
- Join rucking communities on Facebook and Insta
- Check forums for military fitness and rucking events
- Register with event platforms like Race Nation or Let's Do This and filter for rucking events
Here are some events and organisers to get you started:
Avalanche Events who organise The Fan Dance Series SAS challenge and other events
Big Bear Events who offer rucking categories at their endurance events
Odyssey who organise multi-day outdoor experiences and challenges
RuckFit UK who organise rucking events at foundation, intermediate, and advanced levels
Ruck It Outdoor Challenges who organise race series and endurance challenges
What are the most famous UK rucking events?
The most famous rucking challenge is probably The Fan Dance, which follows the route of SAS Selection across Pen y Fan in the Brecon Beacons. It’s a 15 mile weighted march with specific weights and a cut off time. There are other versions too, including the Dark Trail. Check out our blog about rucking the Fan Dance here.
Here’s a couple of other epic rucking events you could consider.
The Paras' 10 – a 10 mile endurance event based on the Parachute Regiment’s P company test week.
The 3 Peaks Challenge – rucking the three highest peaks in Scotland, England, and Wales in under 24 hours.
Can anyone enter a rucking event?
Most civilian rucking events are open to anyone over 18 who meets the basic fitness requirements. But you obviously need to take some personal responsibility and choose an event that you can complete. Many organisers offer different categories, from "light" divisions with smaller weights to full military-standard challenges so choose something that will challenge you but leave you wanting more.
How fit do you need to be to do a rucking event?
If you’re already rucking for fitness, you can probably complete a rucking event with a bit of focused training. For beginner or entry-level events, you should be able to ruck for 2 hours, carry 10kg+ for at least 5km, and handle different types of terrain.
More advanced events require more advanced fitness, so make sure you can ruck with 15kg+ for several hours, cope with hill walking and navigation, and that you’ve
How to train for your first rucking event
- Start with shorter, local routes carrying a light pack
- Check out the specifics of your event and build up to the mandated rucking weight
- Gradually increase the distance of your rucks every week
- Build in enough time for deload weeks during training
- Join a rucking group or find training partners
- Invest in proper equipment (a quality, adjustable ruckpack and good footwear)
- Train on a variety of terrains
- Practice navigation skills if necessary for your event
Make your rucking experience as comfortable as possible by including lower body strength work, core stability, and shoulder/back strength training in your rucking plan. Test all of your kit, and break your boots in well before the event. Think about different layers of clothing and try everything out before the event itself.
Rucking events are an exciting way to test your fitness and have a new goal for training. Get yourself a quality rucking backpack or weighted rucking plate carrier from the Force Fitness shop – send us a message if you’re not sure which one to choose. We love rucking and we want you to enjoy it too!
