GORUCK Challenge Seattle Class 516 (4/20/2013)

Class 516 marked my fourth GORUCK Challenge and third one in Seattle. It was also the most memorable of the last two that I’ve done. My first class (053 also in Seattle) will always be special because it reminds me of overcoming the unknown. Once you’ve completed a GORUCK Challenge (GRC) it becomes less about tackling the unknown and more about enjoying the known… if that makes any sense. The event was long (both distance and time) as expected. I think we totaled around 19 or 20 miles in 11.5 hours throughout the event.

The best part of class 516 was the huge number of new faces. I believe we had 26 people show up to the event and only 2 (including myself) had ever done a GORUCK Challenge before. One of the girls with us had never even heard of the event until that morning when her friend asked her to sign up with him. Getting through the Challenge reminded me an uncanny amount like class 053. No one knew what they were supposed to be doing or the best way to do what they didn’t know they were supposed to be doing. Yes… the beginning was as large a cluster and as disorganized as that last sentence. The other almuni and myself stood back the whole time and let the team figure their life out (much to the dismay of our team AND the cadre.) However I’d say this is how it should have been. It’s one experience to show up to a team event like the GORUCK Challenge and be told the best way to complete obstacles by people who have done it before and a completely different experience to show up and figure out how to do it as a team.

Seattle is a special place for me and a special place to do the challenge. There are some of the best surroundings you can find. You have huge hills leading up to Capital Hill and Queen Anne. You have lots of water, beaches, and plenty of places to get lost. There’s downtown Seattle where people will give you amazing looks and rural roads where you won’t see a car for hours. If you have the chance I’d highly suggest trying to make a Challenge in Seattle. You will not regret it.

My takeaway from this event (and what I hope any GRT take away from reading this) is that if you’re in a class full of a lot of new blood then let them figure it out. Offer advice and tips to help them through the learning experience but make sure they feel the same sense of accomplishment that you felt when you completed your first challenge.