…Badass Women: Emily McCarthy…

Break from the freezing Hudson River at my first GORUCK Challenge, Class 003 in November 2010.

 

Name: Emily McCarthy

Age (if you don’t mind): 39

Instagram Handle: @emidently

Occupation: Chief of Staff at GORUCK

How many events have you done?

  • 003 Tough, New York, NY
  • Light in Jax Beach, FL (I forget the number sometime in 2014 I think)
  • 1032 Tough, Worcester, MA
  • Custom Ingress Light in San Francisco, CA
  • All Female Light, Miami, FL
  • Beach Beta 001, Jacksonville Beach, FL
  • Veterans Day Light, Jax Beach, FL
  • DC Star Course 001
  • Several Scavengers, Treks, Firearms Days, and other secret events

First GORUCK Event: 003 GORUCK Challenge (current day Tough, back when there was only one event type) in New York. Jason brought us a load of bricks and told us to distribute amongst ourselves. I was the only female in that class. Only one female had done a GORUCK Challenge prior at Class 001 in San Francisco.

Couch-surfing during my first Light in Jax Beach, circa 2014.

Events coming up:

  • Bragg Heavy (RIP Joe Warner and Jerome Gonzalez)
  • D-Day in Normandy, France for 75th anniversary of the invasion
  • Momma Stump All Female HTL

 

What brought you to your first GORUCK Event?

I wanted to prove that I could do this super tough event that my ex, Jason McCarthy, was putting on. I also wanted to support him with something that we started together but mostly to make a point.

Why do you keep coming back?

The older I get, I am nostalgic for those crucibles in life where I learned so much because it was uncomfortable and I was forced to see the world through someone else’s perspective, be it good or bad or neutral. It’s not easy to find a community or activity that challenges you to build character by being uncomfortable and having to get along with others. GORUCK does that for me and I feel sharper and stronger as a result, both mentally and physically. I’ve met a ton of excellent people through GORUCK and have learned a lot about myself in the process.

What do you appreciate about being a woman in the GORUCK community?

I think it is important for everyone, females in particular, to maintain an identity outside of being a significant other, spouse, or parent. GORUCK allows me to be the Emily that first defined me: a tomboy, someone who loves being outdoors, an athlete, a teammate, an adventurous person who accepts (almost) any/all challenges.

 

Rucking to La Ciudad Perdida with Jason during our honeymoon in Colombia, February 2018.

 

What is challenging about being a woman in the GORUCK community?

The same things that are challenging about being a female in the world: we battle against patriarchal thinking and institutions that are no longer relevant or acceptable as a one-size-fits-all category toward women. Whether it be during a Challenge, at work, or within the home, women deserve the right to not have to speak ‘man’ in order to be heard or understood. We are strong enough and good enough to lead and be led, to work together or independently, to determine our own destiny.

There is still a lot of work to be done. It will take thoughtful discernment and teamwork by women to determine when it is time to fight and when it is time to disrupt the status quo by simply going around the obstacles.

Favorite training exercise /event gear/rituals…etc  that you want to share?

Well, you saw it in the aftermath of the DC Star Course – 50 Miler: yoga does a body good. I like to practice warm-ish power yoga 2-3 times a week plus CrossFit with the team at GRHQ. I love to run but hate doing it alone so I’ve found that rucking has been a great substitute. I’m really looking forward to another chance to earn that elusive Star Course patch!

Advice for other women?

Coming from someone who was a tomboy and did not have any really good girl friends until my senior year of high school and college, I believe I am a better person today because of the female influences in my life. Since my father passed away, my mother and I have grown closer and she has taught me so much when it comes to raising children. I encourage all women to seek out positive female role models and girl friends, not as a replacement for men, but as a trusting community of people who will understand and love you in a way that only women can.

Any GRT women that you admire or love to be on a team with?

There are so many! I love the Badass Babes group because we challenge and support each other. I love all the ladies who I’ve hired at GRHQ and who make GORUCK better. I love Carmela because she is brave and real and caring and strong. I want her to be my kids’ teacher one day because she strikes me as the type of teacher who you never forget. I love Jaala Shaw, Tina Streeter, Stephanie McGrew, Sara Bagala, Heather Williams, Sandy Plflanzen, Renée Aly, Francesca Margarita, Nikki Jay, Lindsay Luna, Becky Proietti, Carolyn Peeples, Cassie Walther, Monica Graves, Patti Riippa, Ashley Kairalla, Kristie Iverson, Momma Stump (RIP), Andi Marie, Maria Deligiannis, Brooke Francev, Amy Malliett, Sarah Brown Smith, Jen Workman, Andrea Towle, Jen Jarvi, Hailie Beam, Frances Arias, Catie Beal, Eva Torres, Shanie Danielson, Cristina Mendoza, Joanne Ford, Leslie Ann, Samantha Rymer, Paige Bowie, Nico Converso, Tabby Aditi, Heather DeCarli, Catrine Machi, Amy Saldana, Lissa Mongato, Anna Banana, Missy Carvin, Emily Cannister, Erica Townsend, Samantha Kilgore, Erica Handleman, Yamillet Rivas, Debi Bone, Michelle Berois, Jess Orestano, Babette Griffith, Cindy Harthcock, Aimée Rebeck, Jen Salucci, Barbara Bee, omg I’m running out of room…if I left someone off, I owe an event with you. 🙂

Any memorable stories with you and another GRT you want to share?

Yes. The photo of me in the pink sports bra was taken by Jason, my ex at that time, during the 003 Challenge in New York in November 2010. He had just put us in the freezing cold Hudson River, temps were in the teens overnight and was allowing us to change into dry clothes. The sun had just come up, we had survived the night, I was feeling good. Someone had brought me coffee which I don’t drink but Challenge beggars should not be choosers so I said thank you and enjoyed the warmth. Then Jason did the unthinkable: after we had put on our one set of dry clothes he told us to get back in the water. I about lost it. This made no sense. I hated him. Life sucked. Afterward, this other guy and I were on the verge of hypothermia but we made it to the endex. I’m sure that was one of the first times Jason had used that form of false finish torture. It certainly hasn’t been his last. But Hell was going to freeze over before I gave him the satisfaction of me quitting. After the event was over, I told him that his little Challenge was easy and that he’d better make it tougher. Sorry not sorry 🙂

Giving my sweet Carm a big hug at the DC Star Course, May 2018.

 

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