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…Badass Women: Kristie Iverson…

 

Name: Kristie Iverson

Age: 36

Instagram Handle: kristieiverson

Occupation: Product Planning, John Deere. (I work for the group that decides what products we will offer in each part of the world and when to take them to market)

How  many events have you done? : More than I care to admit, it’s a sickness really

First GORUCK Event: 1st  Miami All Woman’s Tough

Events coming up: 50 mi Star Course MN, Mog Mile maybe Operation Redwings in STL

 

What brought you to your first GORUCK Event? The worst friends 😜 Anger management issues. A chance to prove to myself that I am capable of anything.

Why do you keep coming back?  On an elemental level, I like suffering a little bit. Really it’s the people though. You’ll never meet a group of strangers (outside of GORUCK) who would willingly dive into the ocean to save your pants from floating away after knowing them only 24 hrs.

What do you appreciate about being a woman in the GORUCK community? GORUCK teaches you about perseverance over adversity. I like that I get a chance to prove myself over and over. It really gives you confidence for the rest of your daily life.

What is challenging about being a woman in the GORUCK community? Menstrual cycles are a totally heinous part of life that I have the absolute worst luck with when it comes to events. I don’t think Cadre understand what toxic shock syndrome is! I seriously need an actual bathroom; not a bush on the side of the road and 35 seconds to do my business!!!

Favorite training exercise /event gear/rituals…etc  that you want to share? I’m the worst at most exercises. Maybe the flutter kicks? I just go to my pain cave and block most of it out. Also when no one is looking I’m conserving energy (aka cheating like a MF)

Advice for other women? Train hard and be prepared, but try events you are scared of! This is supposed to be outside your comfort zone. If every event has been easy for you then you need to step up to the next level. Do that Heavy you think you can’t do, go for those bolts!

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

I love meeting new strong women at every event, but the people I tend to gravitate towards are the ones who, with all their weaknesses, try to lift someone up in their time of need. My experience is that everyone has something to offer during a GORUCK event; something you’re the best at-you might not even know it! But when the time comes, your team will be thankful to have you around. Those are the people I love to be on a team with. Not necessarily the strongest or fastest, but the hidden talents who remind us that we are all human and GORUCK is about team.

Any memorable stories with you and another GRT  you want to share? There are so many memories it’s hard to choose but this one is dear to my heart. Puke and rally: of all the GRTs in this world, I’m most thankful to Dr. Dean Aiken’s for his electrolyte drink at Snowdrop last year. Flash thought it would be fun to have us fill a keg one cup at a time from a pond that was 99% raw sewage. We did this in the front leaning rest position with our faces inches from that nasty water. After puking my guts out to the point of dry heaving, Dean saved me from having to drop with his magic homemade electrolyte drink. I was even able to get on the log after a quick spell.

…Badass Women: Stephanie McGrew…

Name: Stephanie “WHATITDO” McGrew

Age (if you don’t mind): 21 + 11

Instagram Handle: Ms4Composure

Occupation: Personal Trainer / Business Owner

How  many events have you done? A few… I honestly stopped counting…

First GORUCK Event: April 2013, Kansas City, MO

Events coming up: Check out my FB Page Infinite LIfe Fitness to see which events I am signed up to do (since I like to do so many events)

What brought you to your first GORUCK Event? I got into GORUCK because a friend of mine and her Cross Fit gym were all doing one.  That was when you could sign up and bring a friend for free. So she signed up and asked me to do it with her. So I did… and from the moment I was patched by Bert I was HOOKED.

Why do you keep coming back? I LOVE the physical and mental challenge that each events brings. No two events are alike. So therefore you will have to be prepared for whatever is thrown at you because you can never anticipate things that can happen at the event  You have so many various different elements that each event brings its own challenges and victories. I also LOVE the people. You get to meet so many amazing people doing events. You also get to meet people that you usually would not meet on a day-to-day basis. You will have teacher, doctors, engineers, managers, architects, IT people, stay at home parents, etc.  You get to be in a situation that will open up so many new people to you and you are forced to put down any barriers you may have and work together as a team. You build a bond with these people and some of these bonds last a lifetime! I have met some of my best friends at GORUCK events.

What do you appreciate about being a woman in the GORUCK community? I appreciate that most women show up and are ready to work hard. They know that the event will not be easy and they come prepared physically and mentally. Women typically are more organized and direct when they are team leaders. The All Women’s events have been some of my favorite events! People sometimes have a negative prejudice about the all women’s events, but they have been some of the best events because of the women that show up to participate and how well we are able to come together and accomplish what is asked by the cadre. I appreciate being able to show my strength and to show women of all ages, sizes, and races that you can do what you want to do. I love breaking down the traditional barrier and showing that ALL women are capable of doing whatever they would like to do.

What is challenging about being a woman in the GORUCK community? One word… MEN…

I have had the most issues with men not thinking I am strong enough to contribute as a teammate when I first started doing GORUCK. So my favorite thing to do is also prove them wrong and show them that I am strong and capable of helping out when needed. Over the years this has gotten easier because people know who I am and what I am capable of doing. BUT I have heard that it is still an issue for some women in the community. Sometimes my curvy hips and big boobs have made it difficult to execute certain tasks or exercises. But, I just dig deep and push through to finish whatever is asked of me. I also hate when cadre try to take away the women’s hair ties… It is all fun and games until my afro is webbed over my face and full of sticks and sand.

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

Favorite training exercise: stair sprints with my ruck on. If you are in need of a difficult yet quick cardio workout I highly suggest this. You will be surprised how hard it is to do 10-15 stair sprints with 30-50 pounds of extra weight on your back. I also love to do plyometrics and I LOVE trail runs. Any workout that is short but will kick my butt are my favorite. My schedule does not allow me to have long workouts.  So,I have to make the best (and hardest) workouts I can in the small amount of time that I have.

Event Gear: … sooooooo muuuuuuuuch geeeeeeeear! I have a slight obsession with gear (just as much as my obsession with shoes HAHA 😛 ) My go to gear is forsure my GORUCK Echo Ruck. It is the perfect size for a “everyday” bag or to toss in a few weights and go train. I also love my Injini toe socks.  The only method that helps to minimize blisters and other sore spots on my toes for long distance events. I also have a love/hate relationship with the GORUCK Filler bags.  I like to use them to help me train BUT for events I like to put my food in them (so if cadre try to take food away I can keep a stash of nuts/protein bars on hand to share with the other ladies when we sneak away for our potty break… shhhhh don’t tell them my secret!). Other than that, I try to be a minimalist when it comes to the gear (and clothing) that I use for events.

Rituals:  I try to eat a BIG meal before any event. I get hungry so quickly that I like to have something in my stomach and in my system before any event. Post event… PICKLE JUICE is my best friend. I also use Rock Sauce after most events.

Advice for other women? You can do anything that you want! Do NOT let anyone tell you otherwise. You never know what you can accomplish until you try! You have to put in the work and the success will come. The struggle is the price you pay to reap the benefits of accomplishing your goals.  KNOW YOUR WORTH and do not let anyone try to take that away from you. Set your own standards and do not lower them for anyone (no matter what it is for… relationships, jobs, etc.).

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

ALL OF THEM! I have met so many amazing women in this community. I LOVE going to events and being automatically drawn to the women that show up. Those are the first people that I try to meet when I show up to the start point. Ladies we have to stick together and work together at events (and in real life).

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

Far too many stories to share via this post! If you see me at a event this would be a great thing to talk about (to take our minds off of the terrible things the cadre have us doing).

…Badass Women: Heather Williams…

Name: Heather Williams
Age: 48 (49 in July)
Instagram Handle: toughheatherw
Occupation: Manager 9/11 Heroes Run, Travis Manion Foundation
How many events have you done? 20 ish
First GORUCK Event: Light Class 343 with Matt Stoltz- RVA – 6/27/2014
Events coming up: GRT Reunion Austin
What brought you to your first GORUCK Event? A difficult transition period where I felt like I didn’t belong anywhere led me to register for my first event. I went by myself and was wildly unprepared.
Why do you keep coming back? Three things bring me back – the people, the camaraderie and the struggle. GRTs are unique, amazing people. I have made some of my closest friends during the last 3 years. For me there is an instant sense of security that comes from being part of a team. Even at the rare event where I don’t know any of the participants I feel at home as soon as I get to the start point. People tease me about how I always seem to be grinning during events, but they just make me happy. Finally the struggle to finish, and hopefully someday finish well, inspires me to work hard at getting better and to never give up on strengthening my many weaknesses.
What do you appreciate about being a woman in the GORUCK community?
Besides being smarter than all the guys? 😂
I like being in the minority. Being a smallish woman the same age as some of my teammate’s mothers is definitely an added incentive to work my ass off.
What is challenging about being a woman in the GORUCK community?  Peeing during events.
Favorite training exercise /event gear/rituals…etc  that you want to share? Training: I do love a 12 mile ruck for time. My favorite event? My first of everything- light, challenge, tough/ light. Normandy for the sheer weight of standing on those beaches and because Cadre Mickey and Cadre Heath. Mogadishu Mile October 2016 with Cadre Michael and Cadre Kevin because I was sure I was going to die the entire event and was truly flabbergasted when I finished. Favorite event Ritual- easy – shower beer when it’s over.
Advice for other women? Never sell yourself short. You can endure anything.
Any GRT women that you admire or love to be on a team with? So so so many. I want to list them all, but God forbid I forget someone….Michelle Berois who was my first ever GORUCK female friend, all of the Irish Mafia who absolutely made my first GORUCK weekend, Dana Nolan Flaherty who’s just a joy to be with, Carmela Pine who frankly I’d be lost without, Lisa Stephenson who I want to be when I grow up even though I’m the much older sibling, Liane Hatch who I did my first tough light with and who I stupid miss all the time, Anne Mancheski who no question got me through all the rocking chairs in San Diego, Andi Marie who is always so inspiring and tried her hardest to fix my hip at the Bragg Heavy, Lindsey Ridell because she has to be the sweetest, gentlest beast on the planet, Stephanie McGrew who is just a light- always incredibly strong and incredibly funny and up for a dance party, Sara Bagala, who I don’t know well but I love her quiet, unassuming power, Francesca Margarita who made me laugh at FAD, the one event where I was completely miserable, and I’ve loved her ever since, Julie Fults and Candace Kuntz for showing me how it was done at my first two challenges in Miami and New Orleans, I just will not be happy until I get to do an event with Emily McCarthy and Meghan Maureen and finally Momma Stump always and forever for her example.
Any memorable stories with you and another GRT  you want to share?
I’ll share a favorite cadre story that I reflect on all the time. I was getting my ass handed to me at an event and a young guy lost his temper and yelled at me “what are you even doing here?” because I couldn’t “close the gap” quickly enough-  I was wet, cold, tired, sandy, hungry, and more than a little embarrassed…so I started crying like a four year old. Not my best moment. Cadre pulled me aside and said “Tough Heather! WTF! Are you CRYING right now?!?!?!” Hiccuping and sniffling I explained how the team was mad at me because I was too slow, that I couldn’t keep up, that I shouldn’t be there, blah blah blah… He cut me off mid pity party…
“And who authorized you to give a fuck what anyone else thinks about you EVER?”
Crying over. Paradigm Shift.
I’ve never forgotten it, and I’ve whispered it to myself not just during GORUCK events but a time or two at intimidating cocktail parties.

…Badass Women: Andi Piscopo…

Name: Andi Piscopo

Age: 39

Instagram Handle: andimarie1

Occupation: Assistant Director  (Fisher House of Boston) , Yoga Instructor, Columnist (Sun Chronicle), Public Speaker, Advocate and Survivor for Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault and most importantly…Mom of 2 awesome kiddos!

How many events have you done? : 35 GORUCKS, 4 Marathons, 1 Ultra Marathon, 1 HCLS,  I pretty much love the suck so I keep coming back for more

First GORUCK Event: Class 312 November 10, 2012 –  I remember two things very clearly.  Not knowing who our cadre was and asking him (thinking he was a participant) if he thought “they would put us in the water” (the answer was yes by the way) and being on our faces in the first 30 seconds. I knew practically no-one when I started…and it sucked SO MUCH…but it was so incredibly awesome at the same time.

Events coming up: Tough Ruck and Boston Marathon Patriots Day Weekend. The inside joke is that I am only ever “interested” in GORUCK events…well…I am!  I want to make as many as I can!

What brought you to your first GORUCK Event? I was running the Spartan Beast in VT when an OG saw my ruck and asked me which class I was. I hadn’t signed up yet, I had just gotten off of crutches from breaking my knee…”if you can do this…then you’re ready!” needless to say, I signed up for the next event and never looked back!

Why do you keep coming back? Ultimately, it is the people and the relationships that you make along the way.  I cannot imagine my life without some of the friendships I have made.  The memories are completely worth the blood, sweat and time under a log.  The physical aspect isn’t so much pushing myself outside of my comfort zone, although I think that is a given at this point, you get comfortable with being uncomfortable; but mentally, I believe that it takes you somewhere else where you have no choice but to go head-to-head with yourself.  It is definitely a confidence builder.

What do you appreciate about being a woman in the GORUCK community? We are surrounded by some pretty bad as ladies!  To bear witness of such an amazing group of women be so supportive of one another whether they are in a role leading a team, or they are organizing something behind the scenes to assist a fellow ‘teammate’ – there is no stopping these ladies.  Each one has an incredible life story to tell and each one has something to bring to the table (and not just desserts, but that would be AMAZING!)

What is challenging about being a woman in the GORUCK community? I sometimes feel that we have to prove our strengths or leadership.   It is a male dominated community but the standard is the standard regardless if you are male versus female.

Favorite training exercise /event gear/rituals…etc  that you want to share? I think I am going to echo Sara when I say this…You guys train?  I kid I kid.  Training:  I have a few consistent programs.  I practice yoga 5 days a week, even if I can only squeeze in 15 minutes and I follow SOFlete.  My other training will change depending on what my goals are currently. Event Gear:  I SWEAR by LeukoTape and Trailtoes, Darn Tough Socks and Salomons for shoes (sorry kids…no boots).  Baby Carlos was my old ruck and is now retired, my GR0 is still unnamed and I still prefer bricks over plates.  Rituals: I carry an American Flag that I rescued from the Charles River during a 4th of July event in 2013 with me, a penny and dime for my Dad, and 2 patches that mean a lot to me.

Advice for other women? Whether it is GORUCK, or applying for a job – get after it ladies.  We sometimes feel that some of these sayings feel “canned” but maybe they feel that way because they are repeated so often, and they hold truth.  So if you are reading this and there is something you want to try and it scares the hell out of you, DO IT.  If we let the fear of failure stop us, then we will never know how great we can truly be, but if we TRY and push outside of what we are comfortable with, we may fail, but fail forward and use that knowledge to gain strength and try again.  If you are signing up for a GORUCK and you feel that you aren’t ready…remember, that is what your team is for, to lean on.  That in itself is a lesson.  Believe in yourself! I’ll see you out there!

Any GRT women that you admire or love to be on a team with?  Oh my gosh, you want me to name them all?!  Stephanie, Jessica, Betty, Sara, Hannah, Justine, Christine, Kim, Amanda, Janis, Delilah, Debi, Denise, Amy, Heather, Nana, PocketGRT,…Jeeze…I could keep going ON…and ON…and ON

Any memorable stories with you and another GRT you want to share?  I had signed up for BEWBS HCLS – it was shortly after my Dad had passed away and I was nervous going into it.  It wasn’t just ONE GRT, it was my HCLS team.  We had a moment at one of the Memorials to speak, I don’t remember how, or why or what (sleep dep is amazing), but I got up to speak about my Dad and how he was MY Hero.  Anthony Cataldi was at my side the entire time as I fought through tears.  I made it through the entire event (and the Sox game after) – This One is For You Dad!

…Badass Women: Carmela Pine…

Name: Carmela

Age: 40

Instagram Handle: carmaonfire

Occupation: teacher

How  many events have you done? : 35 ish…

First GORUCK Event: Cadre Reunion– July 4, 2013 DC 044 Light

Events coming up: St. Patty’s L- Pittsburgh, Bataan DC Challenge, Triple L- DC

 

What brought you to your first GORUCK Event? My brother. I was in a shitty place in my personal life and had started this “Year of Yes”  . He had just done his first challenge and was like, “Hey, you should try this”. So I shadowed his first light, thought it looked terrible and then was mad that I didn’t do it myself. So I turned around and signed up for the 4th of July light in DC.

Why do you keep coming back? I thought I was going to be a one and doner.  But there are two things that keep me coming back. 1) I’m a classic over thinker.  I worry about a lot of things. I’m scared of a lot of things. GORUCK forces me out of my own head and it forces me outside of my comfort zone.  It puts me in the present and makes me make decisions in the moment. I can’t over think there– I just have to do.I need that in my life. 2) The people.  I was a college athlete and I’ve always been part of a team. When I graduated from college, I really missed the “team” aspect of my life- these people who had the same shared experiences.  GORUCK gave me that back, and added to it in ways I didn’t imagine. I’ve met some of my greatest friends and motivators through these events.

What do you appreciate about being a woman in the GORUCK community? That there are so many incredible women in the community that are supportive of each other and that it’s always been more about what you can do, vs what you look like.  

What is challenging about being a woman in the GORUCK community? One of the things that is challenging is the “boys club” mindset– over the internet and sometimes in person.  I feel very fortunate to be surrounded by the GORUCK men that respect me as a teammate and human, but I know that’s not always the case.

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

Favorite Event Snack- Twizzlers and Swedish Fish, Favorite.

Training– Rucking with my friends.. Anywhere and all over the DMV and PA area–I especially love Battlefield rucks and overnight rucks in DC.

I always have my Mama Stump bag (from All-Women’s 001), a laminated photo of Army Staff Sgt Jeremie S. Border, a buff and a windbreaker.

Advice for other women? Don’t be afraid to try– try everything. Carry everything.. Even if it’s only for 30 seconds. Don’t wait for someone to come get you, go up and tell someone you want to carry whatever it is.   There’s a place for all of us at an event you just have to take it.

Any GRT women that you admire or love to be on a team with? Steph McGrew, Sara Bagala, Lisa Stephenson, Kay Rosen, Rachel Beard, Kristen Ohlsen, Meghan Howland. The entire Charlie Company of the All-Women’s 001 Challenge in Miami.

Any memorable stories with you and another GRT  you want to share? There’s so many it’s hard to come up with just one… but I will never forget Alex telling me to “Go do some of that yoga stuff you’re so fond of” when I tried to explain that my legs didn’t work after my first heavy and telling me that we could just “Go to the start of the challenge.. And see how I feel” to get me to the challenge portion of my HCL… he knew I wouldn’t leave once I got there.  

…Badass Women: Crystal Clarke…

Name:  Crystal Clarke
Age: 32
Instagram Handle: cclarke0410
Occupation: Information Security Analyst, Warrant Officer Candidate in the National Guard
How many events have you done? : 12
First GORUCK Event: Hartford Light, June 2015
Events coming up: unfortunately none; currently finishing up my masters and training for military schooling

What brought you to your first GORUCK Event? My friend Michelle told me about the events; I was looking for a challenge so I figured why not?

Why do you keep coming back? I’ve met a ton of cool people through each event and I like the fact no two are exactly the same.

What do you appreciate about being a woman in the GORUCK community? That we are a family. It’s similar to the military where you keep the friends you make even if you don’t talk for a long time.

What is challenging about being a woman in the GORUCK community? Typically people misjudge you because you’re a woman. That and playing casualty all the time; I have to be actively helping the team!

Favorite training exercise /event gear/rituals…etc  that you want to share? I like to lift..a lot- currently I’m doing the juggernaut method to get stronger. Also as for event gear you can never go wrong with a good pair of boots.

Advice for other women?  Do what makes you happy, even if it’s out of the norm. Get a good support system who will help you achieve your goals.

Any GRT women that you admire or love to be on a team with?  I haven’t met a GRT woman who I haven’t loved being on a team with. Each badass brings their own to the table.

…Badass Women: Jen Jarvi…

Name: Jennifer Jarvi

Age: Get off my lawn! 41

Instagram Handle: jenjarvi

Occupation: Network Design Engineer

How  many events have you done? : I stopped counting after 30

First GORUCK Event: GRL 132

Events coming up: Bataan Light, Flying Pig Marathon (4 way with cheese!), D-Day Tough, Eagle Up Ultra

What brought you to your first GORUCK Event? A friend asked me if I would do it with her. GORUCK events looked intriguing. I figured I would do it, get my ass kicked, mark it off my bucket list and never do another.

Why do you keep coming back? Teamwork, camaraderie, friends, carrying heavy shit, pushing past my boundaries, empowering others. I guess the patches and memes are alright too.

What do you appreciate about being a woman in the GORUCK community?  Woman in the GORUCK community are badass and are typically very supportive of  each other.

What is challenging about being a woman in the GORUCK community? Convincing the bros that we really can carry the stupid heavy coupon too. Occasionally other women need convincing too.

Favorite training exercise /event gear/rituals…etc  that you want to share? My favorite training exercises…. Hydroburpees and stairs.

Advice for other women? Command Respect. Don’t let anyone convince you that ‘you can’t’.

Any GRT women that you admire or love to be on a team with? All of them? Too many to count. Most the women I have done events with have been stellar teammates.

Any memorable stories with you and another GRT  you want to share? I have done so many events. Too many stories….. How long do you have? (Just ask her about these stories the next time you do a event with her 😉 ) 

…Badass Women: Carey Degon…

 

Name: Carey Degon

Age: 40

Instagram Handle: deegs1441

Occupation: Critical Care Nurse

How  many events have you done? : 20+

First GORUCK Event: An event that Cadre Dan called the birth of man…almost made me never return. Imagine not being able to talk to your teammates the entire event!

Events coming up: Whatever I get talked into, most likely the Bataan events here in Tampa

What brought you to your first GORUCK Event? I was looking for a challenge and I liked the team aspect that GORUCK brought. Thought it might be interesting. Little known fact, the first event I was supposed to do was cancelled and I had to wait another few months before my first event!

Why do you keep coming back? The people. It’s always about the people. It doesn’t matter where I go and whether or not I know anyone at an event, I always have a great time and meet some fantastic people that I would love to have on my team, both then and any time in the future.

What do you appreciate about being a woman in the GORUCK community? I’m not the only one out there doing stupid things and thinking they’re fun. The women I have met in the GORUCK community are not only badass but are also some of the most real people I have met. They are a blessing in my life as they don’t all think I’m crazy like the rest of my female friends do. They are super supportive of each other and also some of the funniest and sarcastic women I could surround myself with.  

Favorite training exercise /event gear/rituals…etc  that you want to share? Living in Florida, it creates a challenge when preparing for elevation/hills, etc. I have found that not only rucking long miles, but also putting in time on the stair stepper and lunges are highly beneficial when I travel to other places. You will also always see me with a smile on my face during events as I am a firm believer in humor and the mental game winning out over difficult situations. Also I apologize to those who think I’m crazy but a cartwheel at 0300 or 0400 not only stretches the limbs but also works wonders for the mental psyche!

Advice for other women? Keep your head up and keep smiling. You are more badass than you realize and this community will embrace that about you. Keep pushing yourself as you never know how far you can really go!

Any GRT women that you admire or love to be on a team with? There are so many terrific women that I have encountered doing GORUCK events. The first All Girls CLS was such a field day of awesome women that I would welcome back on my team any day, especially those that shouldered that cement block with me for hours. Also shout out to those awesome Tampa GORUCK ladies, Rennie, Lisa, Tracy, Emily, and Kaitlyn, some of the original women who were with me from the beginning.

Any memorable stories with you and another GRT you want to share? At one point I decided to finally leave my comfort zone and travel across the state to do my first event where I knew no one registered in a city I did not know. I met two women there that helped make the event a lot more fun. Additionally, the team overall turned out to be fantastic! Fast forward a couple months and out of the blue, one of them asked me to have little fun and dress up as cupid with her for the Valentine’s Day event. This turned into such a fun event in part because of this, although I may have called my outfit my sauna suit the whole time. These are the type of people who make the GORUCK community so welcoming and keep people coming back.

 

… Badass women: Sara Bagala…

Name: Sara Bagala

Age:30

Instagram Handle: survivorhrse21

Occupation: Paraprofessional with special needs children, Dog Walker, Amazon associate

How  many events have you done? Wait is this a trick question again? lol not including scavengers 65ish ( I need a new hobby)

First GORUCK Event: Halloween Challenge in NYC 2014 with Cadre Silver it was awful not sure why I came back for more ‍

Events coming up: Triple light Cinco de Mayo in DC?

What brought you to your first GORUCK Event? Having come from the OCR community I had a lot of friends who were GRTS, Lauren Cisneros was the one who pushed me into my first event and I’ve never looked back.

Why do you keep coming back? I love challenging myself, pushing outside of comfort zone to see what obstacles I can overcome both mentally and physically. But overall it is mostly the people that keep me coming back. The teammates you’ve suffered with and the incredible things we have done together, the stories we have are amazing. I have some of the best friends I could ever ask for because of this community, ones that I consider family and would do anything for. We all come from different backgrounds, different lifestyles and yet no one looks at those things or judges you.

What do you appreciate about being a woman in the GORUCK community? That even if we have never met in person we are still supportive of one another, we always have each others backs. The ladies I have encountered are some of the most amazing and strong women I have ever come across in my lifetime and not just physically but mentally as well. So many have had to surpass many hardships in life.

What is challenging about being a woman in the GORUCK community? It’s a male dominated place so sometimes even though we have a ton of men who support us within the community, there are times when it feels like we as women need to prove ourselves that WE are capable of holding our own. And as a female who most would look at me and think “you don’t look like you are fit or in any type of shape do be doing something so hard, you are “overweight” you can’t possibly be good enough” simply because my body type isn’t what society thinks it should be. I know my capabilities just by my appearance have been questioned by numerous men in our community, until they saw me put in the work. The biggest thing is knowing your strengths or weaknesses and working past that.

Favorite training exercise /event gear/rituals…etc  that you want to share? Wait people train for this stuff?? Running sucks. This is the biggest question people ask me about what I do to get ready for events,honestly I don’t train like I should. I’m lucky if I’m able to get to the gym 3 days a week. I follow the SOFlete program. As far as gear the only thing that’s a most at every event is my Darn tough socks and my salomons plus my trusty GR0 Also known as Bruce. He’s gotten me through all my events including 5 HCLs. I keep 3 coins that mean a lot  to me as a remember that anything is possible and to never give up.

Advice for other women? You are stronger than you believe you are. Set your mind to something, find your “Why” and keep pushing forward. Small progress is still progress. Don’t be afraid to step outside of your comfort zone!! Kick ass

Any GRT women that you admire or love to be on a team with? Well where do I even start! There are so many incredible women. Andi Marie, Carmela Pine, Eva Torres, Steph McGrew, Anna Banana, Rachel Beard, Jess Walkup, Emily McCarthy, Deanna Dawn, Christine Castro, Delilah Talbot, Denise Olsen… I could go on for days!

Any memorable stories with you and another GRT  you want to share? There are just so many amazing memories it’s hard to pick just one. But the most defining moment in my time doing GORUCK was during my first heavy, 911 NYC. I was already second guessing myself.  I didn’t feel ready and was in way over my head. We were about 7 hours into the event, after our awful 12 miler on this disgusting beach in Staten Island it was time for our welcome party on that same beach. We were probably about well over an hour into it, when we just couldn’t get together as a team. Cadre made us sprint into the water than low crawl up the beach, as I struggled and on the verge of tears and ready to stand up and quit I looked to my left made eye contact with my fellow teammate who said “ come on keep pushing this ain’t no thing” just as Mocha Mike started yelling at us but in the most motivating way possible. In that moment something in my head just clicked and I found my reason “why”, told myself just get through one of evolution at a time, you’ve got this. I went on the complete that full HCL series. To this day I am forever grateful for that moment on that beach and that entire weekend. I learned so much about myself in so many ways with the help of my teammates (the dirty 21 forever)  and cadre. We were a well oiled machine right up until we got patched at endex.

…Fitness: my lift, my love, my addiction…

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Hi…My name is Stephanie. And I have an addiction. 

I am addicted to the stale musk of sweat when you walk into a gym…

I am addicted to the sound of weight plates clanging together…

I am addicted to hearing the light humming sounds of treadmills and other fitness equipment…

I am addicted to feeling sore when I wake up in the morning…

I am addicted to the feeling you get when you physically push yourself so hard during a workout that you can’t quite figure out if you are going to pass out or puke (sometimes as the same time…LoL)…

I am addicted to crushing personal records that I know that I was unable to do previously…

I am addicted to pushing myself mentally and physically…

I am addicted to helping those around me see their potential both physically and mentally…

I am addicted for helping to educate, motivate, and inspire someone to get up and make changes in their life so they can help improve the overall quality of their life…

But most importantly…addicted2fitness_2

I get that not everyone will truly understand my desire or need to push myself constantly.  Do I know I can do it…yes.  But, I have not found anything that I can not do and that is what drives me even further.

This fitness craze for me started in 2012.  Don’t get me wrong, I have always been an athlete and I have always been active.  Growing up, I played a lot of different sports and remained active even throughout college. It wasn’t until AFTER college that I had the time, resources, and money to dive into doing more athletic activities.  I started by first doing a Zombie Run with one of my best friends.  The trail run mixed in with mud bath instantly had me hooked. I was not a huge fan of being chased by blood dripping mummies, but I enjoyed the “capture the flag” concept that the race offered.  A few months later I signed up for my first Tough Mudder. WHILE I was training for my first Tough Mudder I was also training for my first NPC bikini competition. After that, I did a few more NPC competitions but really started to take a dive into endurance races. For the year of 2016 I wanted to put my focus on endurance races and GORUCK events instead of NPC competitions. And that was one of the best things I could have done.

I spend 2016 traveling, exploring, and living. Most importantly, I spent 2016 doing what I love most…growing my business and pushing myself physically.

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Why do I do these races? 

These races are not just about the medal or patch that you get when you complete the race.  The race is about the experience and the people. No two races will be alike.  You will get to battle some of your own internal demons.

You will question if the training you have been doing was enough.  You will question if your strength and overall abilities is enough.  You will question if what you are doing is something that you should actually be doing.  You will question if you are helping or being a burden to those that are around you. You will have a million other questions rummaging through your brain, but most importunately you will battle and defeat these questions of self doubt.You will conquer those very things that are trying to hold you back. To your surprise,  you will also help to push and motivate someone else around you to also push through those same questions and self limiting thoughts/feelings.

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I do these races BECAUSE I CAN. So many people take advantage of the fact that we have bodies that are capable of moving, climbing, pushing, pulling, running, etc. So many people 2nd guess themselves and do not show up to do events that they sign up for. So many people fail to even understand their worth and physical capabilities. If I am able to help just ONE person push past those barriers, that helps for me to validate my efforts.  It helps to prove to me that all of the work that I put into my training while people are sleeping, while people are out partying and having fun, while people are inside and I am outside getting tortured by the weather of mother nature is worth the milestone of conquering a feat that was once unconquerable.

Yes, there an be far worse things for me to be addicted to. But, to be addicted to fitness….is that even really an addiction? What could you classify it as? I would like to say that it is apart of me.  It is apart of my lifestyle. I am NOT sorry that I am not the type of person to sit at home EVERY weekend (don’t get me wrong a weekend at home is nice…but that is only blissful for a short period of time). If I have the time, resrouces, and money YES I will fill my scheudle with events. Why not explore and travel if I have the ability to do so? If I had the choice to go party at a premiere club or go roll around in the mud, with my ruck, next to 20-100 team mates, in the rain….guess what I would pick? #mudbath #justanotherdayatthespa

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From the outside looking in, I guess I can not expect or assume anyone to understand or be able to relate to my feeling of passion about what I do.

If I could just take your hand and walk you through my foot steps, then maybe…JUST MAYBE…you would be able to grasp why I do what I do.  I don’t want to put you in my shoes because my shoes are shoes that can not be filled. My ambition and drive is something that can not be replicated but only observed. My dedication to not just to myself, but to my clients and fellow fitness addicts.  This dedication is something that is strong and it will take dynamite to even weaken it.  It is a bond between conquerors and fellow competitors that can not be broken.  No matter how muddy a trail is, no matter how crappy the weather may be, no matter how much it hurts, we are one.

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Each day competitors of all facets and sports wake up and train as if there is no tomorrow. Olympic athletes get a pass for their dedication because ” they are training for the Olympics”.  But common people get questioned and bantered because they want to regularly attend athletic events? Because their dedication to health/fitness is not within the realms of what “some people” feel is normal? All because we are not training to go to an Olympic event? In your eyes there may not be a master event or title we are trying to win.  In our eyes…we are doing what makes us happy. We are doing what gives us a purpose and a meaning.  We are doing what gives us life.

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