6 Rounds For Time
2 Rope Climbs
20 Air Squats
7 Pull-Ups or Chest-to-Bar Pull-Ups
Weight not specified (cannot carry on back)
The Carry Challenge is a benchmark workout designed to test your endurance and grit through a single, impactful movement: the ruck carry. This workout emphasizes the importance of maintaining a steady pace while carrying the weight in your hands. The focus is on mental toughness and physical resilience. Without the option to carry weight on your back, it demands a strong grip, core stability, and the capacity to push through fatigue. This challenge is a tribute to endurance athletes and is especially relevant during memorial events and holiday workouts, inviting athletes of all levels to participate and honor the spirit of dedication and sacrifice.
Begin The Carry Challenge with a sustainable pace, as the 1-mile distance can feel daunting. Aim for an initial rhythm that blends strength and stamina, allowing your body to adjust to the weight you're carrying. As you progress, listen to your body; brief pauses may be necessary to shake out your grip or refocus your posture. Maintaining a strong core will help stabilize your carry and reduce fatigue. In the final stretch, dig deep and push through any mental barriers, recognizing that every step is a testament to your determination. Completing this challenge not only fulfills a personal goal but also honors the essence of community and remembrance during holiday tributes.
Weight not specified (cannot carry on back)
The Carry Challenge is a benchmark workout designed to test your endurance and grit through a single, impactful movement: the ruck carry. This workout emphasizes the importance of maintaining a steady pace while carrying the weight in your hands. The focus is on mental toughness and physical resilience. Without the option to carry weight on your back, it demands a strong grip, core stability, and the capacity to push through fatigue. This challenge is a tribute to endurance athletes and is especially relevant during memorial events and holiday workouts, inviting athletes of all levels to participate and honor the spirit of dedication and sacrifice.
Begin The Carry Challenge with a sustainable pace, as the 1-mile distance can feel daunting. Aim for an initial rhythm that blends strength and stamina, allowing your body to adjust to the weight you're carrying. As you progress, listen to your body; brief pauses may be necessary to shake out your grip or refocus your posture. Maintaining a strong core will help stabilize your carry and reduce fatigue. In the final stretch, dig deep and push through any mental barriers, recognizing that every step is a testament to your determination. Completing this challenge not only fulfills a personal goal but also honors the essence of community and remembrance during holiday tributes.

Begin your workout by selecting your desired weight for the ruck carry, ensuring it is secured comfortably on your chest or front, as it cannot be carried on your back. Start walking at a steady pace, maintaining a strong posture with your shoulders back and core engaged.
Focus on pacing yourself throughout the mile. It's crucial to find a rhythm that allows you to maintain your stamina without fatiguing too quickly. If you feel comfortable, you can pick up your pace in the final stretch.
Hydrate adequately before and after the workout, and consider a dynamic warm-up to get your muscles ready. After you complete the ruck carry, cool down with some light stretching to aid recovery.


To scale the 1 Mile Ruck Carry, consider using a lighter weight that you can comfortably carry for the entire distance. A good starting point could be 10-15 lbs for beginners or those new to rucking.
If carrying weight is challenging, consider incorporating a walking or jogging pace without weight to build endurance before adding load.
For those aiming to complete the distance without overwhelming intensity, you can break the mile into manageable segments, such as walking 400 meters at a time with short rest periods in between.
Alternatively, if the full mile feels too daunting, aim for a distance of 0.5 miles to start, gradually increasing as you build strength and confidence in your rucking ability.
Your score for the Carry Challenge is based on the total time it takes to complete the 1 Mile Ruck Carry. You will start with a ruck or weighted backpack, ensuring the weight is distributed evenly for balance.
Once you finish the mile, you record your time in minutes and seconds. For example, if your time is 14 minutes and 30 seconds, that is your score. If you attempt the carry multiple times, only the best time will count.
Remember, the goal is to manage your pacing and breathing effectively while maximizing your speed. Each attempt can help you refine your technique and improve your score over time.


Begin your Ruck Carry with a steady pace to gauge your endurance. It's essential to maintain a consistent speed throughout the mile rather than starting too fast. Break the distance into manageable segments, using landmarks for motivation. Keep your posture upright and engage your core to avoid fatigue.
Stay hydrated, especially if you're training in warm weather, and consider your footwear; choose shoes with adequate support for long-distance walking. If you find the load is affecting your form, it's okay to adjust your grip or take short breaks while maintaining forward motion.
Track your time to set benchmarks for future workouts, aiming for gradual improvement with each attempt. Incorporate strength training for your legs and core to enhance your performance in subsequent challenges.
The Carry Challenge requires completing a 1 Mile Ruck Carry for time, making pacing crucial for achieving a good score. A strong performance for intermediate athletes would be around 15-20 minutes, while advanced athletes may aim for 12-15 minutes. Elite athletes should strive to finish in under 12 minutes, showcasing exceptional endurance and strength.
Scores under 20 minutes generally indicate a need for improved stamina and technique, while times under 15 minutes reflect solid fitness levels. Achieving a score under 12 minutes signifies top-tier conditioning and rucking proficiency.
Overall, the goal is to balance speed and form, ensuring a successful and efficient carry throughout the mile. Focus on consistent pacing to achieve the best possible outcome.


The Carry Challenge is intended to test an athlete’s overall endurance and physical resilience through the demands of a ruck carry. The goal is to maintain a consistent pace over the mile distance while navigating the added challenge of weight distribution and stability.
Participants should focus on engaging core muscles and maintaining proper posture throughout the workout. As the distance progresses, athletes will feel the cumulative fatigue setting in, which emphasizes the importance of mental toughness and strategic pacing.
Ultimately, this benchmark workout aims to enhance functional strength and improve an athlete's ability to perform under duress, preparing them for real-world situations requiring sustained physical effort.
The world record for the Carry Challenge, which consists of a 1 Mile Ruck Carry for time, has not been officially documented in a standardized format. However, various unofficial reports suggest competitive athletes often complete this challenge in remarkable times.
Anecdotal evidence from the fitness community suggests elite male competitors may finish the course in under 40 minutes, while elite female competitors might aim for times around 45 to 50 minutes. These times require exceptional strength, endurance, and mental fortitude.
This workout emphasizes the importance of stamina and pacing, as strength alone may not be sufficient to achieve a record time. Adapting training to focus on endurance and consistent speed can improve performance in this demanding challenge.


The Carry Challenge is designed to honor those who have served in the military, recognizing their dedication and sacrifices. Rucking, a common military training exercise, symbolizes the weight that service members bear both physically and emotionally.
This workout pays tribute to the resilience and strength of veterans and active-duty personnel, highlighting the importance of camaraderie and support within the armed forces community.
By participating in The Carry Challenge, individuals showcase respect for these heroes while also fostering awareness of the mental and physical challenges they face.
air squat workout, chest to bar workout, for time workout, pull-up workout, rope climb workout
2 Rope Climbs
20 Air Squats
7 Pull-Ups or Chest-to-Bar Pull-Ups
chest to bar workout, high box jump workout, overhead squat workout, pull-up workout
6 Overhead Squats
7 Pull-Ups / Chest to Bar
6 High Box Jumps
TC: 12
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1200/1500m Row
Every 2 minutes: 1 Round of Cindy
5 Pull-ups
10 Push-ups
15 Air squats
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Buy in: 20/25 Cal Row
3 Rounds: 4 Shuttle Runs + 12 Toes to bar
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Rest 2 min and repeat
TC: 15
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80 Cal Bike
60 Cal Ski erg
40 Cal Assault bike
Every 4 min: 6 Burpees + 12 Air Squats
