How to get Fit while Ingressing?

JimboMXJimboMX ✭✭✭

Ingress requires you to move in order to destroy enemy portals, capture neutral portals and create links and fields. And that movement can be done by walking.

But did you know you can optimize that movement to do more exercise, get stronger, burn more calories, and be more social?

There is an activity called RUCKING that does exactly that!


So... What is RUCKING?

RUCKING is basically walking while putting extra weight on a Rucksack (aka backpack). By doing this, you are asking your muscles and your heart to work a little more than usual. It's also challenging your mind to keep going and complete your goal (distance/time/heart rate) even after getting tired.


¿What does RUCKING has to do with Ingress?

Well... Ingress (and Niantic) have the goal to create experiences that require you to go out and move. GORUCK (a company that creates rucking equipment and events) has a similar goal. So they have joined forces and created some Ingress events that you probably have heard of:

- Stealth Ops

- Urban Ops

- Operation Clear Field

- Ruck the Box

- BannerRuck

- Operation Ko Lan

And others I don't recall right now


This joint effort was previously known as goruckXingress, and is now called NIA: Tactical Kinetic Operations (TKO)

So, if you plan to participate in any of this events, or if you just simply want to be more fit, or want to turn your Ingressing into a more difficult challenge, start preparing yourself to Ruck or #Ruckgress (rucking + ingress)


How do I start?

What you need is:

- Motivation: things are easier to accomplish when you have a goal. It can be to get more slim, be more active and healthy, have fun with friends or whatever makes you feel like going out and exercise.

- A Rucksack: it can be any backpack, or a military stile one, or a GORUCK specialized Rucksack, there's plenty of choices for all budgets. However, look for something that is comfortable and that can stand the weight you intend to start with.

- Weight: to put it on your Rucksack. Go for something you can carry comfortably for a couple of miles. You can use bottles of water, bricks, metal plaques, books. Just be sure that the weight is as high and as close to your back as possible. The weight should be above your waistline sitting on your back, so tighten the Rucksack shoulder straps properly. If you are unsure of how much, start at 10 pounds and try to do a 2 miles in 40 min. If you can beat that time, you can increase the weight 5 pounds to get something more challenging. If you can't, reduce the weight until your body gets used to it.

- Hydration: you are excersising, and you are going to sweat. You can carry your hydration during the ruck, or just be sure to have money to buy something to drink at the end.

- Get a Partner: rucking is better, more fun, and easier if you are with a friend or group to share the miles and the fun. There are squads and ruck clubs in a lot of places, so look for one near you, or create one.


How do I get in contact with other Ruckers?

There is a Telegram news channel here: https://t.me/gorucknews

There is also a Telegram Global chat that started when GORUCK Monthly challenges started in 2019 here:

https://t.me/joinchat/BU_UugysJw0INgJB7_oKxg

And I think there are also Faction oriented chats, so ask around to get added.


You can also use this section of the Forums for anything TKO related questions and discussions.

Or try searching for rucking groups on other social networks like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. 

Maybe in the future we can create a directory of Ingress Rucking Groups together, so keep visiting the Forums!


#IngressRuckers #Ruckgressing #IngressXgoruck #GORUCK

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Comments

  • ZeroHecksGivenZeroHecksGiven ✭✭✭✭✭

    Is there still a relationship with GoRuck? I've seen medals on agents profiles, I've seen ingress related events on the GR site (it's been awhile). But those all seem like something of the past and what's happening now, is...different?

    I'm only asking out of pure curiosity as I'm relatively new to Ingress, but have done a few goruck lights in the past. Just can't tell what the relationship is at this point.

  • JimboMXJimboMX ✭✭✭

    They haven't said that the relationship has ended. @GORUCKHQ might be the right person to answer that question.

    Last activity promoted was BannerRuck 4.0, and for events Ruck the Box.

    We will see if they comment something "soon"

  • JimboMXJimboMX ✭✭✭
    edited March 2021

    This is an example of a #ruckgress activity.

    We went out with the goal of completing 8 miles for a GORUCK challenge.

    But we also were completing Kinetic Capsules for Optima Challenge.

    And some of us were also trying to get more Uniques Captures for our stats and medals.

    It was 3 hours outdoors, walking at a park, some with 10pds, some with 20pds or more.

    We didn't rush the pace, since some of us are coming out of injuries, and confinement affected our performance too.

    Note: we need to be more carefull with social distancing.

    Post edited by JimboMX on
  • edited March 2021

    The other day I got a new bicycle chain, and I noticed that it's just the right length for me to wear as a belt. I tried it out, and it turned out to be quite comfortable. It's about 5 lbs, decent weight to carry around. Now I just need to make sure my waist doesn't shrink or grow :)

    I'd better make sure I keep one of the keys somewhere safe. I don't want to go to the locksmith and have to explain why I need a bicycle lock removed from my waist...

  • JimboMXJimboMX ✭✭✭

    That's why it's better to put the weight on your Rucksack... No need to create something complicated.


    However, chains are a good source for additional Weight.

  • VasatiVasati ✭✭✭

    So what is the purpose of the rucksack, aside from having it as additional weight and carrying space? I am curious about the whole concept and certainly wouldn't mind using Ingress to get healthier and all. Plus I imagine I'd meet some nice enough people.

    But yeah, seriously, why the rucksack?

  • GoblinGranateGoblinGranate ✭✭✭✭✭

    Well, the costs were very high. I clearly remember refusing to participate in one of these because I was required to pay 100€ jsut to get to participate. #GetReal

  • WooormsWooorms ✭✭✭

    Is it worth the investment for agents cargressing ? ^^

  • JimboMXJimboMX ✭✭✭

    Well, there are several ways to add additional weight to your body: vests, ankle and wrist weights, etc.

    The Rucksack or backpack puts the additional weight on your shoulders, back, and waist (depending on the type of bag you use). The Military, Alpinists, and other organizations and activities have used this concept for a long time to carry heavy weights for long distances by foot. So in part, it's an easy and traditional way (almost everyone has carried a backpack since being a kid in school).

    But, it also has a training purpouse. By carrying the weight in a Rucksack, you are free to do most movements needed for walking, trekking, running, etc. And you are using a lot of muscles while doing it, not just the ones from the legs.

    Putting a Rucksack on and off its not difficult.

    Sometimes Sandbags or other kinds of extra weights are used for specific activities and challenges during the events and competitions, but the Rucksack is the main accessory for rucking.

    Firefighters, police forces, etc need this kind of training in order to use the equipment needed for their jobs, which is heavy and carried with their body.

    We, as agents don't need to carry much more than a battery, a cellphone, maybe some water and some food. But imagine the scenario were you are capturing a remote portal on a mountainnand one of your teamsters gets a broken ankle? wouldn't you want to be able to help carrying him/her? Or supplies in an event worst case scenario?

    The stronger as agents we can get, the more help we can provide to our families, teams, and communities.

  • JimboMXJimboMX ✭✭✭

    Yes, the cost of TKO events is high. I'm not sure of the reasons behind the prices, at anomalies maybe it's to equilibrate the amount of people playing the regular anomaly versus the ones playing the TKO part. And probably there's some logistics costs too.

    Again, this is one of the questions that could be better answered by @GORUCKHQ .

    Maybe we just need more participants?

  • JimboMXJimboMX ✭✭✭

    This article made explains the basics of Rucking.

    For those that want to go deeper, the white paper has a lot of examples and useful information. Like @HonestEl question of "why a Rucksack?" Or @theimmc comment about the bikechain on the waist. The best answers are in there.

  • Otrera35Otrera35 ✭✭✭✭

    Hiking, Biking, and using Scooters do the job too! 😉

  • Otrera35Otrera35 ✭✭✭✭

    Cargressing was also mentioned in one Ingress newbie orientation resource. Some of the missions out there involve driving, so cargressing is applicable. Just make sure you have a driver with you 😀

  • WooormsWooorms ✭✭✭

    I can't see any portal accessible only by car, and if there were one it would not be very legitimate as this would go against the portal acceptance criteria. But yes sure, cargressing is a thing, I was simply joking about exercising while playing Ingress ^^

  • How about highway rest areas? Many of them has info signs or even more elaborate displays that make decent portal candidates. You can't walk to the rest area, you have to drive there, since walking on the freeway is illegal.

    Perhaps I misunderstood what you mean.

  • WooormsWooorms ✭✭✭

    @Otrera35 mentioned "you need a driver" which I understood as "you need to be in a car, moving", so I was not considering rest areas in that scope since you can park there and walk outside your car.

    But maybe it's me who misunderstood the point

  • Otrera35Otrera35 ✭✭✭✭
    edited March 2021

    There are approved missions out there that are described as "driving missions." How could those missions be considered as not legitimate ones? Probably the mission acceptance criteria were changed due to safety?

  • @Otrera35 @Wooorms I think you guys have driven this thread off topic a bit.

    Both playing Ingress by driving from portal to portal and hacking (safely, obeying local laws) and walking from portal to portal, with or without a heavy brick in your backpack while playing on foot, are both legitimate and common methods of playing.

    However, the topic is about Rucking specifically, not the legitimacy of portals without contiguous pedestrian access. As long as a portal can be accessed on foot from a reasonable mode of transport (e.g. getting out of the car at a rest stop) it's fine. But it's not really the topic.

  • Otrera35Otrera35 ✭✭✭✭
    edited March 2021

    I might have gone off-topic, but it is related to the main topic. I would like to address it here rather than create another thread about the legitimacy of approved portals. I was just wondering why @Woorms mentioned that driving missions are not considered legitimate. Thanks for giving clarity to my questions. Wish there is a thread managed by XM ambassadors and/or Vanguards for Newbies to ask various questions concerning Ingress Prime.

  • I would like to address it here rather than create another thread about the legitimacy of approved portals.

    It really doesn't have anything to do with getting fit while playing Ingress or Rucking though.

    Wish there is a thread for Newbies to ask various questions concerning Ingress.

    Some of that is being worked on, but another Agent's opinion on whether missions by car are legitimate or not, isn't an official Niantic statement. If the mission has gone live, Niantic has approved it, whether other Agents consider it to be "the right way" to do a mission or not.

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