The Rogue Invitational kicked off its inaugural two day CrossFit competition hosted by Rogue May 18th and 19th. This event was considered a “sanctioned” event, meaning it is a qualifying event for those athletes looking to make it to the CrossFit Games. Just this year CrossFit changed the way in which athletes were able to secure a coveted spot at the Games. They no longer use the CrossFit Open in February and March as the sole qualifier for regionals; in fact, regionals no longer exists. Individual athletes qualify for the 2019 CrossFit Games in one of four ways by order of precedence: becoming a national champion in the 2019 CrossFit Open, finishing in the top 20 men or women worldwide in the Open, winning a Sanctionals event, or by select invitation at the Games’ discretion.

Many of the athletes attending this event had already qualified for the CrossFit Games, but for some, this was the final punch on their ticket with the Games just around the corner in July. Top CrossFit athletes showed up and put on an amazing show that was shared on via Facebook Live and will be televised at a later date.

GORUCK was so thrilled to be a collaborator in the event and help develop a rucking workout with our Special Forces Cadre that challenged both the individual and team competitors on a whole new level. Every athlete was outfitted with the following gear:

• Rucker
• Padded Hip Belt
• Sternum Strap
• Ruck Plate (30LB for men, 20LB for women)

“When they called and asked us to be part of the inaugural Rogue Invitational, a CrossFit sanctioned event, it was the easiest yes of the year for us.” Jason McCarthy, GORUCK founder recalled. “Rogue wanted the event to be about the best CrossFit athletes in the world doing work, but also wanted to make them think and challenge them to do new things. So GORUCK Cadre collaborated with Rogue HQ on incorporating weighted rucksacks and SFAS inspired apparatuses into the first ever rucking competition at an event like this.”

Team Event

The first event was the team event. With a weighted Rucker on the entire time (men 30 LB Ruck Plate and women 20 LB Ruck Plate), teams of four (two men and two women) began with rope climbs and then moved on to build an apparatus. They were then required to move the apparatus to a specified location, add weight and exit the stadium to transport the apparatus around the outside course. About a half mile in, they had to stop and load 8 sandbags onto a wall of hay bales. When the teams return to the stadium, they had to remove the sandbags from the apparatus and dragged them across the finish line.

• 35 Minute Time Cap
• Men: Rucksack + 30LB Ruck Plate
• Women: Rucksack + 20LB Ruck Plate
• 2 Rope Climbs/Team Member
• Assemble & Load Apparatus with 550 lbs
• 1/2 Mile Ruck with Apparatus
• 8 Sandbags to Shelf – Men: 200 lbs / Women: 100 lbs
• 1/2 Mile Ruck with Apparatus
• Drag Sandbags to Finish Line – Men: 125 lbs / Women: 75 lbs

Individual Events – Men & Women

Individual events began shortly after with the men. Athletes also began with weighted rope climbs and continued to ruck to the course outside of the stadium, all at a running pace. About a half mile in, they were required to load 5 sandbags over a wall of hay bales. They continued to ruck with the sandbag, and upon returning to the stadium they dropped and dragged it to the finish line, all behind the Fittest Man on Earth, Mat Fraser.

• 22 Minute Time Cap
• Men: Rucksack + 30LB Ruck Plate
• Women: Rucksack + 20LB Ruck Plate
• 3 Rope Climbs
• 1/2 Mile Ruck
• 5 Sandbags to Shelf – Men: 200 lbs / Women: 100 lbs
• 1/2 Mile Ruck
• Drag Sandbags to Finish Line – Men: 125 lbs / Women: 75 lbs

The women didn’t have it any easier. The same workout was scaled in weight to a 75lb sandbag and a 20lb. ruck. Toomey held up to her reigning title of Fittest Woman on Earth while everyone else put up a great fight.

Legends Event

Legends is the new Masters division, with big names like Dan Bailey and Jason Khalipa dominating the category. Although Legends had the option to do rope climbs without the weighted ruck, no one opted to do so, all the while further continuing the reputation that CrossFit athletes are extremely competitive.

• 22 Minute Time Cap
• Men: Rucksack + 30LB Ruck Plate
• Women: Rucksack + 20LB Ruck Plate
• 3 Rope Climbs (with or without Rucksack)
• 1/2 Mile Ruck
• 5 Sandbags to Shelf – Men: 200 lbs / Women: 100 lbs
• 1/2 Mile Ruck
• Drag Sandbags to Finish Line – Men: 125 lbs / Women: 75 lbs

“Every athlete rucked up and did the work and we’ll probably have to make it harder on them moving forward. The men crushed it, the women were especially inspirational, and the teams came together to solve problems like never before in a CrossFit event,” McCarthy says. “We’re just really excited to see more rucking in the fitness world and how we can get more people active and doing the work with weight on their backs.”

https://goruck.wistia.com/medias/2l73sum3ha

Rucking is functional fitness and this is just the start of more to come. We look forward to coming back to the Rogue Invitational every year.