September 16, 2023 – Limestone Park
35 E. 2nd St., Maysville, KY

What the Ruck is a Ruck?

A ruck is simply walking with weight on your back, in likeness to military members carrying gear for battle, or the Kentucky Frontiersmen carrying supplies in packs as they explored the “new” wilderness. Rucking has become a popular form of low-impact cardio, and militaries from all over the world use this event to measure stamina and endurance.

Click the following link for more: What is Rucking? Complete Guide to Amazing Benefits & More | GORUCK

Who is this benefitting?

All proceeds from this event will go directly to Warrior Ridge, a local 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that provides life-changing support to veterans in need. They do this by hosting on-site events that reunite teams who have served in the military side by side, creating a relaxing environment for Veterans to reaffirm their unique relationship. Their staff enables experiences designed to recreate the support system these teams had together. Their goal is that Veterans return home feeling refreshed and grounded, having renewed and drawn from the vital support system of bonded brothers.

Thank you to Event Sponsor: Carlson Software

What’s new this year?

We are pleased to announce 3 challenging routes to choose from this year, the challenging and competitive 9 ½ mile Warrior Route, the familiar 4 mile Tecumseh route, and finally The
Gauntlet—both routes combined into one brutal yet rewarding ruck.

Historical Background of the Route

Simon Kenton, with his incredible physical strength, endurance, and innate kindness became the ideal prototype of “The Frontiersmen”. Kenton was born in Virginia, and out of necessity fled westward towards the middle ground, called “Kaintuckee.” According to “The Story of Simon Kenton” by the Kenton Kin Association, in 1775, four years after leaving Virginia, Kenton found the mouth of Limestone Creek in Mason County, Kentucky. He and his companion named Thomas Williams paddled four miles up the creek and found fields of cane. There, they cleared an acre of land and planted a patch of corn. Not content with staying in one place for long, Kenton began to travel through Kentucky meeting fellow pioneers such as Daniel Boone and George Rogers Clark. According to “The Story of Simon Kenton”, he was active in the defense of the frontier and is credited with saving Boone’s life after being attacked by Native Americans.

Nine years after landing in Mason County, he built a station where he presided as welcomer-in-chief to new arrivals on the frontier.

Sources:
The Frontiersmen by Allan Eckert
Simon Kenton: Frontier Hero

The goal of this event is to honor Kenton and “The Frontiersmen”, along with the Native American warriors like Tecumseh, who passionately fought to defend this precious land of Kaintckee and traveled the same ground we will ruck.

ROUTE 1: WARRIOR
9 ½ Miles (Approximately 3 Hours)

Embrace your inner warrior. Challenge yourself and your friends. Along the Warrior Route, you’ll cover approximately 9 ½ miles of ground crossing two bridges and touch two states. This is a timed event with a prize for First, Second, and Third places. Finish it as fast as you can. Minimum weight for this event is 20% of your body weight (if you weigh 200 lbs, you’d wear, carry, or haul 40 lbs of weight). Honor system. There will be NO traffic control along this route and participants will be provided only a map of the course. Time will be kept manually by the SKR Team. This event will finish at Limestone Landing, just prior to the start of the Tecumseh Ruck. All participants will receive a t-shirt and a Warrior Route patch.

ROUTE 2: TECUMSEH
4 Miles (Approximately 1 ½ Hours)

Simon Kenton’s original route from downtown Maysville to Old Washington. Follow what was once an ancient buffalo trail along roadways and trails to complete our most popular route. This route will be rucked as a team with all participants moving as one group. All ages are welcome. Participants must be able to walk 4 miles up steep inclines and along uneven terrain. There is no weight requirement for this event– carry as much weight as you want or carry none at all! All participants will receive a t-shirt and a Tecumseh Route patch.

ROUTE 3: THE GAUNTLET
13 ½ Miles (Approximately 4 ½ Hours)

Gauntlet participants start the day with the Warrior Route crew. Once they finish this event, they will link up with the Tecumseh Route participants and finish with this team. This is truly an epic challenge. All participants will receive a t-shirt and a very special Gauntlet Route patch.

Schedule


0545 Warrior Route/Gauntlet Route Check-in and Line Up at Limestone Landing (35 East Second Street Maysville, Kentucky)

0600 Warrior Route/Gauntlet Participants Start

0830-0900 Warrior Route Finish at Limestone Landing

0845 Tecumseh Route/Gauntlet Route Check-in and Line Up at Limestone Landing

0900 Tecumseh Route/Gauntlet Route Participants Start

1100 (approximate) Arrive in Historic Old Washington. Presentation of awards for Warrior Route. “Patch In” for all participants. Block party hosted by Warrior Ridge and Pandemonium Restaurant and Bar.

The Maysville Trolley will be available to escort participants back to Limestone Landing from Old Washington immediately after the event (around 11:00).

In summer of 2022, Anthony Chamblin and Ryan Swolsky were walking in downtown historic Maysville when they began to talk about, of all things, rucking. Suddenly, an idea was formed— what if we created a ruck event in Maysville for the Simon Kenton Festival, donated all the money we raised, and did all of this in one month? Due to outstanding community support, the event was a hit. Ryan and Anthony have now partnered with local rucking crew “Ruck Around and Find Out” along with Warrior Ridge in hopes that SKR 2 will be even bigger. We want to especially thank our original “SKR 1” crew and hope to see you there this year!

Carlson Software
The Mason County Special Response Team
Mason County Sheriff’s Office
Maysville Police Department
The Simon Kenton VFW Post 2734
Maysville-Mason County Tourism
Pandemonium Restaurant and Bar

This year we are offering both an individual event (the Warrior Route) and the standard team event (Tecumseh Route). You may also do both in The Gauntlet Route!

Registration is $40.00. All registered participants are guaranteed to receive a t-shirt and collectible patch if they register prior to August 1st. Since the t-shirt and patch costs are generously donated by Carlson Software, ALL proceeds from this event will go directly to Warrior Ridge.

Yes! If you are a military veteran, actively serving in the military, or are a first responder, your registration fee is 50% off!

Carrying weight in a rucksack, backpack, or in a weighted vest is completely optional and not required, unless you are participating in the Warrior Route, where we ask you carry at least 20% of your bodyweight.

If you do not have experience hiking with weight, participants are encouraged to start with only 10 – 15 LBS in our Tecumseh Route. Experienced “ruckers” will generally carry around 40 LBS of weight. Weight should be carried in a back pack, ruck sack, or weighted vest. It may also be carried in a sandbag, as dumbbells, or any other creative fashion. A great resource for training and gear can be found here: What is Rucking? Complete Guide to Amazing Benefits & More | GORUCK

Participants are encouraged to wear comfortable “hiking” attire, including shoes that are comfortable on pavement and on uneven trails.

Participants are highly encouraged to pack plenty of water.

For questions about the Simon Kenton Ruck, contact

Ryan Swolsky
(606) 782-4158
Swolsky71@masonkysheriff.gov