COME WITH IT NOW: Rob Webling, Xtreme Endurance Ruck Club - Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Dubai is a city and emirate in the United Arab Emirates known for luxury shopping, ultramodern architecture and a lively nightlife scene.
COME WITH IT NOW:
AN INTERVIEW WITH ROB WEBLING of XTREME ENDURANCE RUCK CLUB
DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
Rob Webling w/his GORUCK Rucker 3.0
As you continue to immerse yourself in the sport of rucking, learning from those who’ve traversed before you can help shorten the learning curve between novice and badass. There are certain aspects of rucking that can only be predicted and prepared for after someone else has learned it the hard way.
So, in this evolving blog series, COME WITH IT NOW!, we’re taking the pulse from those who’ve got some notches on their padded hip belt to help guide others in their pursuit of a healthy, adventurous lifestyle while rockin’ a rucking backpack.
In this installment, Rob Webling, the bloke behind Xtreme Endurance in United Arab Emirates, shares a gracious, kind, and thorough perspective on rucking through the unique terrain in Dubai.
Let’s get some...
RUCKS ON PARADE: First things first, give us the elevator pitch on Xtreme Endurance (XE).
WEBLING: Xtreme Endurance is a health and wellness group focused on showing its members they can achieve much more than they believe is possible. We accomplish this through group activities, rucking and training that test them both mentally and physically, and showing them that they can achieve beyond their perceived boundaries—all within a motivational and driven environment, surrounded by like minded people.
How did rucking influence you to launch XE?
During the period of group restrictions and gyms being closed and after our lockdown period during the pandemic, we used the opportunity to explore the outdoors and soon found ourselves wanting to be more challenged so started adding weight to our rucks and so began the rucking movement in the UAE. We gained such an extensive appreciation for areas of the UAE we didn’t know about prior.
To the novice, a ruck club in Dubai might come off as intimidating or literally foreign. Unpack for us the dynamics of operating a ruck club outside of the U.S. Who's your target audience, and what advice (or warning) would you give them in terms of participating/engaging with Xtreme Endurance? Where should they start, and where can you take them?
Getting out of the house is where we start. We encourage people to come along and enjoy the company, but also nature. Ideally, our participants are looking to improve their overall health and wellbeing focusing on mental health as much as physical health.
We grew to a very diverse group by offering different challenges, both virtual and in person, thus allowing anybody to come along to a session or join a workout challenge virtually. We also offered rucks and ruck challenges for different levels from entry to intermediate to advanced, both during the day and night. And, for the highly advanced thrill seekers, sometimes we extend our challenges into and throughout the night in mountainous terrain, sand, or urban environments.
Health and safety are our main priorities. We always manage groups and group sizes with experienced ruck club leaders who have tried and tested the routes we do. We will always advise participants prior to the events what to expect and what to prepare for, often offering gear and nutrition and hydration tips and also where to procure them. Ultimately, because we’re responsible for the participants’ safety while out enjoying the wild, we take precautions and preparation seriously.
How did you get into rucking?
It was somewhat forced upon me as a new opportunity during the lockdown as a result of the pandemic and the regular fitness options such as gyms being closed. However, my passion for rucking really came from the opportunity that I had to see parts of the UAE that I had never experienced before.
I then saw how it impacted my mental health to be away from the daily grind and to just have the freedom of nature and the natural opportunity to challenge myself. It soon also improved my physical health as we started looking for more challenging terrain, heavier weight, and longer distances. Being ex-military, carrying a pack on my back for long distances ended up bringing back some long-forgotten memories, which was great as well.
How would you describe the essence of rucking to someone who's interested, but unfamiliar?
It’s different—the opportunity to challenge yourself is something you wouldn’t find with a traditional fitness regime. It can be both socially rewarding and definitely mentally rewarding and you constantly have the choice to push yourself physically. And if that doesn’t sell you? You get to do all of the above outside in nature!
What was the most intimidating or challenging aspect to rucking when you started? How did you overcome it?
Personally, the mental barrier that comes when weight and distance increases. Then, in Dubai, add 100-degree heat and some ruck exercises and that gets heavy real quick. Like anything and everything else in a ruck club or team based environment that you struggle with, surround yourself with motivational, strong people that assist and pull you through. I am very fortunate to have an incredibly strong, supportive family and tight group of friends to keep me motivated.
What's the best advice you could give to someone who's out of shape, but interested in rucking?
Join our club! We have so many opportunities for you to grow into this fast developing health and well being activity. There are a number of people in the group that want to share experiences with other good people, and we hold events that cater to all levels of interest.
With all the ruck-related events you've completed, tell us about an "Oh, shit..." moment that tested your mind and/or body, and how you came out of it.
It had to be an event we organized for my 46th birthday. We called it Project 46 and it entailed four 11.85km loops (~ 7.36 miles) across the mountainous terrain of Ras Al Khaimah. We started at midnight and planned to have people join as many of the loops as they wanted. By the time we headed out for the third loop, I’d been going for 10 hours and my body hurt. The weight felt like it weighed a ton and it was starting to get hot—really hot! At that point, I started questioning life’s decisions [laughing]. I never did finish that 46km—I did manage 31km, but what I learned from that day and that outing about my body, its health, and its limits has been the base for every other event I have participated in.
What's your go-to rucking backpack (model, style, etc.)? Why that one?
Gear is one of my favorite topics. My original go-to was always my 5.11 Rush 12, strong and sturdy. it has been through a lot and holds a ton of weight.
I then moved to a weighted vest (with a plate carrier). I felt this had a better weight balance and also created resistance on the exercises. If I needed any additional weight, I had a Highlander tactical 40L pack which I loaded some weight plates into.
For longer rucks I use the Osprey AETHOS 70. From a comfort perspective, it’s very good.
My go-to though is a GORUCK Rucker 3.0 25L with a base plate of 45lbs for most of my rucks—urban or rural. The quality of the pack is phenomenal and the positioning of the weight pocket allows the plate to sit firmly with zero movement and nice and high on the back, which translates into being super comfortable.
What factors should you consider before investing in a proper rucking backpack?
What do you want to do with it? That’s the key. Is it for distance, weight bearing, comfort, durability? Research is critical. I have not bought a single piece of equipment without thoroughly researching it. In the past, we had the unfortunate disadvantage of the type of equipment we needed not being readily available in our market, so a lot of research had to be done online prior to purchase. The right gear goes a long way to an enjoyable experience and I always believe it's worth the extra money for the confidence in knowing it’ll hold up and that it’s right for you.
You're going on your first serious long-distance ruck or participating in your first sanctioned rucking event—what critical items that might otherwise be overlooked do you absolutely make sure you pack?
Individual first aid kit. Nutrition and hydration are critical, and usually at the top of everybody’s list, but a comprehensive IFAK, taking into account foot health as well, is probably the most overlooked item regularly not in someone’s pack.
What auxiliary gear/accessories can you now not live without while rucking?
Paracord, a multi-tool/knife, and Gorilla tape. I never leave home without ‘em.
Shoes or boots? What kind, and why?
Yes! My favorite topic. Comfort and form!
Let’s start with the mountains. For regular mid-distance and heavier rucks with less requirement for flexibility, I use my Lowa Zephyr Mid (non-GTX)—super stable and comfortable.
For longer, lighter rucks, I just replaced my longtime go-to Salomon SC4’s with a pair of Salomon Forces Speed Assault Mid—very light, comfortable, fast, flexible, and dynamic. They’re good for ruck exercises as well. The mid-upper provides enough support as well.
If I’m doing urban rucks, it’s a pair of Under Armour Valsetz mid boots, great for stability and light enough for speed and a cross function of speed and load bearing.
Extreme weather aside, shorts or pants? What kind, and why?
In Dubai it’s shorts, more or less, year round. In the summer, temperatures can sore into the 100s before 10 a.m. Lately, we’ve been out hitting 120 degree (not super fun). My go-to shorts are 5.11 Stryker with rip-stop poly/cotton. Its slight stretch allows for the freedom of movement, but durable enough to withstand the conditions. Because of the heat, most of our summer rucks will start early morning, allowing us to be finished by first light, but also overnight to avoid direct sunlight, especially if we’re moving over longer distances. The key here is carrying enough hydration to sustain the heat.
Advice for preventing and caring for blisters on your feet?
Like I mentioned, people underestimate carrying an IFAK that includes a solid foot care package. However, my most important prevention is the right socks. The value of purposefully designed socks should not be ignored.
What are some of your favorite exercises using your ruck that have impacted your fitness journey?
Probably some of our most used would be overhead lifts and holds, squats, thrusters and push-ups. When a pack boasts versatility, it’s a phenomenal game changer. My GORUCK Rucker 3.0 has so many handles and is so well built it can substitute a kettlebell for swings and any sandbag exercise you can think of.
Are there any creative/unconventional exercises you've adopted using your ruck?
At the moment, I’m really enjoying clusters, which are mostly related to a burpee, and then adding in additional movements. For example, chest-to-bag burpee kickback, push-up, mountain climber, rotating plank left and right into a thruster with the pack.
How do you gauge whether you're over-exerting or not pushing yourself enough?
That’s a tough one. I have learned over the years to listen to my body more than I used to, but I have also pushed my body to its limits. I also like to take notes in a journal and mentally over the period of my training or longer rucks to remind me how I felt at certain times, and what I did or didn’t do to change the outcome. You have to know yourself, and I think that happens by pushing yourself. There is no better way to do that than with others trying to achieve the same types of goals.
If someone is also a runner or into CrossFit, how would you describe the benefits you get from rucking vs. other popular workouts?
We do enjoy adding exercises into our sessions. To change up the format and make it feel less like cardio, we add weight and we create resistance with that weight. We have runners, CrossFitters, cyclists, tri-athletes and gym rats in our group and everyone finds a fit for their needs. We have a popular Wednesday evening urban session aptly named Ruck n WOD, which involves a speed ruck over a shorter distance plus a predetermined WOD with one or two rounds lasting no more than 1-1.5 hours.
To best prepare, endure, and recover, what are some of your general eating/drinking habits before, during, and after a ruck?
Not going to lie, I like my food, but I find it difficult to eat over longer distances. I use a very simple carb booster usually during a ruck which is a date bar. Being 93% dates, it’s got the right amount of sugars to give a good spike without the crash. But anybody who knows me will tell you: hydrate, hydrate, hydrate… For longer events, I will increase my hydration intake up to 2 weeks prior to the event. It’s the key for me, especially in the Dubai heat!
What's your most successful milestone accomplished with rucking?
Celebrating the 49th UAE National Day, with a 49km (~ 30 miles) urban ruck!
What are the most significant mental/health/fitness benefits you've experienced as a result of rucking?
Physically, it’s been a completely different training experience—not something you could replicate in a gym. Mentally, especially during the current climate, rucking has been so refreshing. Again, being outdoors and immersed in nature can’t be found inside a gym.
Is there someone with a compelling story or interesting connection to rucking who you'd like to nominate for us to interview next?
I have a friend in the UK who constantly inspires me with her commitment to rucking and health and wellness, in general. Natasha Chung is the founder of the Sunrise Ruck Club, and it’d be my pleasure to nominate her to share some of her amazing experiences with you guys.
Natasha, our invitation is in the mail! Can’t wait to talk with you!
Okay, Rob, any last words?
Companies like Rucks on Parade make it easy for us to introduce variation into our clubs with the high intensity ruck workouts they provide, not to mention the sweet patches! We look forward to seeing what surprises the rest of the year have to offer from the team!
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Hey, before you split! We’re always looking for other sharp minds to extract knowledge from. Do you know a prominent persona in the world of rucking, or have a unique perspective from your own personal experience that you’d be willing to share? If so, drop us a line, let us know, and we’ll extend the invite to chat it up and feature your story!
COME WITH IT NOW!
Rucks On Parade