Milton Memorial Tough - Frankfurt 2024

Original Notes

After Action Review - Milton Memorial Tough - Frankfurt 2024 Date: April 20, 2024 Author: Alexander (Polaris Rucking Crew) Introduction A month ago, I attended the Milton Memorial Event in Frankfurt. Entirely organized by Kris from the MRC. It was… challenging. Physically and mentally. The Challenge, Unpreparedness, and Physical Strain I'm not gonna' sugar coat it. The event was horrible. Terrible. There is no way around it; I absolutely hated it. And that's funny because that's on me. Me saying the event was like that is just me saying that I was not ready. I was not prepared mentally or physically. I knew it would be tough after not doing events for 8 years and not exercising regularly throughout those years. I thought rucking for the past two months would be enough. It was—but only for my feet. I realized how wrong I was during the welcome party. My quads were burning and felt like they were about to blow up. This feeling lasted for 10 hours. By the end, I was flagging so badly the whole left side of my body was dragging me down, making me walk diagonally. I was fighting inflammation in my right shoulder and issues with my right elbow. At the very end, I wasn't even able to do proper squats or burpees. Training Regrets and Lessons Learned Obviously, I should have trained better. I should have done hundreds of squats. I should have done hundreds of lunges. I should have done hundreds of burpees. But I hadn't, so I suffered. I have always said I love suffering because it is grounding—it connects me to the here and now. But oh-my-God, I hated this (and I say that with a grin). Event Organisation and Physical Demands The event was great. Kris, the leader of Munich Rucking Crew (MRC) and the backbone of GORUCK Europe, organized it. It was a worthy Memorial Event. Physically, the welcome party managed to live on a balanced scale. It wasn't so hard that people quit, but it wasn't so easy that people got bored. It lived right on the threshold of being too physically demanding without crossing over. Observations of Individual Strength and Team Effort I saw Strong People. Not just physical strength, but Attitude, Spirit, Mindset, and Willingness. They flow. They smile. They volunteer to pick up another person's ruck or sandbag. They don't chase the lightest weight; they do more because they are able. It isn't about carrying as much as possible for as long as possible; it is about team effort and letting others do their share. If there were no volunteers, these strong individuals would get back on a heavier sandbag just 30 seconds after dropping one. This is how they inspire and push the rest of us to be better. I also saw future "Selection" attendees—people with the mindset and mettle to finish one of the hardest endurance challenges in existence. A Worthy Tribute to Honor An Amazing Person The event was Worthy. Milton would have loved it. We were there for him, his son, and his family. We were proof of the legacy left behind by an amazing, inspiring, and compassionate man. Kris, you did hella' good. A thank-you will never be enough. Final Thoughts and Acknowledgements We rucked to Milton's places. We heard his story told by his son, Sam, and by his friends and comrades. We learned about the places where life steered him toward the man he became. He was important to me, and he was important to many others. May you sit at Harambe's table and may you laugh your butt off at life for ever and ever on. I loved you, Milton. Kris, I love you more for providing this experience. This was part of my own "Book of Life."