Three GORUCK team endurance events honoring fallen Texas firefighters. Oct 22–24, 2027, Austin, TX
"What is rucking?" Rucking is walking with weight on your back. These events are team challenges led by experienced instructors (cadre), not races.
Eric and Juan have worked together at multiple departments, went through the same Austin Fire Department academy class, and later served together as Team Leaders for an Austin academy cadet class. Eric has been doing GORUCK events for almost 10 years. When they both applied to Austin, he convinced Juan to do a GORUCK event with him if they both got hired. Six years later, Juan made good on that promise, completing his first GORUCK event alongside Eric: the 9/11 Heavy in NYC for the 25th anniversary. Juan also runs Box Alarm Ready (BAR), a local firefighter training group whose buy-in is a punishing gear workout.
They're joined by Joshua, a New Braunfels firefighter known for his grueling workouts, often done in full gear, who takes pride in holding himself to a higher standard.
Together, we're building mental fortitude and resilience in our fellow firefighters while honoring the ones we've lost.
WHY WE CARRY
Every year, central Texas loses firefighters to line-of-duty deaths, cancer, suicide, and other circumstances. Too often, we gather for a funeral, then go back to our stations and carry that weight alone.
Carry to Honor was built to change that. Over three days of GORUCK events, we come together to honor the firefighters we've lost and to strengthen the ones still serving.
Our events are led by Special Forces veteran cadre who specialize in pushing you past the limits you've set for yourself. You'll find out that "I can't" usually means "I haven't yet." That discovery builds the mental fortitude and resilience firefighters need on the job and off it.
Shared suffering builds bonds unlike anything else. When you carry heavy things through the night with the person beside you, you leave with more than a patch. You leave with people you can lean on. Our goal is a stronger firefighter community, mentally and physically, built one shared challenge at a time.How We Honor
Every participant carries someone. Each person selects a fallen firefighter to honor and carries their name, photo, and bio throughout the event.
Hose bundles. We work with local departments to carry hose bundles for selected fallen firefighters, so their weight is carried by the whole team.
Hero WODs. Selected firefighters are honored with a dedicated hero workout.
Their stories. Before or after each hero WOD, a firefighter from their department shares who they were. That way, we learn about their lives and the contributions they made, not just how we lost them.Who Should I Honor?
Choose a firefighter who has passed and who means something to you: a crew member, a friend, a mentor, or family. If you don't personally know a fallen firefighter, you can choose someone from your local department or from a central Texas fire department. You'll tell us who you're honoring when you register.Everyone Is Welcome
You don't have to be a firefighter to carry with us. Family, friends, other first responders, military members, veterans, and anyone who wants to honor those who served are welcome.
EVENT INFO
What a Typical Event Looks Like
A team event, not a race. You start together, move together, and finish together. No one gets left behind.
Led by Special Forces cadre. They choose the route, the distance, and the challenges, and they push you past the limits you thought you had. You won't know what's coming next.
Heavy carries. Expect miles under your ruck, plus "coupons": sandbags, hose bundles, and anything else the cadre decides the team should carry.
What makes Carry to Honor different. Along the way, we'll stop to honor fallen firefighters with hero WODs and hear their stories from members of their departments. We'll also take on firefighter-specific evolutions like hose drags, tower climbs, sledgehammer strikes, and "dummy" drags. Our firefighters will show everyone how they're done.Schedule:
Heavy: Thursday, Oct 22, 4:00 PM
Tough: Friday, Oct 23, 8:00 PM
Basic: Saturday, Oct 24, 12:00 PM
These are estimated start times.Exact start times TBD. Approximately 4 hours between events.
Location: Austin, Texas area. The exact location is TBD and will be announced to registered participants as soon as it's confirmed.
REGISTRATION
How to register
Fill out the registration form. [link to Google Form]
We'll email you with more information and payment instructions.
Pricing
Heavy: $270
Tough: $150
Basic: $80
HTB (all 3 events): $475
Early bird HTB: $450 (limited to 8 spots or through Dec 31, 2026, whichever comes first)
Who can register
Now: The HTB and the Heavy are open to everyone. The Tough and Basic are open to firefighters.
TBD: all events are open to everyone.
Each event is limited to 50 participants.
Policies
Registration is non-refundable.
Registrations are transferable until 30 days before the event. Please notify us of any transfer.
FAQ
Am I fit enough? What's the minimum fitness to start training?
The Basic has a 100% completion rate, but don't let that fool you into thinking you can go straight from the couch to an event. Whatever your fitness level or rucking experience, start rucking as soon as possible, and add event-specific training as the events get closer. For the Heavy, Tough, or all three events, we recommend Joe Baker Fitness for event prep. He's well known in the GORUCK community, and he's who you train with if you want to set yourself up for success. We'll be partnering with Joe Baker Fitness, with more details coming in 2027.
What if I can't finish? Can I quit, and what happens if I do?
This is a team event. Everyone hits highs and lows, and when you're at your lowest, the people beside you are there to lift you up, just as you'll do for them. You'll be surprised how far a team can carry you. You can stop at any time; just let your cadre know first. The patch is earned, not given, so only those who complete the event receive it.
Do I need GORUCK-brand gear?
Not to start rucking. If you're doing an event, we recommend the GORUCK Rucker for its durability and how easy it is to use for workouts. GORUCK offers an Earned Service Discount through GOVX ID for those who serve, and you can often find used GORUCK gear on Facebook Marketplace and eBay.
What footwear and clothing should I use?
Everyone's feet are different, so find what's comfortable for you over long distances under weight. Dialing in your footwear, socks, and foot care is one of the most important parts of preparing for long rucks.
Do I have to be a firefighter?
No! Everyone is welcome, and we'd love to have people from all walks of life join us.
Can I do all three events back to back?
Yes! In GORUCK, that's called an HTB. Along with each event's patch, you'll earn the coveted HTB bolts patch. An HTB is not for the faint of heart. It takes dedicated training and a strong mindset.
How do I transfer my spot?
Email [email protected] and we'll walk you through the process.
Are there local training meetups, and when?
In early January 2027, we'll announce local training meetups to help everyone prepare for the events.
How does the training plan work?
We're partnering with Joe Baker Fitness to provide training plans built specifically for these events. Details are coming in 2027.
Who do I contact with questions?
Email us at [email protected].