Ruck the Mountain is a ruck event held in Thompsonville, Michigan on October 24, 2026, with 2-mile and 6-mile distances available. The race takes place at Crystal Mountain Drive, starting at noon. Entry fees range from $30 to $75 depending on distance and registration timing. If you're traveling to compete, you'll want accommodations within reasonable driving distance of the venue. The October date means fall conditions in northern Michigan, so plan accordingly for weather and terrain. Register early to secure your preferred distance and take advantage of lower entry fees.
From the Race Organizer
A Community Health & Wellness Experience at Crystal Mountain Six miles. One mountain. A team of specialists dedicated to helping you understand your body better. Ruck the Mountain isn't a race. It’s a health and wellness gathering. Alongside the 6-mile ruck around Crystal Mountain in northern Michigan, we're bringing together physicians, physical therapists, exercise physiologists, and recovery specialists under one roof to give the community something rare: direct, unhurried access to preventative health expertise. Whether you're curious about what's going on inside your body, want to benchmark your performance, or just need some dedicated recovery time, there's something here for you. Schedule for Ruck Participants Friday, October 23 5pm: Registration, packet pick up, and social gathering including outdoor yoga and a campfire. Also included is the opportunity to visit with medical professionals in areas related to medical, performance, physical therapy, and recovery. (See complete details below!) Saturday, October 24 8am - 10am: Late registration, additional packet pickup, and visit in vendor village. The medical professional areas from Friday evening will be consolidated into one tent for the morning. 10am: Group stretch 10am: Six-mile ruck hike on mountain trails (not timed; go at your own pace!) 11am - 2pm: When you return your participant lunch is included. (Additional food available for purchase for guests.) 12pm - 3pm: Run the Mountain (optional!) Run the Mountain is your chance for a fun run straight on up to the top of one of Crystal Mountain's ski runs on Saturday, October 24 anytime between 12pm - 3pm! There is no cost, however any of the benefits listed above for the Ruck event including the Friday night medical professional consultation tents and social event, and Saturday morning 6-mile ruck, lunch, and any giveaways are only included with a paid Ruck registration. This free "Run the Mountain" event does not provide any of those benefits. You must register for the Ruck event if you would like to participate in those opportunities as well. Sunday, October 25 Rest and recover at Crystal Spa during the Fall Spa Days promotion along with fall family fun weekend activities. Lodging Crystal Mountain is offering a 20% lodging discount for this event. The discount will be available for stays on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday nights (October 22, 23, 24 & 25, 2026). Use promo code RUCK26. Book Lodging Online Friday, October 23 As part of your paid event registration for the Ruck on Saturday morning, please plan to join us in the evening on Friday, October 23 for an opportunity to connect with medical professionals in four areas: TENT 1: MEDICAL Know What's Actually Going On Inside Your Body Our team of preventative-focused physicians will be on-site for complimentary 10-minute consultations — whether you have a complex health question you've been trying to navigate, or you're simply curious about where to start with your wellness. We also believe that better data leads to better decisions. That's why we're offering access to advanced testing that goes well beyond a standard annual physical, at wholesale pricing: Boston Heart DBS Kit — A simple dried blood spot (DBS) collection kit that delivers a comprehensive look at your cardiometabolic health: cholesterol particle size, inflammation markers, insulin resistance, and more. Most standard lipid panels don't come close to this level of detail. Galleri Test by Grail — A multi-cancer early detection blood test that screens for signals associated with more than 50 types of cancer — most of which have no recommended screening today. Early detection changes outcomes. Gut Microbiome Testing by Diagnostic Solutions Lab — Your gut influences everything from immunity to mood to metabolism. This test gives you a detailed look at the bacterial balance in your digestive system so you can make targeted changes. Testing is available for purchase at the event. Results are not interpreted on-site. This experience does not constitute a patient-physician relationship. TENT 2: PERFORMANCE Find Out Where You Stand You train. But do you actually know how you're performing? Our physical therapists and exercise physiologists will put you through a series of evidence-based benchmark tests designed to give you real, objective data about your body's capabilities. Testing includes: VALD Force Decks — Measure force output, symmetry, and power through your lower extremities Dynamometer Testing — Assess grip and limb strength with precision Additional movement and performance screens Walk away with a baseline you can actually track over time — and insights on where to focus your training. TENT 3: RECOVERY Your Body Does Its Best Work When It's Given the Right Tools Recovery isn't just rest — it's an active part of staying healthy, performing better, and healing faster. Our recovery tent covers all of it, from hands-on therapy to education on the tools and strategies that actually
