CLASS 045 HAS STARTED! GET YOUR SPOT NOW

Getting Started | PF GUIDES

by PATHFINDER Ruck Training

We know. Starting something new can feel like a lot. PATHFINDER has a ton of moving parts, and if you're brand new, it might feel overwhelming. This post is here to help you cut through the noise and get started with confidence.

HOW WE COMMUNICATE

1) Email - You’ll receive a weekly email, The Extra Mile, with key info, motivation, and that week’s workouts. Your Course Advisor may also check in occasionally via email. If you're not getting your weekly emails, please let us know at support@pathfinderrucktraining.com

2) Facebook - You’ll join two Facebook groups:

  • The Main Class page

  • Your small group led by your Course Advisor

These groups are where we post workouts, Challenges, updates, and encouragement.

Tip: Pin both pages as Shortcuts on Facebook so they’re easy to find, and you’re more likely to see what matters.

The link to your Class Facebook page is located in your Welcome email from PATHFINDER HQ.

HOW TO GET STARTED

PLAN YOUR TRAINING

Planning is key to your success.
Read the Everything You Need to Know on PATHFINDER Planning and print the calendar provided—or use your own. Build your plan around your personal Program Requirements, which you’ll find on your log page (linked in your Welcome email).

MILES

Your daily and weekly rucking mileage is the foundation of PATHFINDER.
Most successful rosters ruck several days a week. Not all at once, but consistently.

Weight isn’t prescribed unless you're in a program like Advanced, and even then, only for specific Challenges.

  • New to rucking? Start with 9–15lbs

  • Comfortable lifting or training already? Try 20–35lbs

  • Training for a heavy-duty event? You might go higher (up to 50lbs)

RESOURCES

How to Increase Your Ruck Weight

WORKOUTS

Your workouts should support your ruck miles, not beat you up. We recommend mixing strength, cardio, recovery, and flexibility throughout the week.

You don’t have to use PATHFINDER workouts, but they’re built to complement your training and use minimal equipment.

RESOURCES

Warm Ups - Everything You Need to Know

Workouts - Everything You Need to Know

PATHFINDER Workout Library

CHALLENGES

Challenges are where training gets personal - and memorable.

We recommend starting with easier Challenges in Weeks 4–6 and saving the hardest for Weeks 6–10. If you’ve got a big event on your calendar, give yourself a buffer of at least two weeks on either side.

Smart Challenge Planning:

  • Choose Challenges that build your skills (not just your ego)

  • Say no to FOMO: you don’t need to match someone else’s 15-mile overnight. Choose the Challenge that’s right for you.

  • Leave space in your calendar. Life happens

  • Don’t confuse pushing hard with punishment. Recover well. Train smart.

The full listing of PATHFINDER Challenges

Challenge Icons - Everything You Need to Know

STAYING ACCOUNTABLE

Staying accountable means you...

Accountability isn’t pressure. It’s support.

Your Course Advisor is here to help you stay on track, not to scold you. We know life gets complicated, and it’s easy to fall behind. But when you reply to a check-in or post in your group, you're taking an important step forward, no matter where you are in your training.

Being honest about where you’re stuck or overwhelmed isn’t a sign of failure. It’s a sign that you’re serious about growing. We’re here to help you figure it out.

Here’s what accountability can look like in PATHFINDER:

  • Reply to your Course Advisor when they check in

  • Post in your small group or Class Facebook page, even if you’re just saying “still here”

  • Be honest if you're overwhelmed or unsure

  • Don’t wait until “later” to ask for help. Reach out now so we can support you

LOGGING YOUR WORK

Your personal log page URL is located in your Welcome email from PATHFINDER HQ. The log serves as a portal to PATHFINDER content, like workouts, your access code, and more.

The completion dials designate how far along you are in the three aspects of PATHFINDER training. As you progress, your dial will show your progress to completion.

Your log (linked in your Welcome email) is the hub for everything:

  • Track your miles, workouts, and Challenges

  • See your progress at a glance with visual dials

  • Access the workout library and Challenge resources

  • Find your Class Facebook page

  • Need a patch reissued? You can request that here. However, we are not responsible for lost, stolen, or undelivered mail once your package has been handed off to the postal service. If it has not been returned to us to be resent to you, this is something to take up with your local post office.

- Email Support with questions

IF YOU HAVE AN ISSUE

  • Contact your Course Advisor or Amy Petersen at support@pathfinderrucktraining.com with your specific question

Challenge Safety & Restrictions

  • Always carry a basic first aid kit.

  • Ruck safely. Share your route and estimated return time with someone who can assist in an emergency.

  • Obey all laws. Do not trespass. If unsure about access to any facility, consult management for permission.

  • You assume all risks. PATHFINDER is not liable for any injury, damage, or death resulting from participation in its programming.

All PATHFINDER Challenges are © PATHFINDER Ruck Training. Unauthorized reproduction or distribution is prohibited.

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