Sgt Melvin Gatewood Ruck/Walk & Fun Run

Sgt Melvin Gatewood Ruck/Walk & Fun Run takes place in Columbus, Mississippi, in Lowndes County, on October 24, 2026, starting at 8 a.m. The course is 3.1 miles and you choose how to cover it, rucking with a weighted pack, walking, or running. The event is family friendly and open to everyone, and children aged 17 and under take part free.

Rucking is the format worth preparing for specifically. Carrying weight over three miles loads the shoulders, hips and feet in ways running does not, so build up over a month: start with fifteen to twenty pounds for two miles, add distance before you add weight, and break in the boots or shoes you plan to wear. Runners can treat it as a short road 5K, and walkers will be out for roughly an hour.