Ruck the Mountain & Run the Mountain

Ruck the Mountain - 2026 

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 (See the bottom of this page for "Run the Mountain" Participant Info)

Friday, October 23

5:00pm - 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

8:00-10:00am – 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. 

10:00am – Group stretch, led by Rachel

10:00am – Six-mile ruck hike on mountain trails (not timed; go at your own pace!)

11:00am-2:00pm – When you return your participant lunch is included. (Additional food available for purchase for guests.)

12:00pm – 3:00pm – Run up the Mountain (optional!)

Sunday, October 25

Rest and recover at Crystal Spa during the Fall Spa Days promotion along with fall family fun weekend activities. 

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Crystal Mountain is offering a 20% lodging discount for this event. The discount will be available for stays on Thursday, Friday, Saturday,  Sunday nights (Oct. 22, 23, 24 & 25). Use promo code RUCK26. Ruck the Mountain Lodging Link: https://www.crystalmountain.com/reservations/?pid=44719

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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 move the needle.

What you'll find here:

StemWave Therapy — Acoustic wave technology that stimulates the body's natural healing response, particularly effective for tendon, joint, and soft tissue issues. Great for nagging injuries that haven't fully resolved.

Massage — Relax in one of our massage chairs or book a 10-minute targeted massage with one of our therapists. Real hands, real relief.

Orthomolecular Recovery Supplements — Curated selection of high-quality recovery supplements available for education and purchase. Our team can walk you through what's worth your attention.

Recovery Education — Sit down with our specialists for a conversation on evidence-backed recovery tools including:

Contrast therapy (cold/heat protocols)
Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) training for rehab and strength
Tendon and joint healing timelines and strategies
Sleep, nutrition, and lifestyle factors that drive recovery

Whether you're dealing with an old injury, pushing hard in training, or just want to feel better day to day — this tent is for you.

 
TENT 4: PHYSICAL THERAPY

Small Adjustments. Big Differences.

Our physical therapists are offering focused, 10-minute sessions designed to give you targeted, actionable feedback — not a generic assessment, but a real look at something specific to you.

Choose your focus:

Gait Evaluation — A trained eye analyzing how you walk and run. Small inefficiencies in your movement pattern can quietly contribute to pain and injury over time. We'll show you what we see.

Running Tips & Form — Whether you're new to rucking or a seasoned runner, our PTs will offer practical cues and corrections to help you move more efficiently and reduce injury risk.

Regional Focus — Have a nagging shoulder, knee, hip, or ankle? Bring it. Our therapists will assess a specific area and give you honest feedback and a starting point for addressing it.

Pelvic Floor — An often-overlooked area that affects core stability, bladder control, athletic performance, and more. Our pelvic floor specialist will be available for brief educational consultations and screenings.

10-minute sessions are available on a first-come, first-served basis. These sessions are educational in nature and do not constitute a formal PT evaluation or treatment plan.

Ruck The Mountain is presented by Aevitas Medical. All specialist time has been generously donated by our team of physicians, physical therapists, and health professionals. Our goal is simple: help you become a more informed, more engaged participant in your own health.

Ruck the Mountain is a 6-mile ruck event hosted by Crystal Mountain and Aevitas Medical. The six-mile looped route includes both flat terrain and steep inclines around Crystal Mountain’s property. Participants who wish to hike with a pack or ruck must provide their own. Packs and rucks are not required for participation in this event. It is encouraged that each participant challenges themselves to the greatest degree they can do safely. 

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 12-3pm! 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.