In this short, final episode of 2025, I take a moment to say thank you.

No guest. No deep dive. Just a sincere reflection on the first year at The Rucker’s Edge—the listeners, the conversations, and the community that’s formed around rucking, long-term health, and smart training.

I also share what’s ahead in 2026, including more practical insights on recovery, performance metrics, and conversations with leaders in the rucking community.

If you’ve listened to even one episode this year, this one’s for you.

Links & Resources

• The Rucker’s Edge on Instagram: [Add link]

Notes:

• Music Credit: “Play This Game” by Black Rhomb.
• This podcast is for informational and entertainment purposes only. Please consult your physician before starting any new exercise or physical activity.

In this episode of The Rucker’s Edge, Dr. Ryan Peebles, Doctor of Physical Therapy and founder of Core Balance Training, unpacks what’s really happening to your spine when you ruck under load.

Dr. Peebles explains why rucking back pain is rarely about having a “weak core” and is more often tied to poor core endurance, breathing mechanics, and loss of spinal stability as fatigue sets in. Rather than chasing sit-ups or isolated ab exercises, he introduces the concept of core connection (the ability to maintain intra-abdominal pressure and spinal support for long periods of time).

You’ll learn how added ruck weight increases the same forces already acting on your spine, why posture tends to break down when the core fatigues, and how common patterns like anterior pelvic tilt show up during long rucks. Dr. Peebles also highlights the often-overlooked role of breathing in spinal stability and explains how improper breathing can turn your core into a “flat tire” under load.

This conversation also covers practical warning signs ruckers should not ignore, how to listen to early signals from your body before pain becomes chronic, and simple warm-up strategies to activate the core before stepping off.

Links & Resources:

• Core Balance Training Website
• Core Balance Training on Youtube
• Dr. Ryan Peebles' Podcast: The Back Pain Podcast
• The Rucker’s Edge Website
• The Rucker's Edge on Instagram

Notes:

• Music Credit: “Play This Game” by Black Rhomb.
• I’m not a doctor, and this podcast is for informational and entertainment purposes only. Please consult with your physician before starting any new exercise or physical activity.

Chris Hayes returns to The Rucker’s Edge for a breakdown of the new RuckWell app update, released on Friday, December 12th.

In this episode, we go beyond surface-level features and focus on how ruckers should actually use the new tools and metrics to train smarter, recover better, and protect their long-term health.

We walk through the update from the rucker’s perspective—covering the redesigned training experience, customizable alerts, map-based navigation, recovery scoring, heart rate zone analytics, and the intelligence built into the home screen. Chris also shares what he hopes RuckWell ultimately becomes for the rucking community.

Links and Resources:

Download the RuckWell App at: www.RuckWell.com

RuckWell on Instagram: RuckWell (@Ruck_Well)

Contact Chris Hayes with Feedback or Questions at: support@RuckWell.com

The Rucker's Edge on the web: www.theruckersedge.com

Instagram: The Rucker's Edge Podcast (@TheRuckersEdgePod)

Notes:

• Music Credit: "Play This Game" by Black Rhomb
• I'm not a doctor, and this podcast is for informational and entertainment purposes only. Please consult with your physician before starting any new exercise or activity.