Enough Said...: The Inaugural Bugout Run 07.18.15

A couple of friends from my running group, Jorge and Joshua, are starting up a new running series called The Bugout Run Series. It combines running/hiking with emergency preparedness. Has emergency preparedness seemed boring and low on your priority list? This will get you really excited about it! After you register, they don't send you all the details right away... they send you the details of the "undisclosed location" and a scenario (to prepare your bugout bag) 48-72 hours prior to the scheduled event.

They then invite professionals to teach you survival skills after check-in and bag assessment. Pay attention, as you may need to use these skills later during the run!

This run took place on the trails of Bountiful, up by the "B."

We met with the owners of MinuteManRX and PrepperCon who assessed our bags and taught us an important skill of stopping bleeding. We then took our 72 hour kits, bugout bags, whatever you want to call them, and headed 1.5 miles up the trail. We then had a surprise element of physical activity where were to complete 30/30/30 of jump out to planks, V jumps, and mountain climbers, followed by 10 tire burpees. This was to simulate"an attack by an assailant.

I was the first "victim." Oh... and did I mentioned these exercises were timed? Yeah... I was huffin' and puffin'! Mind you, this was all done after that 1.5 hike up the hill with at least 25 lbs on my back!

After we completed those exercises, our heart rate was pretty high and we were all physically taxed...

Got shot in the arm (orange sticker)

and then sent over to a station where we were put in a mock "shooting." With this shot wound in our arm, we had 2-3 minutes to stop the bleeding and save ourselves. We had to determine if there was anything in our 72 hour kits that would stop the bleeding. They made us think after we were physically taxed, which was a little hard since your heart is beating so fast. This is exactly what they were trying to teach us... being prepared in an emergency situation, when adrenaline and heart rate is usually through the roof.

We all passed the test! And we learned how to use regular items as tourniquets... just in case!

After that scenario, we all hiked 1.5 more miles up the mountain before turning around and coming back. I must say that the view was gorgeous... and worth the effort!