"Nothing Is Too Hard"
As part of our ongoing series highlighting the remarkable women of the GORUCK community, meet Angel, a 54-year-old mother of four who rucks in the evenings after work.
Angel is living proof that resilience, joy, and community can carry you far—especially when you’re wearing a ruck. With a contagious smile and unwavering determination, she embodies the GORUCK spirit every single day.
A Life Of Purpose
Originally from Newark, New Jersey, Angel now calls Jacksonville home. “I'm 30 and some change... okay, 54,” she laughs. A mother of four adult children and one “bonus love”—all in their 30s—and a proud “Glamma” to 11 grandchildren, Angel balances family life with grace and grit.
By day, she’s the Customer Service Representative for GORUCK SCARS, helping dedicated ruckers breathe new life into their beloved gear. By night, she's traversing the quiet streets with her dogs, ruck securely on her back. "”I grab my RPC every time I walk my dogs, so at the end of the day it equates to about four miles,” Angel says. “And I kickbox whenever I really need a stress reliever.”
Angel became a young mother at just 19 and had three children before her 23rd birthday. Instead of viewing this as a limitation, she embraced motherhood with open arms and intentional parenting. “I'm thankful for how I raised my children; they were heard and I listened to them,” she says. “Now that they’re walking that walk as adults, they can say, ‘Thank you, Mom.’”
From Curious Observer To Superfan
“GORUCK used to pop up in ads in my Yahoo feed many moons ago,” Angel says. “But it wasn't until I was invited to do a Scavenger Hunt in St. Augustine in 2017 by my good friend Samantha that I had the time of my life.”
What started as a casual invitation turned into a passion. “Then I did my first Light in Savannah, GA in 2018 with Sam—and I was bit by the bug.”
The Beating Heart Of GORUCK: Community
Ask Angel what keeps her coming back to GORUCK, and she doesn’t hesitate for a second: the community and camaraderie. “That has been the best part,” she says. “I've been able to meet some of the most amazing men and women. They have been a constant joy and inspiration to me.”
The rucking lifestyle has become so integral to her identity that it naturally flowed to the next generation. “Since my kids are older, rucking has always been a part of my life,” she says proudly. “And my son rucks all the time. It's a shared part of our lives now.”
Shouldering The Weight
“Rucking has taught me that nothing is too hard—that I can't get out there and get after it,” Angel says.
That resilience became her anchor during the isolation of the pandemic. “Rucking helped me stay grounded and to get outdoors. It was what I needed when everything seemed to be falling apart. It kept me sane.”
For Angel, rucking transcends physical exercise—it’s mental and emotional restoration in its purest form. “The mental load is real, and we all need a moment to breathe, reflect, and decompress,” she says. “I go for rucks at night when it’s quiet and no one needs anything from me. Quiet reflection mixed with rucking is my self-care ritual.”
A Natural Caregiver
“There are always going to be demands, but how do we navigate them?” Angel asks, drawing from decades of experience balancing responsibilities. “The hugs and phone calls from my grandchildren make it all worth it.
This caregiving nature makes Angel perfect for the GORUCK SCARS team, where she helps customers extend the life of their gear with the same attention she’s given to nurturing her family. (The GORUCK SCARS program is a lifetime guarantee and repair service for gear, apparel, and footwear. Designed to ensure durability and customer satisfaction, SCARS covers craftsmanship defects and offers repairs for normal wear and tear.)
“My lot in life was to be a caregiver, which is why I find I’m great at customer service—I genuinely care and want to make it right. It’s not about me, it’s about we. And now I understand my mother’s hard work in a whole new light."
Angel’s Advice For The Rucking-Curious
“There is absolutely nothing to fear,” she says. “One, it's great for women—and it helps build bone density.” Perhaps most important? “No running!”
She’s learned major life lessons as a mom and a rucker: Show up as you are. Start where you are. Just grab your ruck and go.
This profile is part of our series highlighting the diverse and inspiring women who make up the GORUCK community. Their stories remind us that strength comes in many forms, and sometimes the heaviest weight we carry brings the greatest reward.
