My Training Plan
To be very clear, I am not a runner. I don’t spring out of bed with the force of a thousand suns, ready to start the day with a smile and a mile. For me, fitness has always been a means to do a job—Soldier, Medic, Captain. I’ve run a handful of marathons, though I’ve never actually trained for one. At 46 and far from the best shape of my life, I’m not likely to be standing on any podiums during this adventure. And that’s the point. I’m not out to win. I’m just here to take a long walk by the water with my old friend and hopefully meet some new friends along the way.
Given that my goal is simply to finish without injury, my training will focus on cross-training with a trip down memory lane: marching with a pack on my back. I’ll be rucking about 25 miles a week with 45-65 pounds, and luckily for me, my home isn’t too far from the water. These walks will feel much like the many strolls I took with J—blue minds abound.
This past summer, I worked as a medic on wildfires across Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington. There were plenty of long hours and hikes, but no time for running. Waking up in a smoke-filled tent at 5 AM for a 16-hour day provides an excellent excuse not to train. Now that the fire season is over, it’s time to find my own motivation. I’m going to keep putting one foot in front of the other and hope for the best.