Training and Community in the 50 Mile March or “How to Not Be ‘That Guy'”

I want you to picture this scene from the movie Stripes. Hopefully you have seen it…but if not, you can view it here on YouTube. Sergeant Hulka, the platoon’s Drill Instructor, has been injured in a freak training accident, and can no longer lead his unit in their completion of basic training. So, Bill Murray’s character, John, must step in and, against all odds, get the platoon in shape for the graduation parade. They train throughout the night, but inevitably fall asleep, and almost miss the event. At the last minute, as the general is finalizing the review of the troops, here comes John leading his ragtag bunch of misfits. What ensues is a hilarious spectacle…a little razzle dazzle. “Why did the chicken cross the road? To get from the left to the right. He stepped out of rank, got hit by a tank, he ain’t no chicken no more.” The general asked where they have been. John replies, “Training sir.” “What kind of training?” “Aaaaaarmy training sir.” And with that, the general announces, “That’s the kind of go-getters I want working on my EM-50 project.” If you’ve seen the movie, you know what happens next…if you haven’t seen it, run now to your local Blockbuster video store and rent it.

So, what does that have to do with what this blog is about. Nothing. Well, almost nothing. I have already talked about this, but let’s review…you have moved from interested to committed and your eyes are now focused on August 22. But before you can land on that date, there is this little thing called a qualifier that stands between you and that August weekend. If you are a returning marcher, you probably have a good idea what it is going to take to get you ready for that April event. If you are a first timer, that may not be the case. There is no shortage of people who are ready and willing to help get you across the finish line, both at the qualifier and the 50-mile march. If you haven’t joined the 50 Mile March Tribe page on Facebook yet or our GroupMe Channel, do that right now. No, seriously, stop reading this for a moment and get on that page and join it. If you are still reading, I am going to assume you have already joined the page and found that there is so much great information on it now, and it will only get better as we progress through the next few months.

So, let’s talk about training. You should be walking now. Many repeat marchers recommend 5 miles, 3 times per week, with some added miles thrown in on occasion. Maybe a 5-8 mile walk on a weekend. These miles you put in now, will gauge how your body is prepared, and preparing, for the longer walks. You are going to find where blisters form, what socks and shoes work best, and what it is going to take to keep your body fueled. The options are endless, and each person is unique, so you are going to have to find what works best for you. The good thing is, as I said earlier, there are a lot of people who want to see you successful. But you have to ask those questions or voice your concerns.

One of the best ways to train is to find a group to join. Accountability occurs in groups. Conversation occurs in groups. Community building occurs in groups. Ever heard of John Donne? Probably not. But I bet you have heard these five words taken from something he wrote. “No man is an island.” Absolute truth. No one goes through life by themselves. It takes all of us. You are not an island out there trying to solve Veteran homelessness by yourself. There are many ready to walk alongside you, talk with you, and cheer you on. If you are a first-time walker, the worst thing you can do right now is to try and live on that island alone. If you have no one, reach out to me.

Now, no matter what path you choose to get ready for the qualifier, one thing will not work. You cannot be like John and train the night before the big parade. No razzle dazzle. It takes preparation…in whatever form you feel gets you ready to tackle 50 miles. And when you find that magic elixir that works for you, don’t change a thing. I mean it…do not change. Let me tell you a story to emphasize what I mean. This walker I know was in his fourth march. The previous three marches he only put water in his hydration pack. While training for his fourth march, he did the same – only water. Then during the actual fourth march, he heard others talking about using electrolytes in their hydration pack, so he decided that he was going to do that as well. So, on the second leg of the march, he swapped out from using water and went with electrolytes. When the marchers stopped at the third leg, he was not in a good place. I have it on good authority that he went behind the RVs and, how do I say it, exhaled all the electrolytes he had been drinking, onto the ground. Incredibly, he felt like a new person after that, and finished the 50 miles with no other problems. I know those gritty details because, if you haven’t figured it out yet, it was me. Mind you, this wasn’t my first rodeo. I had completed three previous missions with absolutely no problems. But on this fourth march, I decided to do something that I had told dozens of others not to do, change what works. You know what I did not do on my fifth march? That’s right, put electrolytes in my pack. Because I did not train that way. Please hear me though. I am certainly not telling you to not put electrolytes in your pack. If you train that way, do it in the march. If you don’t train that way, don’t do it in the march. It really is that simple.

So, let’s get after it. Make a solid training schedule. Get in a routine. Find that best shoes and socks combo. Take advantage of the knowledge base of experienced walkers. And…we’ll see you out on the trails…

Trust, Respect, Integrity through a community of Belonging and Empowerment.

Fabula est Vestri,

Dale