The Infantry Battalion that I am fortunate enough to command - 3-187 Infantry, the Iron Rakkasans - conducts an event each Spring called the Iron Warrior Challenge (IWC). 

The IWC can be a single event or a series of events designed to test Soldiers physically and mentally. The purpose of this event is to link the currently serving Soldiers with those who previously served in the unit, and to remember those that have gone before us and all they endured in the service of our Great Nation. The event was started by GEN (retired) David Petraeus when he commanded the Iron Rakkasans in the early 90s, and has continued on ever since. 

The current version of our fitness test - the APFT - consists of 2-minutes of push-ups, 2-minutes of sit-ups and a 2-mile run. The APFT provides AN indicator of fitness, but certainly not a holistic assessment of fitness like the new ACFT does...

I've been training for a half-marathon since early January, and I've really enjoyed it. Other than freezing my butt off on a few long runs during some time in Kansas, it's been a very enjoyable train up. My long runs have provided me time to think...

You’re thinking - Intervals are challenging, how am I “beating the heat” by running intervals in the thick of the summer heat?

Humidity was born in Virginia Beach and has established permanent residence here from May through late September. It also makes sporadic visits throughout October.

Is there something that you need to bring back to your training routine? What was old must now become new. 

Is there an exercise - or series of exercises - that you used to perform routinely as part of your training regimen that has now faded away? For 6 months? A year? Two years? 

How goes the winter training? What are you doing for your winter training? Rowing/Elliptical work? Some strength and conditioning work? Maybe you're doing a lot of core work or enjoying the mental freedom that comes with group fitness classes. All good things.

Do you begrudgingly board the treadmill in the winter (well, we have all probably done that at some point…)? Is it a struggle to get out the door to run, cycle or walk...

 

Sometimes surviving is winning. Living to fight another day (or race another day) sometimes gets real...

 

Bring back that Racing Feeling. 

When is the last time you did a race? Last week? Last year? 2 years ago?

How long have you been training for an upcoming race? How long have you been lifting weights looking for that massive increase in your bench press? Or squat? Weeks? Months?

We all know that those tough training sessions - which are so valuable to building towards your race or training goal - take a little something out of you...

Over the last month, our kids have been competing in the Healthy Kids Running Series near our home. It’s a series of short races (the longest distance is a mile)...