I have often said that being a “Warrior” comes with a hefty price tag. You don’t get to buy the title; you have to lease it every single day. As I move through my 57th year and look toward 58 in April, that lease is getting more expensive.
Currently, I am in the middle of a 14-week conditioning cycle leading up to the “Murph” on Memorial Day. For the uninitiated, that is:
1 Mile Run
100 Pull-ups
200 Push-ups
300 Squats
1 Mile Run
(All performed while wearing a 20lb weighted vest)
Leading from the Front
In my professional life as a Captain, I spend a significant amount of time evaluating performance, analyzing data, and demanding excellence from those under my command. But there is a inherent danger in leadership: the higher you climb, the easier it is to become a “theorist.” It is easy to talk about discipline from behind a desk or a podium.
I choose to undergo this training because I refuse to be a leader who asks for a level of output I am no longer willing to provide myself. If I am going to write about the “Way of the Warrior” and the necessity of “putting it on the line,” then I have a moral obligation to put my money where my mouth is.
The Reality of 58
Let’s be honest: at nearly 58, the “90-degree” pushups feel deeper, the recovery takes longer, and the weighted vest feels a little heavier than it did a decade ago. There is a temptation to scale back, to lean on my rank, or to say “I’ve done my time.”
But the “Way” isn’t something you finish. It’s a process of maintenance.
Training at this age isn’t about chasing the PRs of a 25-year-old; it’s about preventing the rot. It’s about ensuring that if the moment ever arises where my skills are needed in service to my community, the “instrument” (my body) isn’t the reason the mission fails.
The 14-Week Grind
We are currently focusing on high-volume bodyweight progressions. The goal isn’t just to finish; it’s to finish with the integrity of the movements intact.
The Pull-ups: Strict, no kipping.
The Push-ups: Chest to deck, elbows tucked.
The Squats: Full depth, every rep.
If you are following this blog, I challenge you to look at your own “tax.” What are you doing today to ensure you are capable of the service you claim to value?
Character is forged in the repetitions no one sees. See you on the pavement.
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