The Vegas Voice 7-20

Hard-line Training
By: Chuck Dean / Vet 2 Vet
Remember those PT tests that we endured
routinely? Passing them was a requirement
to serve in the Armed Forces.
No one was exempt. Some liked doing it; mostly the jocks - those
soldiers that got off on physical punishment and some hated it.
Everyone had to pass regardless if your job was shuffling papers or
running across battlefields.
It was probably the hell of paratrooper jump school that pointed
me toward a daily “physical maintenance” regimen. I got hooked and
have worked out regularly since.
Nowadays, my mind is still 19 while my body is 76, and it’s easy to
forget that. When I do, I usually end up nursing an antique body that
has lost touch with reality.
Before the pandemic shutdown I went to the gym every day. I’ve
done that since my Army days began in 1963. “It” (daily exercise) has
become a part of who I am.
Now I’m confined to my exercise bike and some yoga in the backyard.
At this stage however, our bodies are not as pliable and durable as they
once were, so be careful in your attempt to beat father time.
Even active duty youngsters have trouble keeping up. A recent Army
study revealed that for every 100 soldiers, there are 25 annual injuries.
The cause is not bullets or IEDs; it’s exercise! Going too hard with
ultrarunning, endless pushups, sit-ups, and long marches weighted
down to the extreme is a terrorist on the loose.
I’ll bet I’m not the only senior vet with a 19-year-old mindset. And
if you’re one, just know that overdoing rigorous training can spell
trouble.
Some advice: heed your limitations and do what you CAN, instead of
trying to run down the horse in front of you. When I’m not shelteringin-place,
my workouts have looked like this: Light weights, lots of
repetition. Rowing machine, easy resistance.
Stationary bike interval training, which is very slow for two minutes
and all out for 20 seconds; repeat for 20 minutes.
It’s way too easy to settle for a long tour in the recliner binge watching.
So, take command of your body and do it right.
Chuck Dean served as an Army paratrooper in Vietnam and
through that experience was led to address the many transitional
issues veterans struggle with. He is the author of several important
books for veterans. All can be found on Amazon at: http://www.
amazon.com/author/chuckdeanbooks
31