A Hero's Journey
One of the most time-honored and cherished themes in storytelling is the “Hero’s Journey.” From ancient mythology to modern romantic comedy, the idea of the hero’s journey has enthralled the collective imagination for as long as stories have been told. English majors like me studied it as a literary archetype. According to prowritingaid.com, the hero’s journey can be summed up in a few sentences. “A protagonist is suddenly whisked away from their ordinary life and embarks on a grand adventure. Along the way they make new friends, confront perils, and face tests of character. In the end, evil is defeated, and the hero returns home a changed person. That's the Hero's Journey in a nutshell.” This definition seems perfect for the American Legion Heroes March on June 8th.
Thanks to the vision and heart of two men, both veterans, our community will have a chance to embark on a true adventure and each participant will have the opportunity to write his or her own hero’s tale. Because this kind of event is new to the PRFS, we wanted to give you some helpful information to help you better prepare for your “grand adventure.” Our athletes are wise heroes, never venturing out without preparation for what lies ahead! (Translation: You had better train for this thing!)
The American Legion Heroes March will be an epic journey. It honors the Platte River Fitness Series’ commitment to provide a variety of event types here at home so our local community can experience and learn from the various trends in racing, while keeping costs down and racing local. We try to offer you experiences so you can see what you like without the expense of travel. We’ve had crazy fun adventure races (thank you Jim and Angry Cow Adventures!), stair climbs, trail races, bike races, full marathons, glow runs and color runs, duathlons and of course, triathlons along with the many distances we offer for road racing. Variety keeps us motivated and our training routines more interesting. Plus, it’s just more fun!
The Heroes March is what is known as “ruck racing,” from “ruck marching,” (and “ruck” from “ruck sack”) one of the core skills used in the military. Essentially, it is walking, hiking, or running with weight on your back. According to a 2023 article from CNN, “One of the reasons rucking is growing in popularity may be due to the fact that it’s an easy, low-impact, all-body exercise that boosts cardiovascular and muscular health. One small September 2019 study showed 10 weeks of weighted walking and resistance training improved physical performance in men while significantly reducing their rate of perceived exertion. Weighted step training improved lower-limb muscle power and functional ability in older women, another study from January 2019 found, indicating the exercise could potentially prolong their independence by almost 10 years.” In addition, according to research, rucking burns 30%-45% more calories than walking without a backpack.
John Miles and Joe Wiezorek, race directors, have taken their vision and generously created space to honor the mandate of a PRFS event that it be appropriate for all ages and abilities. The standard for military service is 35 pounds for 12 miles. The Heroes March will have several divisions to accommodate our athletes. If you are between 17 and 49, military age, you can take on the ultimate challenge, a true hero’s journey, completing 12 miles with 35 pounds or you can split the distance with a partner, 6 miles each. Those under 12 and over 80 can participate with no weight requirement. Those 13-16 or 60-69 can carry 15 pounds, and our 50-somethings will carry 25. There is a 12-mile division, which can be done solo or with a partner, and a shorter 6-mile division which can also be split with a friend! For those who would rather just run or walk without weight, there are divisions for you too. You can split the distance in the run/walk division with a partner (either 3 miles or 6 miles with a partner) or do either the 6-mile or 12-mile solo. You can choose the hero’s journey that is right for you!
You can also choose fancy or economical. You can wear a weighted vest, a hiking pack, or your kid’s old backpack from last school year. The directors do recommend using something like sand or cat litter to add weight to the pack if you aren’t using a weighted vest rather than actual weights. The most important tip I can offer from the experts and from our athletes who have done their homework is to GRADUALLY add weight to your pack. Going straight to 35 pounds without a gradual build-up could put your hero’s journey in peril before you even begin. Gradually adding weight and distance will be the best way to conquer the ruck. Having your vest or pack fit snuggly so it doesn’t bang and bounce as you go along is another good suggestion. Depending on your level of fitness, you may run some portions, hike others, or power hike the whole way. During packet pickup and race day registration, race directors will have a scale available if ruckers want to check their weight before the start, and for the most part, the event is run on the honor system. At the finish, however, the top medal finishers will have their packs weighed to make sure winners are carrying the appropriate weight.
Your hero’s journey, whether ruck, run or walk, will be run entirely on the North Platte Trails Network. Peg Leg Brewing will host the race and is the starting point for both the ruck and the run. Here is a brief description of the course including partner exchange points and aid station and port-a-potty information. Starting at Peg Leg Brewing, head west on the shoulder (which is considered trail) of Halligan Drive. Just west of NPCC, turn south onto NPPD trail, going under the interstate and follow the east side of the canal. Mile 2 is where you’ll run across aid/water station #1 with a port-a-potty. Continue along the east side of the canal until reaching the pedestrian bridge by the Nebraska Game and Parks office. Turn west, crossing the bridge and then West State Farm Rd to catch the State Farm Trail. Mile 3 will be at the corner of West State Farm Rd and Hwy 83. This will be the turnaround spot for the 6-mile division of the ruck or run. For those in the 12-mile division, at Mile 3, you’ll turn south again, running up the dirt trail (as we christen this new section of trail!) to Dodge Hill Rd. According to John, “Yep, better save some energy for Dodge Hill!” Mile 4 is at the top of Dodge Hill and there you’ll find aid/water station #2 with a port-a-potty. At the top of Dodge Hill, you’ll go back to gravel trail following Whitaker’s Way until you reach Mile 6 which is about a half mile short of North Lake Rd. Mile 6 will be aid/water station #3 with a port-a-potty and the 12-mile turnaround. Partners will only exchange at the turnaround locations and both team members will carry the same pack. John suggests the team member in the best shape go first because they will have the most difficult mile, Mile 4. The kid’s mile will be on the golf course behind Peg Leg’s.
Your epic adventure can start with the Twilight 5K on Friday night! This is always a great race and Adams Bank and Trust has graciously agreed to partner with the Heroes March and the PRFS. Proceeds from the Twilight 5K & Mile will be added to the scholarship fund for the American Legion from the Heroes March. Any athlete who completes BOTH the Twilight 5K and any division except the mile in the Heroes March will receive “Double Time Double” swag from the PRFS!
The finish line will be a true hero’s welcome for all our athletes and an opportunity to thank the men and women who have served and those still serving! There will be complimentary refreshments for the ruckers and runners and Peg Leg brews and Cartwrights BBQ for purchase following the race. There will be music and Domesti-Pups, service dogs out of Lincoln, will be there with information about the VetsGetPets program, as well as VA representatives to share information about why we are rucking and running, PTSD awareness. Lest we forget, this is the reason we are gathering, to say with our feet, our backs, and our effort to every veteran who struggles, “No one fights alone.” May every athlete, along this hero’s journey, carry the real heroes with them, on their minds and in their hearts. Like any good tale, you will encounter perils (i.e. “can I make it to the port-a-potty?”), find friends, (we always find friends because everyone’s a friend!), face challenges (i.e. Dodge Hill), defeat evil (your own doubts about how strong you are!) and you will return to the finish line changed, with an epic hero’s story to tell!