Why Challenging Exercises Are the Most Enjoyable

Once upon a time I was very disciplined in exercising.

I got up with the rest of my military company, and I went out an did an hour of PT. But, I was about to learn that wasn’t enough. Especially when I went and started doing this “Special Project” stuff like undercover narcotics and MPI (Military Police Investigations).

I was still part of the armed forces which meant I was subject to certain standards. But being part of these projects divorced me from the day-to-day routine of being in a military company. In short, I wasn’t even getting what I considered Maintenance PT. We were expected to keep ourselves in shape and that just wasn’t happening.

And I had that proven to me the hard way.

When I left MP AIT (Advanced Individual Training) six months before, I did well above average on my PT test. Getting to Ft. Riley, I was with a line company for a very short time. I was soon shipped off to work Narcotics. That meant late nights, in the bars, and waking up the next morning and NOT doing PT.

There’s an old expression the goes “use it or lose it.” It’s true, you know.

I was about to learn that the hard way.

We found ourselves having to do a PT test alongside the CID agents we worked with.

And it damn near killed me. The two-mile run was horrible. The only reason I finished was Lt Wilson all but kicked my butt across the line.

I decided that wasn’t happening again.

So, I started running. I ran from Ogden, Kansas where we lived (right outside the north gate of Ft. Riley) to our office. I continued to do that well after I left DST and went to MPI and then a line unit.

The thing I found out I liked about running was the challenge. It wasn’t just about distance. It was about difficulty.

There were two hills that convinced me I was getting to be a good runner.

One was the Freedom Park Trail. I ran from our office on Main Post, past the airfield and over the overpass on I-70. This brought me to base of Freedom Park trail. When I ran it, the trail was a winding asphalt climb that switches back numerous times. There were railroad tie steps. Along the way are old artillery pieces scattered about.

At the top of the hill is a large gun. it’s one of the “Atomic Cannons” built in the 50s.

As the name implies, these guns were built to shoot Atom Bombs. Twenty were built and were deployed to South Korea and Europe. They were soon rendered obsolete when we learned to build atomic warheads that can be fired out of regular guns. Most of the big guns were destroyed. This one is at the top of the hill.

Running to the top and doing so at full power is a killer. While it doesn’t look it, the hill is steep. It didn’t take long to get to the top. But sprinting up it killed my legs. They felt like they were on fire. My heart was thundering in my ears and I sucking in air.

But I got to the top without stopping. But I had to stop when I got there. I bent over, my legs shaking, and caught my breath. But that was OK. The view from the top is amazing and almost killing myself was worth it.

My run back to Main Post was a little more leisurely.

The second was running Caisson Hill Rd. it started next to the hospital and seems to go up a good angle. This was not a sprint to the top. It was a leisurely, nonstop run. I think it looks steeper than it really is, but I might be wrong. I got to the top then came down Williston Point Rd to Huebner Rd and back to main post. That was a real good run and I enjoyed it.

So, in answer to the question, What makes Exercise fun?

Challenging yourself. Pushing the envelope. Attempting the impossible.

It proves you’re alive!