30 Months In—And Still Moving Forward

I’m 48 years old, and I’ve spent the last 30 months training under weight—literally. Rucks on my back. Sandbags on my shoulders. Trails underfoot. I’ve trained through heat, rain, failure, and breakthroughs. This wasn’t some overnight transformation. It was slow, sometimes frustrating, and often humbling.

And it’s been worth every step.

This journey has taken me through Green Beret Fitness events, the infamous Barkley Fall Classic, and now I’m gearing up for something I only learned about recently—the Backyard Ultra. If you’re reading this wondering if you’re too old, too out of shape, too far behind—you’re not.

If I can do this, you can too. Here’s what worked, what I had to unlearn, and how my training continues to evolve.

 

Where It Started: Heavy Drop Training

I started seriously training with Heavy Drop Training around month six at the recommendation of Gregg after IRON PEAK. Their programming was built for GORUCK-style events—team suffering, military-inspired PT, and long miles under load. It was exactly what I needed at that point in my journey.

I wasn’t worried about being the fastest. I wanted to become durable. And that’s what HDT gave me: the strength and grit to hold up during long hours of effort. Sandbag cleans, ruck PT, bear crawls—every session left a mark, physically and mentally.

Those 18 months built my base. I learned how to show up, even when I didn’t want to. I learned to get comfortable with uncomfortable.

 

Changing Course: Omni Athlete and a New Direction

Eventually, my goals shifted. I wasn’t focused on GORUCK-style events anymore. I wanted to chase things like the Barkley Fall Classic, get deeper into Green Beret Fitness’s solo missions, and eventually take on challenges like the Backyard Ultra, a race format I’d only recently discovered—but immediately connected with.

That shift required a new approach.

I started working with Omni Athlete Training Systems, whose programming is built specific to your goals. This wasn’t just about mileage. It was about training for sustainability. I wanted to move smarter, not just harder.

Here’s how Omni changed the game for me:

• I stopped winging my recovery.
• My ruck mileage became intentional—not just “go long and suffer.”
• I added in structured trail running.
• My sandbag work was tailored for endurance, not just brute strength.

At 48, this is the training I wish I had started with. Not because it’s easy—but because it respects the fact that your body needs to adapt, not just endure.

 

My Biggest Mistake: Skipping Recovery

Let’s talk about what I got wrong.

For a long time, I thought recovery was earned. Like, only if I pushed hard enough did I “deserve” rest. So I trained hard, slept poorly, skipped stretching, and lived in a cycle of soreness and frustration.

Looking back, I wasn’t building strength—I was just digging a deeper hole.

Once I started treating recovery as part of the program—just as important as the training itself—everything started to improve. With Omni, recovery isn’t an afterthought. It’s baked into the weekly structure, and it’s tailored to support high-output work for athletes who aren’t 25 anymore.

Now, I sleep better. My legs bounce back. My mind stays clearer. And I can actually feel the gains instead of limping through them.

 

What’s Working Now (Especially at 48)

This isn’t a training plan, but here’s what’s making the biggest difference for me right now:

• I train for the event in front of me. Green Beret Fitness events are rugged and often weighted. Barkley requires legs that can handle insane climbs. Backyard Ultra will test my mind more than my body. My training reflects all of that.
• Sandbag work is still in the mix—but it’s targeted. No more aimless punishment. I train to maintain durability, not just to survive the next WOD.
• I spend real time on trails. Not just running, but hiking, rucking, practicing movement over technical terrain. That matters more than speed work for the events I’m doing.
• Recovery is non-negotiable. That includes sleep, nutrition, mobility, and even just getting off my feet when needed. At this age, “grinding” without rest is a fast track to burnout.
• I stopped chasing numbers. No one cares what I lifted last week. What matters is that I can show up next month—strong, stable, and consistent.

 

You Can Start This at Any Age

If you’re in your 40s or 50s and thinking about getting into rucking, sandbag work, or even trail racing—it’s not too late. You don’t need to be fast. You don’t need to look the part. You just need to start.

I didn’t grow up doing this. I didn’t have a background in endurance sports. I was just looking for something real—something hard that made me feel alive again.

And I found it. Not in a finish line, but in the process.

You don’t have to do what I’m doing. But if this resonates at all—start small. Pick up a ruck. Walk a few miles. Try a local trail. It builds from there.

The weight on your back becomes part of you. The miles turn into movement. And one day you’ll look up and realize you’re not who you used to be. You’re something more.

 

Final Thoughts

I’ve made mistakes. I’ve overtrained. I’ve under-recovered. I’ve doubted myself more times than I can count.

But I’ve also grown. I’ve shown up for hard miles. I’ve finished events I never thought I could. And I’ve found a version of myself I never knew existed.

Heavy Drop Training gave me a solid foundation.
Omni Athlete Training Systems is helping me move forward—with purpose, sustainability, and clarity.

Green Beret Fitness pushed my limits.
Barkley Fall Classic taught me humility.
And the Backyard Ultra? I just learned about it—but I’m coming for it.

At 48, I’m still getting stronger. Still learning. Still under weight—and still moving.

And you can too.