Seven months ago, I set a goal. I needed a standard to work toward, a reason to stay accountable, and a way to prove to myself that I could still do things I was told might no longer be possible after my surgeries.
Today, I put that work to the test.
I took the Moderate Wildland Firefighter Pack Test: 2 miles, 25 pounds, in 30 minutes. My time? 28 minutes.
That might not sound like much to some people, but this one means something to me.
More than 14 years ago, during my SAR days, I was completing the Arduous Wildland Firefighter Pack Test: 3 miles, 45 pounds, in 45 minutes. I actually carried 55 pounds when I took that test, but who’s counting? 😂
Then life happened. Surgeries, medical challenges, and a long road back forced me to reconsider what was possible.
So I made a plan.
I committed to changing my habits, used this community to hold myself accountable, and put in the work. Over seven months, I lost 40 pounds and worked toward a measurable goal.
And I did it.
But this isn’t just a video about weight loss or a pack test. It’s about something I believe the preparedness community needs to talk about more often:
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WHEN DANGER STRIKES
PHYSICAL FITNESS IS PREPAREDNESS.
We spend countless hours discussing equipment, food storage, communications, shelter, and emergency plans. Those things matter. But when an emergency happens, your body is part of your equipment, too.
Disasters don’t check your fitness level before they arrive. They don’t wait until you’ve recovered from an injury or finally decided to get in shape. And they don’t care whether you’re ready.
That’s why I want to encourage you to find a standard of your own.
It doesn’t have to be a wildland firefighter pack test. It could be a walking goal, a fitness assessment, a strength target, or another measurable benchmark appropriate for your abilities and circumstances.
Establish where you are. Set a realistic goal. Make a plan. Execute it. Then reassess and keep moving forward.
I’m not finished, either. I have another eight pounds I’d like to lose to reach my body-fat goal, and later this year I’m aiming to take on the Arduous Pack Test again.
Goals. Standards. Accountability. Progress.
That’s how we build a better version of ourselves—and become better prepared to help others when things go sideways.
A huge thank-you to everyone who has followed this journey and helped hold me accountable. You played a part in getting me here.
The background track, **“One More Mile,”** was created by Chris Heaven, CEO of Survival Dispatch. It’s a fitting soundtrack for a journey that isn’t over yet. Chris also produced 12 tracks for the *Remnant* series on Substack, so check out his work and explore what he’s creating.
If you’re honey-smack digging the video, leave me a snide remark in the comments section, like, share, subscribe, hit the notification bell, hype the video, and until next time…
Keep fueling those fires.
Emergency waits for no man.
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