By Dustin Senger
Area Support Group - Qatar
CAMP AS SAYLIYAH, Qatar - U.S. Army 1st Sgt. Donald Williams, from Houston, Texas, completed a two-month endurance challenge at Camp As Sayliyah, Qatar, Dec. 13. The 357-mile fitness event simulated running from Qatar to Kuwait, by adding up distances completed on indoor treadmills, from Nov. 1 to Dec. 31. Williams, one of almost 70 to take on the challenge, was first to finish the massive test of stamina.
"Finally," said Williams after completing the race. "I never thought I would get there. I was only hoping for 250 miles. But after going 250, what's another 100 miles?" Participants in the competition were separated into four age brackets: 20-29, 30-39, 40-49 and 50 and over. Williams, 44, won the overall.
"I usually ran five to seven miles, twice a day," said Williams. "A younger person could do more but anyone in their 40's should stay under 10 miles in any one session. Otherwise you're flirting with danger."
"The race forces you to adhere to proper nutrition," said Williams. "I lost 18 pounds before I started to get some weight back. I started eating four times per day to keep from seeing stars. People using this challenge to lose weight probably won't make it to Kuwait, by Dec. 31. If you don't eat right, you'll feel it. Also, the race builds confidence. Like long road marches, sometimes you have to rest, but you always get back up and keep going."
"The hardest part is staying motivated," said 2nd Lt. John Santos, from Carson, Calif. "Sometimes I feel like a hamster running in circles; going nowhere while watching re-runs of football games and 1980's music videos on the televisions. I'd rather run under the desert sun than on these machines." Santos is trailing 130 miles behind Williams in second place for all age groups. He intends pass the 357-mile finish line, by Dec. 31.
"I am back in the rhythm of running about 10 miles each day," said Santos. "My highest so far was 25 miles; although, I have never taken the 'run' part literally. I did that in two-and-half hours. I found out these treadmills restart themselves after 60 minutes," he said, smirking at the thought.
"It's hard to run this much without anything to reach for - so this gives us a goal at least. It is improving my run time outside by allowing me to focus on my form, since I don't have to worry about tripping over rocks or anything."
A similar event is scheduled soon, using a combination of treadmill and outdoor running, but the winner of the race to Kuwait challenge already has his attention set on something else.
"I am going to start training for the powerlifting competition in March," said Williams. "I want to demonstrate a 500-pound bench press." Most people would shun the thought, but not Williams. He has accomplished the impressive lift several times in the past. In October 2007, he did it while weighing 205 pounds.
"It's important to break things up to stay in shape between annual physical training tests," said Williams. "If I can do all this at 44 years old, then anyone younger than me can do it too."