Nijmegen Four Days Marches

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 09 Oct 2014 08:07:51 -0400

I am wanting to possibly participate in the Nijmegen next year. I already have somewhat of a training plan that I will be starting here very soon. If you have participated in the Nijmegen, did you do it as part of a unit team or individually? I would like to see about getting a team together from my unit. Anyone information concerning the Nijmegen would be helpful.

Response by SGT Richard H. made Oct 9 at 2014 8:37 AM

SGT Richard H. — Thu, 09 Oct 2014 08:37:51 -0400

I did it in 1989 (I think that was the year) with a team. It was a pretty fun experience. Lots of folks drop out without completing the full 4 days, though none of my team did. You aren't timed like a road march or anything, so the distances are not that hard if you can road march. Just prepare like any other road march. Comfortable footwear including socks is a must, like any march. Energy bars/gels would probably be something you'd find useful. Just have fun and go for it. 200k in 4 days isn't really all that hard when you aren't heavily laden and doing it for time.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 10 at 2014 2:45 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 10 Oct 2014 02:45:56 -0400

I just did it last year. We are planning in doing it again this up coming year. We did it s a civilian team because we missed the registration for the military teams. It was a lot of fun. We had to do the 4 x 50 km because of being a civilian team but the military teams do 4 x 40 km.

Response by CW2(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 10 at 2014 8:12 PM

CW2(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 10 Oct 2014 20:12:48 -0400

Everyone I know who has participated in the Nijmegen has nothing but good things to say about it. My old squad leader who always struggled with ruck marches did it with no issues. I recommend working your way up to that distance instead of going in with very little training.

Response by MSG Bobby Ewing made Mar 17 at 2017 9:36 AM

MSG Bobby Ewing — Fri, 17 Mar 2017 09:36:47 -0400

Just saw this post. I know it's late. Did you ever participate in the Nijmegen March?

Response by SPC West Coleman made Mar 1 at 2021 1:19 AM

SPC West Coleman — Mon, 01 Mar 2021 01:19:58 -0500

I did it in 1979 as part of the 21st Support Command Team. We were in dedicated training from late April or the first of May through the event in late July. Our Team Leader did all the training planning, which was hard, painful, and fun. We went rappelling; once marched from Turley Barracks in the city of Mannheim out to Coleman Barracks then took a Chinook chopper to Heidelberg and marched back to Turley Barracks in Mannheim. That was about a 37-40 mile day. I suffered a compound blister on one heel and stress fractures on my other foot. I wouldn’t trade the experience of training for and marching in the Nijmegen March for anything. It’s like winning an Olympic Gold Medal or the Super Bowl. When you do it Military Style with a 35 pound pack on your back, you will have accomplished something which makes you among the best of the best. No matter what else happens in your life, you will know you were one of the very best in the entire world at one point in your life.