The 4 day march of Nijmegan, has anyone attempted it, completed it?

2015-07-09T12:55:23-04:00

The 4 day march of Nijmegen is tough challenge. 40 to 50 KM a day (40 if you are marching, 50 if you walk, marchers carry a 20 KG pack). I did it in 1991 with the Dutch Missile Artillery BN I was assigned to work with. On our first day of practice 4 months before the march started, we started with 15 soldiers, on the day of our qualification march we were down to 4. We finished the march with 2 (Lesson learned: Artillery people make terrible long distance on step road marchers). For the Dutch Military it is a competition, which is rated by several factors, how many people you lose, how well you do overall every day. We took a 3rd on day 1, 1st on day 2, and 2nd on day 4, and 5th on day 4. Our pace was just shy of a double time. Overall I think we finished 10th (lost too many people cost us). Has anyone else ever done this or any other march.

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 9 at 2015 12:56 PM

2015-07-09T12:56:33-04:00

That is some dedication for sure. Hats off to the 2 that finished!

Response by SCPO David Lockwood made Jul 9 at 2015 1:04 PM

2015-07-09T13:04:38-04:00

Now that sounds painful!

Response by PO1 Brian Schletty made Jul 9 at 2015 1:54 PM

2015-07-09T13:54:22-04:00

Been there, walked that! It's all in the prep....had a lot of good advice from some Vietnam vets, LRP and Green Beret's helped us out.

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Jul 9 at 2015 2:58 PM

2015-07-09T14:58:07-04:00

All that for a medal you can't wear =) Those feet....

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 9 at 2015 4:36 PM

2015-07-09T16:36:19-04:00

I did a 40mile at my last duty station, hurt but was great, stared with 22, ended with 4... Finished near the end but finishes (got a late start on day 2). Are you looking at building a team?

Response by Sgt Jason Markvart made Jul 15 at 2016 3:40 AM

2016-07-15T03:40:01-04:00

I've marched three times. As a non-active duty participant I've had to register for the 4x50km (200km). My last year I marched it wearing my cammies, at the request of my father, who is also a former Marine and carried the regulation weight of 10KG.

Picture one is me at the hotel on day around 0300.
Picture two is my medal.
Picture three is results. Corpsman had a blast.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 5 at 2018 6:19 PM

2018-11-05T18:19:56-05:00

I did it this year and really appreciated the experience. Truly a global event that is worth the effort. I speak Dutch and enjoy the Benelux so this event was personal and a blast.

You can wear the ribbon but not the cross. I believe Vanguard sells the regulation sized one that we can wear on the ASU.

Doei doei!