Keeping the motivation

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Angel Romero
  • 319th Air Refueling Wing
GRAND FORKS AFB, N.D. --  Once a year, all Air Force members must complete the Air Force Fitness Test. Although some test just to achieve 75 percent, there is a small percent of individuals who try and push themselves beyond Air Force standards. I have been stationed here for 2 and a half years. Although it's not what most people consider to be the best place to try and stay fit due to climate issues, it's more than possible to do so.

I work at the base fire department and due to my schedule of working every other day, I spend half of my life there. That makes it pretty difficult to stay fit since there is not a full-sized track. I recently completed my fitness test and scored 100 percent for the fifth time in three years.

At the age of 30, I am hardly feeling young. When I was 23, I qualified for my first track and field Olympic trials. At 27, I qualified for my second Olympic trials. And at the age of 31, I hope to qualify for my third Olympic trials. For me, that is a big motivation, but I would say the biggest motivation is just staying fit.

When I am not at my top fitness level, I don't feel well at all. I know what I am capable of, so when I can't do something, I get upset.

For me, fitness is life. When I run and lift, I feel fast and strong. It's a part of who I am. My motivation is getting everything that I can out of my body. It's about pushing my body to the limit. It's about doing something no one has ever done. It's about setting a mark or standard for other people to shoot for. I am never satisfied with just winning. I want to get the most out of my performances.

I was well aware it was 9 minutes and 48 seconds to max out the points for the fit test. As I circled the track 15 times, I had set my sights on breaking my score from last year: 7 minutes and 29 seconds. This year the goal was 7:18. I crossed the finish line breaking my record with 7:26.

Needless to say, I was a little upset. I had missed my mark by eight seconds. Even though I had just finished doing push-ups and sit-ups not even 30 minutes ago, I didn't want to make excuses. Even at 30, I still like pushing my body to its limits.

I've been married for almost six years, and my wife is pregnant with our second child and also works every other day. So, when I'm off she goes to work, and I take care of our two-year-old son. Staying fit and pushing my body to my absolute limits is tough. But, it's a lot easier running 100 miles a week, weight room eight hours a week, swimming five miles a week, riding 150 miles a week, than it is taking care of my son all day without my wife. So, I am well aware of how hard it is to find time to work out and stay fit. I just make it a priority.