by William Nadeau

Created on: August 27, 2009   Last Updated: August 29, 2009

Gasoline just is too expensive for anyone who has hauled it as a trucker to find it easy to purchase. It's just that not every former long haul trucker has any Marine Corps training and theater experience like myself. That way picking up on jogging for them isn't as easy as it was for me this summer.

The Marine Corps required all of us enlisted men to be able to easily jog three miles, and while on active duty I was young enough to jog at least three miles every day. That allowed me to get off base and drink as much beer as a Corperal could afford and never fall behind formation when our commander took the whole company out for a three mile jog. It even allowed me to pass every physical fitness test and never got me restricted on base.

It probably helped me way back then while in my early twenties that I had been raised up against the Rocky Mountains and was stationed in Hawaii. The higher altitude and the fact that I never smoked helped my lungs provide my body enough oxygen to keep up with others no matter what their pace was. In this day and age I have had the tiny bit of good luck that allowed me to purchase a home in a higher altitude. It's also a good thing the only tobacco I was addicted to was snuff.

Now it's time to point out the theatrical skill that can make jogging easy for anyone as it did for me on active duty. I had majored in theater arts before enlisting into the Marine Corps. As a student I was taught how an actor or actress could get into the character properly. It is a bit of theater yoga wher one puts their hands behind their neck and slowly bends over frorward. While doing so one should visualize an animal. One that tends to act as their character should in any situation. If you are to be some sort of violent bad guy you might pick out a beast like a lion or whatever other acts like that.

In order to get ready to jog it helps me to visualize a horse or mule. That way my mind can take the pace just ike they would trot. My whole character becomes just like the one that gets them loping into the barn for some grain or plain hay. Visualization helps me when I start to feel worn out as I jog. I visualize the back of a horse's neck and head. That makes me be able to take my pace just like I would the mare's trot. At least in this final case I've moved up from pure beast into a wild west cowboy to keep from walking. Good luck in your jog and don't get bitten by any rattle snake as you make it along.

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