The physical and mental demands of being a Dutch Commando are legendary.
And they should be.
When you’re serving, peak performance isn’t just expected – it’s absolutely essential.
The stakes? Life and death. There’s no higher pressure than that.
But here’s the real challenge: What happens after you hang up the uniform?
Do you embrace the comfort of civilian life, or do you stay true to our motto: “Always Be Ready”?
After my five-year adventure with the Korps Commandotroepen (KCT), I chose the latter.
That was almost 20 years ago.
Full disclosure: There was a period of endless BBQs and wine after moving to Spain.
But 15 extra kilos and constant brain fog quickly reminded me who I really am.
Time to get back to basics (and goodbye, alcohol).
My Current Training at 50:
I train daily (yes, every day, following the 4% rule), cycling through different focuses.
Living in the Pyrenees offers amazing opportunities, but frequent travel means adapting constantly. (And yes, hotel “gyms” sxck at free weights! 😉)
Core Training Pillars:
Running
• Focused 10km runs
• Occasional Spartan Races for extra challenge
• Trail running in the mountains
I’ll do more cardio for an endurance event like the planned Romaniacs Hard Enduro this summer.
Strength Training
• Modified 5×5 routine (adapted for travel)
• Focus on form over heavy lifting
• Progressive overload when possible
Bodyweight Training
• Following Convict Conditioning Principles
• Combat Conditioning routines (check out these 2 programs ;-))
• Kettlebell workouts for functional strength
Boxing
• Ultimate HIIT workout
• Mental sharpness training
• Stress release (Sometimes we all need it!)
The Results?
Am I fit? Yes.
Strong? Yes.
Healthy? Absolutely.
Can you do the same? Certainly, 100%.
All you need to do is give it your priority.
Are there fitter 50-year-olds out there?
Probably! But that’s not the point.
The point is maintaining that SF mindset:
Always ready, always getting better.
That is how you win.
How do you stay ‘Always Ready’?
(And yes, yoga is still on my to-do list… maybe next year! 😉)
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