Walking with Purpose: Preparing for the Nijmegen Four-Day Marches

Each year, Canadian Armed Forces members take on a unique challenge. The Nijmegen Four-Day Marches in the Netherlands draw military teams and civilians from around the world for a demanding test of endurance, resilience, and remembrance. But long before the crowds, medals, and final steps across the Via Gladiola, there is the quiet, steady work of preparation.

For the Canadian military teams, this phase is where the true journey begins. Months of training walks, planning, and shared commitment shape the foundation of what becomes more than just a physical feat. It becomes a mission filled with purpose, camaraderie, and deeply personal meaning.

"We all have different reasons for being here, but we move forward together"

The march is a team event, but the reasons for joining are deeply individual. Some marchers are drawn by heritage and remembrance, others by the challenge. Many simply seek a new goal that gives structure to their days. One participant shared, "I joined because I wanted to push myself, but also because this event is deeply tied to remembrance. My grandfather served during the war, and walking through those same landscapes feels like a tribute." A team captain added, "Our team reflects the full diversity of the CAF. Different trades, ages, backgrounds. But the moment we start training, that diversity becomes our strength."

The preparation phase brings those different motivations into a common rhythm. Whether someone is new to long-distance marching or returning for another round, each step taken during training becomes part of something larger.

"This is the one thing I'm doing just for me this year"

For some, this journey is about reclaiming space for themselves. With demanding schedules and high-pressure environments, military life can leave little room for personal reflection. The Nijmegen training gives many members a rare opportunity to reconnect with their physical health, mental clarity, and personal goals. "This training gave me a reason to get outside, to move my body, to feel strong again," said one marcher. "I needed that." Others echoed that sentiment. Whether coming back from injury, adjusting to a new role, or just trying to rebuild good habits, the structure of Nijmegen preparation provides a strong anchor. "It’s easy to lose sight of yourself with so much going on. This gave me something of my own to work toward."

That sense of personal achievement doesn’t come without compromise though. Balancing family responsibilities while dedicating hours to long-distance walks has been a challenge for many, requiring careful coordination at home.

This is where Personnel Support Programs (PSP) has stepped in to make a difference. PSP staff support CAF members through tailored training plans, informative sessions on nutrition, hydration, recommendations for certain equipment, and guidance for injury prevention and recovery. Additionally, PSP led local weekly walking groups to help participants build mileage and morale, while also encouraging them to explore and enjoy the surrounding areas in a group setting.

"I didn't know anyone when I started, now we're a unit"

The march requires more than individual endurance. It demands cohesion. Teams train and qualify together, building trust and accountability with every step. "I expected the physical challenge," said one team member. "What I didn’t expect was how quickly we’d bond. There’s something about walking 20, 30, even 40 kilometers beside someone that strips away rank and title. You get to know people deeply." Captains play a critical role during this phase. Not just organizing routes and logistics but shaping team culture. "I see my role as creating an environment where everyone feels like they belong," said one captain. "This isn't about who’s the fastest. It’s about who shows up, who supports their teammates, and who brings heart."

For members posted in remote communities, much of the training happens solo, but platforms like Strava help them stay virtually connected and motivated alongside their teammates.

The team dynamic becomes a source of strength. On long training walks, it is the shared conversations, songs, and small acts of encouragement that push people through when their legs grow tired.

"The training forces you to slow down and reflect"

Unlike most military physical training, Nijmegen is built around walking. That simple act, repeated over hours and days, becomes surprisingly profound. "You’re just out there for hours. No phones, no emails, no distractions," said a team member. "It gave me space to think. About what I want, where I’m going, what I’ve been carrying." Many marchers spoke about the mental clarity that came with distance. "Some of the most meaningful parts of this experience so far have happened on those long, quiet stretches of trail. It’s not just about fitness. It’s about clearing out the noise."

"We’re not just training for ourselves. We’re carrying the legacy forward"

The Four-Day Marches have deep military roots. For Canadian participants, the event is tied to remembrance and the legacy of those who served before them. That weight is felt in every step. "One of our first training walks was held in silence, in honour of a fallen comrade," said a team lead. "That walk changed how I saw the rest of the training. Every blister, every sore muscle, it all has context." For returning marchers, the emotional weight is familiar. "There’s a long line of CAF members who’ve done this before us. We’re walking in their footsteps. That makes you stand a little taller and push a little harder."

Preparation includes learning about the history of the march, understanding the memorial aspects of the event, and dedicating the effort to something larger than individual achievement.

"This isn't just training. It's a privilege"

The final confirmation event, La Marche Internationale de Diekirch in Luxembourg, provided the ultimate test. Members had to walk 80 km over the weekend, a good show of the capacity that was built over months of training, equating to half of the distance that will need to be completed during Nijmegen. Unlike the flat terrain expected in Nijmegen, Diekirch challenged participants with steep elevation changes and tough hills, all compounded by an intense early-summer heatwave that pushed resilience and preparation to the limit.

There is no illusion about the difficulty of the Nijmegen training. It takes time, discipline, and resilience. But it also creates a unique kind of reward. Each participant brings a different why to the journey. Some are looking to reconnect with their physical strength. Others seek remembrance, pride, or renewal. All of them find something along the way. "This experience has been a reset," said one member. "Mentally, physically, even spiritually." Another added, "It’s easy to feel isolated or burned out. But training for Nijmegen has reminded me what it feels like to be part of something bigger."

In a world that moves quickly, with constant demands on attention and energy, there is something powerful in the simple, steady rhythm of walking forward together. The preparation phase is not just a lead-up to the main event. It is the foundation. It is where the meaning is built. And it is where a group of individuals becomes a team, ready to represent Canada, remember the past, and carry their shared purpose all the way to Nijmegen. Canada is here. Strong and proud.

Acknowledgement:

This article features reflections from 15 CAF members across Formation Europe. Their experiences, supported by PSP’s guidance and community-based training efforts, speak to the resilience and camaraderie behind every step toward Nijmegen.

Together, this multi-layered preparation effort ensures that whether participants are walking solo or side-by-side, they are building toward something greater: personal achievement, team unity, and national pride.