SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Maybe you've heard of the DEKA FIT World Championships. And just in case you haven't, they're one of the most rigorous, strenuous, and physically tough competitions on earth.
In fact, this is a competition that would be difficult for some of the best well-conditioned athletes around. But for Sacramento's John Walker, he's up for the challenge.
The soon-to-be 68-year-old started his athletic endeavors in 1983, entering races as an amateur cyclist. He continued cycling through 1990 when, in his early 30s, he started swimming with Masters swim teams. During that period he tried two Olympic distance triathlons.
After taking some time off to focus on his family, around 2022, Walker joined the Fleet Feet Trail Heads running group where he heard about Sacramento DEKA FIT.
"I like the challenge. That's the main thing," said Walker. "I love the training. I love the camaraderie. It's such a supportive environment."
And now, he's training for the DEKA FIT World Championships. This race consists of 10 different 500-meter runs and 10 different zones. Every zone consists of a different challenge like rowing, biking, burpees, and medicine ball sit-ups.
"It's setting a goal, training toward it, and doing the best I can. And just going is great. I'll see how I do. No high expectations," said Walker.
The Championships will be held in Dallas, Texas, and starts on December 1st.
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