Inspiring Story – Cole DeRosa Runs Across America

In May, Cole DeRosa (53) along with eleven other U.S. military Veterans will attempt a world record. Representing Team Red, White & Blue (Team RWB) they will run the first-ever Old Glory Ultra Relay. This 3,000-mile cross-country relay will see the Veterans carry a single American flag while running 7-8 minute miles nonstop from San Diego, Ca., to Washington, D.C. 

Cole is currently ranked as #1 in the top age group for Spartan Racing, which combines long distance running with obstacle courses and launching a second career as a personal trainer.

We caught up with him as he prepares for the relay, to talk about strengthening your competitive edge as an older adult and life after 29 years of active military service. 

How did competitive sports help you transition out of life in the military?
I think you have to find what makes you passionate or something you’ve always wanted to do. Maybe it’s volunteering or a hobby like woodworking. For me, working out twice a day means I have set structure, because now I need to plan how I’m going to eat, how I’m going to recover for the next race, etc. 

What’s great about the military is that as you’re transitioning out, there’s a lot of different communities to help you find your next chapter and realize how you can still have purpose. Team Red, White & Blue is great at helping veterans find that next step. They even gave me a scholarship to become a certified personal trainer. 

You’re a three-time age group Spartan Racing world champion. What technology are you using to support your fitness goals?
The Oura Ring is one of the best things you can have to track your athleticism. The next one is a smartwatch (I have a Garmin). The great thing is you can synch them so you’re not dealing with multiple platforms, just a one-stop app. 

The other one is Fitbit, which is a sponsor of the Old Glory Ultra Relay. So now I’m wearing that too because it is going to be tracking our progress across the country. 

Tell me about the Old Glory Ultra Relay! It’s mind-blowing what you’re aiming to accomplish.
We’ll be running 3,000+ miles, over approximately 15 and a half days to set a world record of the first transcontinental flag moving continuously. The flag never stops – day or night, through the rain, it never stops. It’s three teams of four veterans each, working in 8-hour shifts. That means each person on my team needs to run 16 to 17 miles every single day in approximately 2 hours, carrying the flag.  

The other goal of the relay is to raise $1 million to help enrich Veterans’ lives through health and wellness. We see a lot of things in the media about Veteran PTSD and the suicide rate. We have an image of the broken Veteran, but for Team RWB, the mission is yes, we need to focus on getting benefits to our veterans who are wounded in different ways. But there are still very capable veterans out there who can lead America out of this health crisis. 

And on my team of four, our combined ages is over 205 years old and that’s pretty cool. We’re embracing the older team age. We have adaptability – we have life perspective. 

Any words of inspiration for other aspiring older adult athletes?
I would tell anyone older, just be consistent in what you’re doing. Even if you don’t aspire to be a high-level athlete, start something. If you’re already working out, try the next step. And before you know it, you’re going to be a much healthier version of yourself. Keep it small, keep it consistent. 

Stop saying I can’t do that because I’m old. I’m not a collegiate runner; I’m your average guy! When I started Spartan in 2015, I was in the back of the pack. I had no podiums. Now I have over 180 podiums. You can still have these amazing big goals at a later age. I’m not letting age define me, I’m defining age. 

What does Aging with Attitude (Senior Planet’s motto) mean to you?
You have to embrace it. Being older gives us a lot of valuable things. But we’re in a digital world and it needs to be embraced too. In the military, we have a term: “Always improve your fighting position.” And really that means keep learning and stay hungry. 

To follow the progress of the Old Glory Ultra Relay, follow their page on Instagram and visit their website. 

Pam Hugi is Senior Planet’s Community and Advocacy Manager. Based in Brooklyn, she is a contributing writer for this site.