Running to remember
Lodi police officer headed to West Virginia hike to memorialize Lodi soldier
Lodi Police Captain Chris Jacobson first met Greg and Lori Coumas in 2009 while he was working as a motorcycle patrol officer. Jacobson was approached to participate in a motorized escort for the funeral of their son, Army SPC Kyle Coumas, who was killed in action in Afghanistan on Oct. 21, 2009 when his armored transport vehicle hit an improvised explosive device (IED) on the road.
Jacobson was given the “distinct honor of leading the procession,” for Kyle and his family, and now embarks on a journey to honor the fallen soldier in a new way.
A long-time enthusiast of athletic obstacle courses such as Spartan Race, in which he was introduced to a group of soldiers known as Operation Enduring Warrior. The group participates in Spartan Runs while wearing full military fatigues and gas masks to honor their fallen comrades.
Jacobson was challenged by one member to compete in a three-day, 60-mile hike known as “60 to 60: Ruck to Remember,” with the word “ruck” referring to the specific style of military backpack, or “rucksack,” in which Jacobson and the other participants store enough supplies to last the entire hike.
The trek begins today in Shenandoah, W.V., where Jacobson and the other hikers are inspected to ensure that they have the required gear, which includes plastic glow sticks, a head lamp, food and water (Jacobson is packing the equivalent of 12 pounds worth of water alone), a first aid kit and a foot care kit.
Besides his ruck, weighing between 25-30 pounds, Jacobson will have only the clothing permitted, consisting of a pair of tan cargo pants and a Tshirt issued at the beginning of the march. No additional outer clothing may be worn, regardless of weather conditions. Memorial Day marks the final day of the ordeal, with members of Operation Enduring Warrior donning their gas masks for the final six miles to Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia.
While he never served in the military himself, Jacobson credits the 18 years he spent on Lodi’s SWAT team from 19942012 with instilling in him a deep sense of kinship with, and respect for, those who serve and have served. Despite this, the prospect of walking 60 miles while carrying almost 30 pounds worth of gear was new to Jacobson, necessitating an intense training regimen on his part. Loading his rucksack with 40 pounds worth of weights, Jacobson hiked a 12 mile loop around Lodi multiple times per week, averaging 15 minutes per mile for a total of three and a half hours of walking per training session. He also used these long practice hikes to test out different types of socks, as keeping his feet dry to prevent blisters and fungus is of the utmost importance during a three-day hike, especially when the forecast calls for three days of rain.
Aside from the harsh training, and harsher march, Jacobson paid for everything himself, showing a level of dedication that has not gone unnoticed, particularly by Kyle’s father, Greg, who said that Jacobson’s participation in Ruck to Remember, “clearly displays Chris’ devotion to our military.”
Touching more on his admiration for Jacobson, Greg Coumas said: “People talk a lot about helping veterans, but Chris is literally walking the walk. He is unbelievably selfless to take on this arduous journey in Kyle’s honor.”
Greg and Lori, inspired and touched by Jacobson’s commitment to honoring the memory of a young man whom he’d never met before, decided to plan a trip of there own to Virginia, so that they can support the 28-year veteran officer, and welcome him back when his work is done.