rebuildingthroughmiles

Every Mile Counts

The Piestewa Challenge

March 23–29, 2026

When one of my friends invited me to join her team for the 2026 wear blue: Run to Remember Piestewa Challenge, I didn’t hesitate.

Our team, accepted the challenge to collectively complete 250 miles in seven days, symbolically traveling from the Hopi Reservation to the summit of Piestewa Peak in Arizona.

With eight teammates, our goal averaged about 31.5 miles per person.

Im not going to lie, at first, that number sounded intimidating.

I had just recently started running again.

But one of the things I loved about this challenge was that every mile counted. Whether you walked, ran, biked, or completed another form of exercise, your activity could be converted into miles. It wasn’t about being the fastest athlete—it was about showing up consistently.

Throughout the week, I made sure to kept moving.

Some days I walked.

Some days I ran.

Some miles felt easy.

Others required a little more determination.

By the end of the challenge, I had completed 22.5 miles toward our team’s goal.

Was it the full 31.5 miles I had hoped for?

No.

But it was 22.5 miles I wouldn’t have completed a few months earlier.

Progress isn’t measured only by reaching the goal. Sometimes it’s measured by realizing how far you’ve already come.

I had contributed.

I had stayed active.

And I had been part of something bigger than myself.

One of the things I appreciate most about wear blue events is that they’re never just about fitness.

They’re about community.

They’re about honoring those who served and those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

Every mile carries meaning.

Every participant helps move the mission forward.

Looking back now, I didn’t realize this challenge was quietly preparing me for everything that would come next.

Within weeks, I’d be camping at Fort Fisher.

Then tackling my first Spartan Race.

Then spending more and more time on hiking trails.

At the time, these were just miles on a watch.

Now I see they were laying the foundation for a lifestyle that would eventually become Rebuilding Through Miles.

Reflection

One lesson I’ve learned is that progress isn’t always measured by reaching 100 percent of a goal.

Sometimes progress is simply showing up and giving what you can.

I didn’t complete every mile that was assigned to me.

But I completed more miles than I would have if I had never accepted the challenge.

And that’s true for so much of life.

We often focus on what we didn’t finish instead of celebrating how far we’ve come.

This challenge reminded me that every step matters.

Every effort matters.

Every mile counts.

Because rebuilding doesn’t happen in one giant leap.

It happens one mile at a time.

No te rindas!

Adventure Stats

📅 Dates: March 2026
📍 Event: wear blue: Run to Remember Piestewa Challenge
👥 Team: WeAreStrong (8 members)
🎯 Team Goal: 250 miles in 7 days
👣 My Contribution: 22.5 miles
❤️ Favorite Part: Being part of a team working toward a shared goal while honoring our nation’s fallen heroes.
🌿 Lesson Learned: You don’t have to be perfect to make a difference. Every mile you choose to walk, run, or earn through perseverance moves you—and someone else—forward.

Until the next mile,
Shak

Want to learn more about the wear blue: Run to Remember Piestewa Challenge and how you can participate in future events? Check out the official information below.