Students, veterans and community members will take to the Slippery Elm Trail on March 21 for Bowling Green State University Army ROTC’s fourth annual Norwegian Foot March, an internationally recognized endurance event that challenges participants both physically and mentally.
The march begins at the Slippery Elm Trail, located at 515 Sand Ridge Rd. in Bowling Green, with participants stepping off at 8 a.m.
The Norwegian Foot March requires participants to complete an 18.6-mile ruck march while carrying a minimum of 25 pounds within a strict time limit. For most college-aged participants, the standard is four hours and 30 minutes for men and four hours and 50 minutes for women, though the time standard varies by age group.
The event originates from the Norwegian Army, where soldiers historically completed long-distance marches between cities while carrying their equipment. Today, the tradition has expanded internationally, with military units and organizations hosting the challenge to test endurance and honor the military heritage behind it.
Cadet Trey Williams, a senior nursing major and one of the organizers of the event, said the march is designed to push participants both physically and mentally.
“The Norwegian Foot March is 18.6 miles with a 25-pound rucksack that has to be completed within a set time limit,” Williams said. “It’s physically demanding, but it’s also something that really pushes people to test themselves.”
Beyond the physical challenge, Williams said the event also provides ROTC cadets with the opportunity to gain leadership and planning experience.
“It’s a good opportunity for us as students to plan an operation and organize everything ourselves,” Williams said. “We coordinate permits, parking, logistics and participants coming from different places.”
This year’s event quickly reached its registration limit of 200 participants. According to organizers, participants are traveling from several states including Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Kentucky, Virginia and Tennessee. The event is open not only to ROTC cadets but also to veterans and members of the surrounding community.
One of the reasons the march continues to attract participants is the opportunity to earn a foreign military badge authorized for wear on U.S. Army uniforms.
“It’s something a lot of people aspire to do because you earn a foreign military badge,” Williams said. “But it’s also about testing yourself and seeing what you’re capable of.”
Preparing for the march requires both physical and mental readiness. Participants are encouraged to train through running and rucking, while also focusing on hydration, nutrition and proper foot care.
“Taking care of yourself physically and mentally is huge,” Williams said. “If people don’t fuel themselves properly or prepare, they may not be able to finish.”
Cadet Dominic Morano, a senior criminal justice major and member of the Ohio National Guard, said the event also brings people together from different backgrounds.
“It’s a good way to meet people from different schools and push yourself with people you wouldn’t normally train with,” Morano said.
“There’s always good camaraderie,” Morano said. “People meet others from different schools and veterans from other areas.”
For organizers, the march represents more than just a test of endurance.
“It proves to yourself that you can do hard things,” Williams said.
