40 miles on 40th birthday

Running 40 miles and doing 400 sit-ups, 400 push-ups and 400 pull-ups may seem a little extreme, but one local man devoted 12 straight hours to accomplish the exhausting feat.

Jason McCutcheon, who turned 40 on Tuesday, decided he wanted to complete such an extreme level of exercise on his birthday to demonstrate how getting older can be positive.

The Yuma Sun caught up with McCutcheon as he was reaching the end of his adventure to ask how he was doing and why he was undertaking this strenuous experience. He was so focused he didn't even get off of the treadmill for the interview.

"This is the top of the hill, but it's going to get better," McCutcheon said. "Health is something that is a lifelong pursuit, so I am going to push the edge and push how far I can go. Now I know I can do this, so I’ll keep going."

McCutcheon started his trek at about 2 a.m. and was still going strong when he was interviewed at 1 p.m. He began his day by running outside, then finished up at the YMCA.

"I’ve been real careful about checking myself to make sure I am not going to injure myself. That is why I am finishing up at YMCA, so if there is a problem I can just quit and be done in a safe environment and not be out in Wellton or someplace like that and be stuck with a blown knee."

McCutcheon is a welding teacher at Yuma High School and moved to Yuma about seven years ago. He said he has always enjoyed leading an active life.

"I am always doing push-ups, pull-ups and sit-ups. I also like to do a little bit of rock climbing, mountain climbing and kayaking. If my body can move, I want to do it. I don't sit very well."

McCutcheon said he needs to always be doing something constructive.

"I focus my energy, I can sit and read a book for hours if it is a good book or if I need to study for my classes, but just to sit idly and watch TV doesn't work. It is not my thing. If we have meetings at work, I’ll stand if possible. I don’t have a chair at my desk, because it is the little things that make the difference in your fitness."

McCutcheon said his naturally active lifestyle helped him prepare for the endurance test.

"I’ve been a yoga instructor for about three years, and that is part of my daily practice. I have been going to the Arizona Athletic Club and have been training cross-fit with them. They do super-intense exercises that will get you the fittest you’ve ever been in your life. It's quick, it's intense and it works."

McCutcheon said he chooses to lead a healthy life.

"I have the choice to be fit or fat, weak or strong. As long as I am better than the day before, that is my big goal. That is all it means to be healthy."

McCutcheon said he doesn't see turning 40 as getting old.

"Age is something I’ve earned. I’ve earned this. It's not something that is punishment, it's something you earn and everybody gets what they deserve. If you deserve bad health at 40 then that is what you deserve, but if you deserve good health at 40 that is what you deserve. I’ve earned my 40 years, and I’ll keep on doing it."

McCutcheon said turning 40 is an important achievement.

"It is the midway. Supposedly it's halfway from birth to death. It is a milestone and I think it is a good point to reflect on the past and on the future. I think about what's good and how you build upon it and what's bad and how to fix the bad to make it good."

McCutcheon said turning 40 is just another step in life.

"It's a checkpoint in life and unfortunately I think a lot of people look at it as a negative checkpoint, when it should be a great place to be. You have 40 years of experience and life behind you to build on the next 40 years, and it should be a launching point for the rest of your life."

McCutcheon didn't have much time to eat since he was on the go for most of the day.

"I had two peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, a real small breakfast burrito, a gallon and a half of water, two quarts of Pedialyte and two containers of fresh fruit. I’m feeling a little sloshy on the insides. I am ready for some solid food."

McCutcheon kept up his discipline throughout the day to achieve his goal.

"I kind of flushed my mind and went. If I am worrying about if I am going to make it, or about my knees, or my heart or if I'm thirsty, I am not focusing on what needs to be done.

"The running, for me, is the hardest by far because it is such a long duration. It just keeps going and going. So I just run and keep focused on what is ahead of me one step at a time."

McCutcheon met the goals he had set for himself when all was said and done. When asked what he was going to do afterward, McCutcheon said, "After this I am going to have a turkey sandwich and a beer and take a really cold shower for a long time. Then I'll take a nap."