No Challenge too Great: Toni’s Story
You know someone is diehard when they join the Zoom interview while riding a stationary bike and sporting a medal.
Coming from a family of service members — her father, uncles, and grandmother all served — Toni Love-Walker always knew she wanted to join the military. Twice in her life, she was told she had missed her shot to serve.
The first time, as a college senior, an ROTC recruiter told her she should have joined sophomore year. The second time — as a caregiver to her husband who was injured in an Apache accident, and drawn to the behavioral health field — she tried to join the Army at the age of 34 and was told she missed the age cutoff.
It was through NASCAR that the Army finally found Toni. At the Coca-Cola 600 in 2009, while signing a waiver for her son to ride in the Apache simulator, she was asked if she’d like to volunteer for the military. She said yes, assuming it was a military spouse volunteering opportunity or for an event in her community.
Two months later a recruiter cold-called her and asked her if she wanted to join the Army Reserves. She was thrilled to learn the age limit had been extended and she could fulfill her lifelong dream. She said, “Hell, yes!” and four months later Toni was in basic training, grinning in cadence to the chow hall at the age of 39.
She felt right at home in the military, helping younger cadets stay positive and motivated during basic training. Her passion for a physical challenge only increased as she served.
In a continuation of that passion, Toni jumped into the Taji 100, a month-long fundraiser and physical fitness challenge to consistently move 100+ miles during the month of February.
She decided to take that challenge to the next level, earning her medal and completing the entire challenge in just two days. A battle buddy throughout this effort — a soldier she worked with at Fort Dix — tackled the challenge in 5 days, and she was on the phone with him when he walked his last mile.
Now, on the final day of the Taji 100, she’s racked up over 1,505 miles by cycling, walking, and rowing, essentially completing the challenge fifteen times. And with a few hours left, her final count will no doubt be higher!
Sounds epic, right? That’s because it is. Get this. She even cycled 500 miles in the 5 days prior to the 1 February Taji 100 kickoff, while taking part in the Army Reserve DEFIT 5 Double Eagle Fitness challenge.
Toni finds motivation in a saying she once heard and lives by: “Take action in the first five seconds, before the thoughts start telling you that you can’t do something.” She encourages others to not limit themselves with fixed, false beliefs about what they can and can’t do.
She has a passion for physically challenging herself and joyfully admits to her love of race medals, which she hangs in her office to continue to motivate and inspire others, especially those younger service members.