Miles that connect: Army captain finds readiness, community on Vicenza roads

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VICENZA, Italy - Before much of Vicenza begins its day, U.S. Army Capt. Jordan A. Beagle is often already moving.

Some days, the miles take him through historic streets. Others lead toward rolling hills or along the network of paths surrounding the northern Italian city. Each run is another training session toward his first 26.2-mile race, but for Beagle, the road has become about more than reaching the finish line.

Nearly nine years into his Army career, running has been a constant for Beagle, a public affairs planner assigned to U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), amid changing duty stations, professional demands, and the responsibilities of being a Soldier and father.

"Running is one of the few things that has stayed consistent no matter where the Army has sent me," Beagle said. "I can put on my shoes almost anywhere and work toward becoming a little better than I was the day before."

Beagle grew up competing in basketball, football and other team sports. As his responsibilities increased, finding time for organized sports became more difficult. Running offered something different: competition without a fixed practice schedule, a field or even a teammate.

Over time, what began as another way to maintain fitness became a year-round pursuit. Whether preparing for the Army Fitness Test two-mile run, a 10K or a half marathon, Beagle began measuring progress against his previous performances. A few seconds off a pace or a stronger finish provided another goal to chase.

That competitive drive intensified during an assignment at Fort Riley, Kansas, where Beagle competed in the installation's Big Red Run, which served as a qualifier for the 1st Infantry Division Army Ten-Miler team. He fell short of earning one of the top five positions, but the result gave him a new benchmark.

"Not making the team showed me there was another level I could reach," Beagle said. "Instead of discouraging me, it made me want to train with more purpose. I knew that if I wanted different results, I had to become a different runner."

Eight months ago, a permanent change of station brought Beagle to Vicenza. He quickly discovered his new duty station offered something previous locations had not: rather than driving somewhere to find a safe or uninterrupted route, he could step directly outside and begin training. Connected roads, sidewalks and running paths opened miles of possibilities, while historic streets, trails and the hills surrounding Vicenza transformed the training environment.

"The accessibility here completely changed how I look at training," Beagle said. "You can leave your house and just run. Then you look around and realize you're training in northern Italy. It makes some of those difficult miles feel like a privilege."

Yet access to good roads did not automatically make him faster. As Beagle increased his mileage and set his sights on longer races, he recognized the limitations of always training alone. If he wanted to improve, he needed people who could challenge him.

He found them in the Vicenza Run Club.

The group brings together Soldiers, Department of the Army civilians, spouses, family members and others from across the Vicenza military community for group runs, speed workouts and long-distance training. The runners do not necessarily share the same pace or goal-some are preparing for their first 5K while others have completed multiple marathons. What they share is the willingness to show up and help one another improve.

"Jordan came into the group already motivated, but you can see how training with other runners has pushed him," said Christina Giaretta, sports director for USAG Italy Morale, Welfare and Recreation. "That's one of the best things about this community. Someone may show up trying to improve their own time, but before long they're encouraging the person next to them. You build relationships through the miles."

For Beagle, that meant deliberately running alongside people faster than him.

"You learn quickly that getting better sometimes means putting yourself in a group where you aren't the fastest person," Beagle said. "There are people here who push my pace, but they also share what they've learned. That accountability makes you better, and it creates relationships you probably wouldn't have built otherwise."

Those relationships extend beyond running. Military communities routinely bring together people from different units, career fields and stages of life. A shared run can strip away many of those distinctions; for a few miles, rank and job titles matter less than keeping pace with the person beside you.

That shared effort also mirrors a familiar part of Army life: individual performance often improves when Soldiers have teammates who challenge them and hold them accountable. The discipline Beagle demonstrates on the road is also visible to those who work alongside him.

"What you see in Jordan as a runner is consistent with what you see from him as a leader," said Col. Alex Tignor, director of public affairs for SETAF-AF. "He sets a goal, develops a plan, and stays disciplined enough to follow through. That willingness to keep working when something is difficult matters whether you're training for a marathon or accomplishing an Army mission."

For Beagle, the connection between the two is practical. Long-distance training requires consistency when motivation fades, patience when progress comes slowly, and the willingness to continue when fatigue sets in.

Running also gives him an outlet to manage the competing demands of Army service and family life.

"There are days when everything is competing for your attention," Beagle said. "Running gives me time to clear my head, work through things and come back more focused. The physical fitness matters, but that mental reset is just as valuable to me as a Soldier and a father."

His next test will come at the Venice Marathon. The race will be Beagle's first full marathon, and he has set an ambitious target: maintaining an eight-minute-per-mile pace for all 26.2 miles. Beyond Venice, earning a place on the Army Ten-Miler team remains on his list of goals.

Running gave him a way to explore his new home, and training gave him another way to challenge himself. The Vicenza running community gave him people willing to share those miles.

"The marathon has a finish line, but I don't think running really does," Beagle said. "There is always another goal, another time to beat and another opportunity to improve. That's what keeps me coming back to the road."

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About SETAF-AF

U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) prepares Army forces, executes crisis response, enables strategic competition and strengthens partners to achieve U.S. Army Europe and Africa and U.S. Africa Command campaign objectives.

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