Post by Frenchie on Aug 29, 2009 11:38:11 GMT 1
An RAF Flight Lieutenant is using his spare time while deployed to Afghanistan to train for the Ironman World Championships taking place in November, soon after he gets home.
Flight Lieutenant Andy Reardon serves in NATO's Regional Command for the south of Afghanistan, based in Kandahar.
His role is to help co-ordinate the hundreds of military aircraft responsible for supporting British and coalition troops battling the insurgency.
But when he is not in his office he spends much of his time running around NATO's huge Kandahar Airfield or training in the gym.
He is the RAF's reigning duathlon champion and, although he was unable to defend his title as the RAF's top triathlete as he was already deployed to Afghanistan, he is determined to do well in the upcoming Ironman World Championships. He said:
"I'm hoping to reach the top ten, but that depends upon how well I can train out here."
Unfortunately, one area he is unable to train for, which is a vital part of an ironman triathlon, is swimming.
Flt Lt Reardon said:
"The hot and incredibly dry climate has changed how I train; I can't swim, so I have to make sure I work on the right muscle groups in the gym. I also have to be careful about when I run, because the daytime temperatures can rise to nearly 50C."
Flt Lt Reardon joined the RAF in 1997 and soon found himself flying high in Tornado strike aircraft as a navigator. He has already seen service in Afghanistan, as well as in Iraq, Canada and the USA, while his sporting talent has taken him to Cyprus and Lanzarote.
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Flight Lieutenant Andy Reardon serves in NATO's Regional Command for the south of Afghanistan, based in Kandahar.
His role is to help co-ordinate the hundreds of military aircraft responsible for supporting British and coalition troops battling the insurgency.
But when he is not in his office he spends much of his time running around NATO's huge Kandahar Airfield or training in the gym.
He is the RAF's reigning duathlon champion and, although he was unable to defend his title as the RAF's top triathlete as he was already deployed to Afghanistan, he is determined to do well in the upcoming Ironman World Championships. He said:
"I'm hoping to reach the top ten, but that depends upon how well I can train out here."
Unfortunately, one area he is unable to train for, which is a vital part of an ironman triathlon, is swimming.
Flt Lt Reardon said:
"The hot and incredibly dry climate has changed how I train; I can't swim, so I have to make sure I work on the right muscle groups in the gym. I also have to be careful about when I run, because the daytime temperatures can rise to nearly 50C."
Flt Lt Reardon joined the RAF in 1997 and soon found himself flying high in Tornado strike aircraft as a navigator. He has already seen service in Afghanistan, as well as in Iraq, Canada and the USA, while his sporting talent has taken him to Cyprus and Lanzarote.
More >>