Robins officers join forces in triathlon training Published Jan. 18, 2008 By Holly Birchfield 78th ABW/PA Robins Air Force Base, Ga. -- Two captains at Robins work in different areas but have one goal in common - to complete a triathlon. They plan to tackle the challenge together, a venture which began in November 2007. Brad Douglass, a logistics career broadening officer currently working on the Warner Robins Air Logistics Center's High Velocity Maintenance Team, had grown tired of his usual workout and wanted to try something new. That's when he got the idea for participating in a triathlon. "Actually, I'm tired of running, so I needed to do something to pique my interest and to do something that's a little more exciting than just running around the track," he said. "So, I thought, 'Why not a triathlon?' I still have to run, so that will keep my running up, but I get to throw a couple of other things into it and exercise different parts of the body." Douglass decided to get his friend, Brian Mayer, a career broadening officer in the Future Flexible Acquisition Sustainment Tool Office of the Contracting Directorate, on board with the idea of training for a triathlon. Like Douglass, Mayer had become bored with his fitness routine and the idea of doing a triathlon seemed to be a good way to keep him on track with his exercise goals. The captains plan to try their skill in a YMCA-sponsored triathlon intended for first-timers, in Birmingham, Ala., in May. To stay on target, the friends talk often about their goal and encourage one another to keep pushing toward the contest. "The culminating event in Birmingham and having a friend like Brad who keeps me on track (helps keep me motivated)," Mayer said. Both men have been doing most of their swim training at Robins' base gym and exercising their biking and running skills on base and in the surrounding community. "I tried to come in before the holidays and swim a couple of laps, which I found out to be very, very tough," Douglass said. "So, I'm trying to get my swimming up. Once I (improve), I think the cycling will come pretty easily to me and the running I've been doing off and on for a while now." Mayer said he has worked up to a 3-mile run and an 8-mile biking distance, but he admits he still has a way to go on swimming. "It's really the difficult portion for both of us," Mayer said. "It's aerobically really strenuous on us." The 37-year-old Birmingham native said it's good to have a partner who gives encouragement when the going gets tough. Conquering a triathlon is not something to go into lightly though, as most fitness experts would agree. Jamie Martin, Fitness Program manager at the Health and Wellness Center at Robins, said people should make sure they're ready before they set out on the task. "The first thing they need to do is have a baseline assessment to make sure that they are fit enough to accomplish the triathlon," he said. "Second, they need to make sure that for each activity of the triathlon they have the proper ergonomics. For example, if they're looking at doing a triathlon and they're going to have to run, they want to make sure they have the proper running gait, the proper clothes, shoes, etc." Martin said the same is true with swimming and cycling. Both military and civilians at the base can receive a baseline assessment at the HAWC or Fitness Center. Martin also recommended that people get clearance from their physician before starting any such activity as well. Once a person knows he or she is ready to face the challenge of a triathlon, determination is the driving force to staying on the path to success, Mayer said. "Stick to it," he said. "It is a lot of hard work. It's rewarding as well. It will keep your exercise program in full stride and it gives you a different aspect to working out." Mayer said as for his future with triathlons, he'll have to see how it goes in May before he'll commit to any further competitions of that magnitude.