Fit as a butcher's dog?

**John Turner** · 11-12-2006, 23:09

What were your most extreme feats of physical endurance in The Army?

When were you at your fittest?

Who is/was the fittest person you know/knew?

If you are no longer serving, how fit are you now? Did you keep the basic fitness up or did you let yourself go to seed?

Nosey git aren't I!

I could mostly keep up with the best of them until you put some serious weight on my back!

Then came S Georgia - oh boy! week long patrols which thankfully started before the whole island was snow and ice (Two thirds so in Summer) I carried the same as anyone else PLUS A SEVENTEEN POUND RADIO!!!

I refused to let anyone swap bergens with me - then the Winter came - if you couldn't ski, you didn't move - I'd never TOUCHED a ski before, but I learned quick! I remember my first ski patrol - I was so shagged out from headplanting and struggling back up with such a huge weight that in the end I walked through a stream in my skis - the water immediately froze - skis would not slide - I COULD WALK AGAIN - albiet like a clown!

God was I fit when I left that place!

Fittest person? Steve Jones 88 - no contest - an animal - I can elaborate! Sadly no longer with us.

Now? Well, when I left I took up cycling - I'd do 20 miles before breakfast every other day, then 80 - 100 miles on a Saturday and 40 - 50 on the Sunday- just to loosen up from the Saturday ride - that was late Spring to Mid Autumn - between that I'd go mountain biking - well 'off road' it's flat as a witch's ti t around here - I'd get home covered in liquid cow **** usually!

Then I started working for myself - anyone wanna buy a road bike worth a grand in its day and a mountain bike worth 3? (We used to own a bike shop BTW!)

But I'm always on my feet and occasionaly jump on me bikes - constantly biting off more than I can now chew - get half way - realise I'm blown out and struggle back on empty.

rolli25 · 11-12-2006, 23:20

No one who knows me is going to buy this one but it was Ex Highland Harrier over the Brecon Beacons I had to follow the Platoon Commanders from Sandhusrts in their final exercise being pack man to a Colonel Commandant from Tactics Wing Warminster. I couldnt believe it when they came across a rive crossing one toe in to check if it was wet!!!
when we got back the poor boys were so tired that they emptied their mags via their rifle
safety catch off BANG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My best BFT was 8:15 Ray Williamns was PTI in Lemgo and we only went as far as the PUB. For those of you that know the BFT line was at least a quarter of a mile further.
Lenny took a short cut through the houses and came throughthe gate in about 10 minutes flat too bloody obvious Len

**Thom15** · 12-12-2006, 03:10

I was exteremely fit in Hong Kong, worked out with the rugby team, swimming nearly every day, running everywhere. I remember an exercise on Lantau Island (spelling?) with D coy. We got dropped off by the Navy, like the D Day landings, in the water about 30 or so yards out. As we jumped into the water a Navy lad said " we could have put you straight on the beach but your officers wanted you in the water" Anyway at the end of the exercise I had my rifle, pack and had picked up a radio, GPMG and another guys pack. You could not tell it was me under all that stuff.
Once out of the army I became a Sports Leader with the Hampshire Probation Service and took clients out to try different sports every day. So a typical day could be - two hours of squash, two hours of badminton, an hours swim and a couple of hours in the gym pumping iron. With just a couple of breaks in between. Boy that gets you fit. I was built like a 5' 6" Arnie (I'll be bach)
Was very fit until a heart attack caught up with me whilst in the middle of an ice hockey game in 99 (Canada). It all boiled down to my families bad genes and could well have been the end of me if I had not been so fit. So unfortunately I have had to slow down but still stay healthy playing golf.

Smokeyjoe · 12-12-2006, 15:33

Fit is not a word that descripes me now or when I was serving, I moved when I had to and the only sporting claim to fame was that I won the biggest splash competion in Belize on St Davids Day.
I have not changed since leaving the Regiment and reading about everyone else's exploits makes me want to lie down, well it is that time of year after all.
Regards,
Joe.

**BennytheBall** · 12-12-2006, 16:35

John
Eifin Richards ex PTI from N Wales, he was married to the landlords daughter who had the RAM pub in Tidworth, she used to ride her horses over Salisbury Plain and Eifin used to out run them, now that's fit
Benny the Ball

**BennytheBall** · 12-12-2006, 16:40

Or these was WO2 Kieran Hogan with the 3rd Bn RWF in Wrexham, he was an ardent Welsh 1000 runner and when he used to training running up Snowdon he used to beast his spaniel dog up there with him, one weekend the dog had enough, keeled over and died. Sadly, Kieran got killed in a cycle accident some years back 10 mins from his house.

Benny the Ball

**Thom15** · 12-12-2006, 18:17

Benny,
I've bumped into E Richards in Andover High St. several times when I've been over to the UK He still runs and looks as fit as a fiddle.
Dil

**dai hood** · 12-12-2006, 19:18

Benny,I knew keiron I did the cambrian patrol with him in 1986 good bloke

Griff65 · 15-12-2006, 22:18

when i was in around about 6 years ago, i had the battalion record for the bft at 7.20 its used to make shan hackney cringe whe he was running it with me evey run-'race' we done he could never come anywhere near me any mr hackney no hard feelings........eh me old china!..... i will always remember the battalion runs in chepstow when 'fergire' used to look at me and the expression his face was enough has if to say how did you get there when you started at the back ????

**Barry69** · 19-12-2006, 14:36

The only time I finished in the top ten on the Bn run was in Brawdy when they did an staggered start allowing for age groups I finished first with wellies behind me in second place needless to say they did not place the top ten on PT Ones that week just my look aye?

I normaly came in around 10 min when I left in 98 for well behind the whippets, and not in the class of Eifin the horse chaser whom I do remeber from those Tidworth Days

Oh yer and yes I still run today 3 times a week only a few Ks and it does takes some motavating some days?