Page 68 - The Royal Lancers Chapka 2018

66 REGIMENTAL JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL LANCERS (QUEEN ELIZABETHS’ OWN)
One of the many ways those deployed on Operation TOSCA took on the opportunity and challenge of living in the ex- treme heat was a flourishing endurance running community. It was found to be a great way to get fit, see the more remote parts of the country and to find out just how far your body could go.
This all culminated in an Ultra Marathon event in the Troodos Mountains. Second Lieutenant Free particularly shone coming second in the 50 kilometre event, despite doing his favourite Bambi on ice impression and falling over multiple times. He ended up covered in blood, looking like a cross between a Zom- bie from a post-apocalyptic world and Just William. There were also other distances with Lancer representation. The 25 kilome- tre event had a particularly gruesome run in with the final 10 kilometres being all uphill and with a climb of 3,000 feet. On finishing, both Lieutenant Woodward and Sergeant Short were in strong agreement that this would be their last mountain race as well as their first. In the 10 kilometre race Sergeants Ward and Younger put in some great work to complete their determinedly perused milestones set earlier in the tour.
Another seminal event was Run the Buffer Zone. 14 keen par- ticipants got up at the crack of dawn to run the 30 kilometres of Sector 2. Many were putting themselves hugely out of their comfort zones and there were some heroic performances. It was a great day and an honourable mention must go to Captain Anani- Isaac for organising it and Staff Sergeant Baldwin and his team in giving up their day off to volunteer to make it all happen. Alongside the sister event, Ride the Buffer Zone, it was a won- derful way to see our area of responsibility.
Crowds descend to cheer Team Lancer in the Troodos
These great achievements were all set on a bed rock of the train- ing happening week in and week out in Nicosia. The endless miles on the canal path, dodging cat-poo and weaving in and out of power-walking Cypriot grandmothers all thankfully paid div- idends in the end. Corporal Collins was the beating heart of this community, organising training locally as well as further afield. Many, many people enjoyed themselves running and walking on the trails of Troodos Mountains at the weekends (including those who swore they would not); if only to enjoy a 10 degree drop in temperature. The author knows for certain that endur- ance running has at least one more lifetime addict off the back of Operation TOSCA, and hopefully many more.
CNGH
Endurance Running
Buffer Zone runners and equally sweaty support team