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INTRODUCING: NEW BMF RACE TEAM ATHLETE, SHAUN WILDE

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Since launching our very own sponsored race team at the start of the year, we've been on the look out for 3 new members to bring our team of seven up to ten. The British Military Fitness Race Team is made up of some of the leading athletes from across the country, who take part in events such as marathons, triathlons, fell-running, and obstacle course races (OCR) so it would take something a bit special to fill one of the remaining spaces.

Applications have been flooding in from across the country from entrants keen to be part of the highly successful team, and for the past couple of months', athletes have been racing at our RBL Major Series events in the North, South and Midlands to try and claim their place on the team. Our criteria, however, is not just limited to race results, as we want members who have a genuine love of British Military Fitness and will really help spread that love to those they meet in the racing and events world.

For one applicant, the wait is over and without further ado, it's our pleasure to introduce the 8th member of the BMF Race Team, Shaun Wilde. Let's find out more about our new team veteran, currently (Apr '16) sitting in 1st place in the UK OCR Masters League, and 6th in the overall league:

1. Shaun, how long have you been obstacle racing for?
On my 50th birthday in July 2014, I set myself a project that I called my 'Fit@50' project - intending to do one race per month from then until the following July. My first race was the London River Rat race and then I dabbled with a few races through to the end of that year. It got me hooked on OCR and I became fully competitive from Jan 2015, starting with Tough Guy. After a full winter and summer season last year, I competed as the oldest elite at the OCR World Championships (OCRWC).

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2. What made you choose OCR as your challenges?
I joined the Army in 1980, as a 16 year old apprentice in the Royal Signals. I served until I was 32 as a Staff Sergeant, so combining obstacle courses and endurance/trail running very much appealed to me with my military background.

3. What other events do you take part in?
I’m an ex canoe slalom athlete, initially in the Army Team and then throughout my 40's. More recently I have dabbled with mountain and adventure racing, although I now focus on OCR with the odd road and trail race thrown in.

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4. Are your best achievements so far from OCR or canoe?
A little of both, but my most recent achievements were qualifying for the Spartan World Championships (earning the Spartan silver coin) and the OCRWC as an elite racer, and then finishing 64th elite at the OCRWC.

I’m also an ex British veteran champion in Canoe Slalom, and I have a half marathon PB of 1hr18min set in my mid-20’s...and that’s on par with Conor Hancock if I could go back 25 years!

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5. Do you have any particularly memorable race tales?
I have 2 epic DNF’s! The first one was at an early Suffering race. I twisted my knee on the very first obstacle - game over at just 30 metres from the start line!

Another memorable one was in the one race that I nearly won (X Warrior Water Wipe-out). I was so close to the end of the race but I suffered a twist in my...lower region ;-) not only did that mark an end to my podium finish, but I had to be taken away in an ambulance!

6. What made you decide to apply for the BMF Race Team?
I had always admired the team (since they were Team Inov8) and in particular the racers such as Ross and Thomas Blanc. Having transferred from Crossfit to BMF and with my military background, the combination made perfect sense. When BMF advertised for new members, I thought that as one of the best veteran racers on the circuit  I might just be the right fit.

7. So as an avid BMFer, what is it that you love the most about it?
There are 3 core aspects for me; it’s running and cardiovascular development orientated, it’s outside and often muddy, and I can switch parks dependent on where I am - I live in Cheshire (BMF Carrs Park, Wilmslow) and work in London (BMF Hyde Park).

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8. How does BMF fit into your training schedule at the moment?
My typical week is:
Mon – BMF or gym
Tue – Track/speed session (and yoga if at home)
Wed – BMF or gym
Thu – Hill training (and yoga if at home)
Fri – Day off or gym/climbing wall if no race
Sat – Race or tempo/trail run or BMF
Sun – Long run and gym

- 4x run sessions (Speed, hills, tempo/race and long run)
- 2x BMF or gym push sessions
- 2x gym pull sessions focused on grip and obstacle strength
- Regular technical sessions throughout the year at e.g. Toughest Lab, Nuclear course, Nuts course, Doug Spence back yard, etc.
- I’m also a member of the OCR Training Group with Jon Albon etc. online and via Facebook.

9. What are your first impressions of the team?
The main thing is that they’re all friendly and approachable and are all great role models; from Ross, James and Freya as top OCR athletes to David competing in the MdS and appearing on Ultimate Hell Week with Clare Miller. Thomas Blanc inspired me to nail the Flying Monkey and the Salmon Ladder in the Toughest Lab.

10. And finally, what should we expect to see in the year ahead?
My main goal is to reach the podium in my age group at the OCRWC in Canada, then I aim to finish in the top 3 of the UK OCR Masters League, and to win my age group at the UK OCR Championships.

Fantastic stuff Shaun. We look forward to watching you progress with the team...and finding out just how wild Wilde is.

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