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July
2, 2003 - Glynn
County firefighter Bud Badyna is used to getting some
strange looks when he works out.
Where
most people throw on a pair of shorts, a T- shirt and some
athletic shoes before running three miles around St.
Simons Island, Badyna, 36, dons all his firefighting gear,
complete with boots and helmet, before hitting the beach
to run.
"I
know people are staring at me, wondering what is going on.
I've even had people stop in their cars and offer to give
me a ride to the fire," Badyna said.
Running
under the midday sun in 30 pounds of equipment is all part
of Badyna's fitness routine, which paid off June 19 when
he won the title of Georgia's Toughest Firefighter at the
19th Annual Police and Fire Olympics in Carrollton.
The
honor is nothing new for Badyna, who claimed the title for
four consecutive years between 1996 and 1999.
Badyna
left the fire department in 2000 and was not eligible to
compete until he returned recently.
"The
competition is basically an obstacle course full of
firefighter tactics," Badyna said. "We do it in
full turnout gear."
Competitors
must also wear an air tank during the event.
This
year's win did come as a bit of a surprise, because Badyna
did not spend as much time training and preparing for the
competition as he has in previous years.
"I'm
always extremely competitive, but I was, realistically,
not expecting to win," Badyna said.
Badyna
trains twice a day on a simulated course, with equipment
provided by the county fire department, and on the
Brunswick Fire Department's training tower.
Badyna
beat his closest competitor by a mere three seconds.
Though he was given a medal for his performance, he said
bragging rights are the real reward for being Georgia's
Toughest firefighter.
"We
are just super proud of him," said Glynn County Fire
Chief Carl Johnson, "and we think he has done a great
job representing the department. It's a real honor."
Badyna
is not the only local firefighter giving competitors from
across the state a run for their money.
Brunswick
Fire Chief Lee Stewart has competed in the Georgia Police
and Fire Olympics annually for the past 19 years. He is
the only competitor to participate all 19 years of its
existence, and even more, has won events every year.
At
the competition two weeks ago, Stewart, 50, a longtime
competitive runner, smoked police and firefighters of all
ages in the 1,600-meter race, just under a mile.
He
also placed second in his age group in the 5-kilometer
race, or 3.1 miles.
"The
Georgia Police and Fire Olympics is great because you are
competing against folks in your field: public
safety," said Stewart. "You're rubbing shoulders
with some of the biggest departments in the state, and
it's neat to see how you stack up."
Original
article:
The
Brunswick News: "Fitness
is hot work"
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