News

Reserve pilot-triathlete to compete in Military World Games

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Bryan Hull
  • 446th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
MCCHORD FIELD, Wash. --  Swim, bike, run -repeat. Each sunrise and sunset runs together for Judy Coyle. Squeezing in laps in the pool before work, and running or biking at the end of the day, each second that passes is more precious than the next.

Major Coyle, a 728th Airlift Squadron pilot here, will be representing the U.S. as well as the Air Force as part of the Armed Forces Triathlon Team at the Military World Games Oct. 10, in South Korea.

Like the Olympics, the world games occur once every four years, and are expected to draw more than 7,000 athletes from 133 nations, competing in 25 events.

"I'm looking forward to competing at this level - It's the world championship," said Coyle, who has a teenage son. "It's awesome to be representing the military and [the] Air Force. It's a once in a lifetime opportunity."

The Military World Games, known officially as the Conseil International Du Sport Militaire triathlon consists of a one-mile swim, 25 mile bike ride, and 6.2-mile run.

"Competing at this level takes a lot of time," said Lt. Col. Steven Kurpius, 728th AS commander. "I'm excited to see how she and the team does competing against the other nations."

In preparation for this event, Coyle's training schedule takes up about 18 to 25 hours a week.

"I love training," said Coyle, a systems engineer with Boeing. "I'm a very competitive person, and it keeps me going - keeps me fit."

With help from her mentor, she's been able to maintain her workout intensity, and remain competitive.

"Judy is a very talented and super-motivated person," said Ben Bigglestone, Coyle's personal trainer and coach. "As long as she can get enough rest before the event, I'd expect her to finish in the top 10 for her age group."

She's competed in an ironman, a half-ironman, and two CISM triathlon competitions in 2015.

Coyle was the second Air Force female to finish, and placed seventh among all females during the U.S. Armed Forces Triathlon Championship June 7, in Hammond, Ind. With a time of 2:19:58, her performance earned the Air Force Woman's Team second place among the other competing services.

But Coyle's season isn't over.

She plans to compete in an ironman event in Florida in November, with aspirations of qualifying for the Ironman Championship in Kona, Hawaii.

"There was always been something appealing about triathlons," she said. "But it's all about what you put into it. The more work and training you put in, the better you'll do."