Mile Long Run in a Bomb Suit

 

Practically everyone has already seen Kathryn Bigelow’s testosterone-induced Iraq War drama “The Hurt Locker.” It deserves to be Oscar’s Best Picture since every scene filled with tension and roller coaster excitement.

And I guess you have noticed that super-heavy bomb suit used for detonating those scary explosives in the country. But what if you are to wear that and run like a wolf for a mile? That’d surely be difficult, like dragging a piece of luggage in a busy airport while trying to catch up your plane about to board. But for Owen Duff, that would only be a walk in the park.

And he did in just 9 minutes and 22 seconds! How? Duff is a hard-training Air Force Staff Sergeant and Explosive Ordnance Disposal technician based in Kirkuk Regional Air Base, Iraq. Just last year, he broke the world record for running the full mile with an 80-pound bomb suit. The previous record was 10:13. Now, that’s mind-blowing! Get it? Mind-blowing.

So, what gives? He could have just done with weights, instead of looking funny like some douche wearing a Gumby mascot suit. Aside from “having fun,” he did the gig to raise funds for the Wounded EOD Warrior Foundation. Asked on how he developed the habit of running wearing that suit, he said: “”[My friend] and I would wear the suit for an hour every Sunday.” He added wasn’t into running until he got into the military. “I started running regularly and enjoyed it. I have done a few 5-k races and a few half-marathons but am hoping to get into a full marathon later this year by completing the Seattle Marathon.” 

Now what? He said he was planning some sort of a variation. “I would like to do a mile relay with three other people, or even get distance into it and get a bunch of EOD guys and gals in bomb suits running a marathon relay.”

Good thing Duff admitted that running with that kind of loadisn’t that easy, “Individually, I would never want to run farther than a 5k wearing that suit. It really takes its toll on your body.”