Ironman competitor heads up pollution prevention

  • Published
  • By Jennifer Schneider
  • AFCEE Public Affairs
LACKLAND AFB, Texas --  The Air Force has an Ironman managing its pollution prevention and hazardous materials programs. Kevin Gabos, an Air Force subject matter expert at the Air Force Center for Engineering and the Environment, successfully competed in the Nov. 21 Ironman Triathlon in Tempe, Ariz.., finishing in 11 hours 48 minutes.

"It was the first triathlon I'd ever done," Mr. Gabos said. "I decided to 'go big' early. I went with three friends, and the words we kept using were 'Stuck on Stupid' because I signed up for next year's event the day before this year's."

The Ironman triathlon is a series of long-distance races organized by the World Triathlon Corporation consisting of a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bike race and a marathon run (26.2 miles), raced in that order and without a break. There is a strict time limit of 17 hours to finish the race, with time limits enforced for each portion of the race.

Mr. Gabos said the swim portion of the event is "the fun part."

"There are 2,500 people in the water at the same time - with the blow of the canyon, you all begin to swim," he said. "There is a lot of kicking, swimming over and under each other - it's like being thrown in a top agitator washing machine."

Mr. Gabos was not a swimmer before training for the event, and attended swimming classes for three months to prepare. He is, however, an avid long-distance cyclist and had participated in the Texas Independence Relay, a 205-mile team relay from Gonzales, Texa,s to the San Jacinto Memorial in La Porte, Texas. He had also raced in the San Antonio Rock 'n Roll Marathon, and said he was "looking for the next big challenge."

"After having a good base in all three (events), it is about a 20-week program to get to what it takes to compete in the Ironman," Mr. Gabos said. "I keep telling myself it's fun to get up at 4 a.m. and run a half-marathon before coming to work."

Mr. Gabos applies the same level of commitment in his career. Originally from Staten Island, N.Y., he retired from the Air Force after 20 years of active duty, and has been at AFCEE for almost a year as the Air Force expert on hazardous materials and pollution prevention.

"I provide technical input and direction on hazardous materials management and disposal across the Air Force," he said. "I'm also working to reinvigorate Air Force pollution prevention efforts."

Mr. Gabos finished 564 overall out of the 2,361 that successfully completed the race, and is contemplating taking things up a notch and attempting to qualify for the Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii.