Injured Veterans Bond Through Triathlon Training

The triathlon training camp was designed to help wounded veterans improve both their physical and mental health.

About 25 men gathered Sunday around a TV screen in a large tent at Portofino Island Resort watching videos of themselves training.

A few were missing limbs. The rest had less obvious wounds, such as brain injuries or post-traumatic stress disorder.

However, each member of Team Semper Fi was watching the video with similar intent: to build strength, camaraderie and confidence during three days of triathlon training at Pensacola Beach.

“It’s about getting them back into an active, healthy lifestyle,” said Paul Fitzgerald, the manager of Team Semper Fi.

Members of Team Semper Fi spent Friday, Saturday and Sunday running, biking and swimming on Pensacola Beach.

The event, as well as the participants’ travel and lodging fees, were paid for by the Semper Fi Fund, a nonprofit organization that assists wounded and ill military personnel with bills and improving their quality of life.

The triathlon training camp on Pensacola Beach was one of many camps nationwide designed to help wounded veterans improve both their physical and mental health.

“We find a way to make the training adaptive for each person, eliminating injuries as an excuse,” Fitzgerald said. “Once they have the confidence that they can do it, they can take that back to their hometowns.”

Read more: Pnj.com