Triathlon Training In Iraq Thanks To Endless Pools

Endless Pools® Supports Triathlete Deployed in Iraq with Pool Donation

Army physician Aaron Dewees simply wanted to train for an Ironman triathlon while deployed in the Middle East. But there was just one tiny glitch: The lack of a decent pool to swim in. After all, the pool on Camp Taji, an Army base just outside of Iraq, left little to be desired—the water averaged a steamy 95 degrees, for starters, and closed up for most of the year.

That’s when Endless Pools, Inc., the leader in counter-current swimming machines, stepped in. Upon receiving a written request from Dewees, company president and founder James Murdock offered to donate his most versatile product, the Fastlane Pool system, to Dewees' 1st Brigade Combat Team. A pool arrived on base in late September, and now, Dewees and 3,600 of his fellow troops can swim—and rehabilitate—year round in the 8 by 15 feet self-contained swimming treadmill.

“I never really thought my request would be granted, mostly because the shipping costs alone would be outrageous. However, within weeks, a pool arrived at Camp Taji,” says Dewees. “And even after we realized we needed different pumps, the folks at Endless Pools once again showcased their generosity by sending new equipment free of charge.”

Follows Mark Langan, marketing director for Endless Pools, “We were blown away by Aaron’s ambition and dedication to triathlon, and we couldn’t think of a better way to support his goals than to provide him with an essential training tool, while also offering injured soldiers a valuable rehabilitation option.”

While the pool’s primary purpose is for aquatic therapy for any injured soldiers stationed at the base, Dewees trains in the temperature-controlled Fastlane three times a week as he prepares for Ironman Arizona. But the 30-year-old father of three isn’t just shooting to complete the race; he’s also on a mission to raise $50,000 for the Children of Fallen Soldiers Relief Fund an organization very near to his heart—and his career.

“As an Army physician in Iraq, it is my duty to care for the health and well-being of our soldiers, and as an American, it’s my duty to honor the service and sacrifice our fallen heroes and their families. I’m dedicating my race to them,” says Dewees.