Lecturers help firefighter in charity fitness feats

Lecturers and students are helping a firefighter to prepare for a punishing 16-part fitness challenge dressed in a pink service's uniform to raise money for a charity close to his heart.

Taz Maguire was inspired to fundraise for Breast Cancer Now after someone close to him was diagnosed with the disease and "watching them, their family and our friendship group go through it has been quite humbling".

The events include 10k runs, stair races and a half marathon.

He will be working with academics on Coventry University's strength, conditioning and rehabilitation master's course throughout the year to help shape his training regime and prevent injuries.

The 31-year-old, from Lutterworth in Leicestershire, said he had just begun running again and was aware that an injury could see him pull out of all of his challenges.

"The big thing for me is injury prevention, so if I can get better, that's fantastic, but if I can get through this without injuring myself, then that's the main goal," he said.

"Working with the university is going to give me a bit of direction, as I have a couple of small goals in mind. I'd like to get to sub-30 minutes in the kit on a 5k run and sub an hour for 10k, but the nice thing is it's not about chasing a time for me; it's about being there, being in my fire kit, raising awareness and getting people to donate."

"Taz came to us to ask for help and then gave us the long list of challenges he is doing," said Dr Richard Taylor, director of the strength and conditioning course.

"Ordinarily they would not sound too bad, but what he has layered on top is completely different, as he's doing it in his full fire suit, and then his stair climbs are also more intense.

"It will be about managing him, getting him fitter and keeping him in one piece for things that are already challenging and have been made twice as challenging by the fact he is going to do it in his suit."

He added that the university would repeat Mr Maguire's tests throughout the year to track his progress.

"Long term, it's about preparing him for his half marathon at the end of year, and getting him to the point where he can complete that in full kit," he said.

The kits - full pink firefighter suits - are worn by the UK Pink Firefighters – a group of retired and serving firefighters who raise awareness, funds and support for cancer research.

"I believe that if you're in a position to do something to help others, you should," said Mr Maguire.

"That belief is part of why I joined the fire service, why I'm an active union official and why I'm proud to be a UK Pink Firefighter."

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