A resident triathlete with a passion for extreme racing

Matthew Tourville prepares for one of the world's toughest cold-water triathlons by training in desert heat and icy cold plunges

- Haneen Dajani

A lifetime ago, Matthew Tourville marched in presidential ceremonies, beating the snare drum with military precision. Today, he's more likely to be found dodging jellyfish blooms in the icy Atlantic, scaling Scottish mountains in a storm, or running 100km through the rocky slopes of Jebel Jais.

"I started with the US military when I was 19," said the 54-year-old staff sergeant, who is now an extreme endurance athlete, and leadership trainer for the US Army National Guard.

"My first enlistment was in 1991, and I was actually a drummer for the president at the White House. We did all the high-level ceremonies, arrivals, inaugurations... I met all kinds of presidents."

Tourville eventually traded formal ceremonies for physical training, becoming a master fitness trainer in the army and, later, a triathlon coach. What began with a dare from a colleague turned into an obsession that has spanned decades and taken him to some of the most remote and unforgiving race locations in the world.

"I did my first triathlon at 29," he said. "One of the guys I worked with kept trying to get me into it. I finally did it and loved it. I wish I'd gotten into it sooner."

Since then, he has completed more than 100 triathlons, five full Ironman races, about 30 half Ironmans and over 25 standalone marathons. But more recently, it's the extreme triathlon circuit that has captivated him: unsupported races held in harsh conditions, where racers provide their own aid and support.