Pilot faces hurdle training for Olympics

MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, KS, UNITED STATES

08.09.2016

Story by Airman 1st Class Christopher Thornbury 

22nd Air Refueling Wing

For Capt. Daniel Castle, a KC-135 Stratotanker pilot, he sees every day as an opportunity to improve his run and chase his passion.

He was selected to participate in the World Class Athlete Program, allowing him to vigorously train for national, international and the Olympic Trials in the 1500-meter run. Since last August, he has been at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado, where he once graduated.

During his initial training, he ran 60-80 miles each week, performed aerobic training, mile repeats and aerobic threshold runs to build a strong foundation of fitness to train even harder for the following spring.

During Castle’s training, he participated in renowned competitions. In October 2015, he earned a spot on the U.S. International Military Sports Council Team for the 2015 Military World Games held in South Korea, where he grabbed ninth place in the 1500-meter race.

Once spring rolled around, he began training with a speed-mechanics coach, Julianne Benson, incorporated sprinting and weight-lifting exercises three to four days a week.

“I began coaching Daniel his fourth year at the Academy, and I continued to work with him [as part of the WCAP],” said Benson. “He always showed up to practice with a huge smile and kind words every day; however, once the workout began he is all business and a ferocious competitor. Once our very difficult workouts and practices are complete he is back to happy-go-lucky Daniel.”

“In March and April, I transitioned into really difficult training; everything ramped up,” said Castle. “It prepared me well for April and May. In May, I ended up running 3:40.3, then five days later ran a 3:40.1, which at the time was a top-30 time in the U.S.”

Then an unexpected turn came from somewhere other than the track.

“Everything was coming together, until I got a really bad upper-respiratory infection that ‘took my breath away,” said Castle. “My aerobics took a really big hit. It felt like I couldn’t breathe the last 300-400 meters.”

His illness added nearly 10 seconds to his 1500-meter run, nevertheless he attempted to qualify at the Olympic Trials.

“I missed the qualifying time by .84 of a second,” said Castle. “I feel like if I hadn’t gotten sick, I definitely would have made it.”

Instead of looking back on the unfortunate result in a negative light, he sees it as an amazing opportunity.

“Not many people get a chance to be able to pursue something they are so passionate about, and that was one of the things I really took away,” said Castle. “I’m not going to let it discourage me because it’s more important to think of the effort I put in. Looking to the future, going back to an active-duty flying squadron, I will put that same effort I did in running into my next job.”


As much as he enjoyed his time training, it required a lot of energy and dedication and proved to be incredibly challenging.

“It has been an amazing year, and honestly I think this has been the hardest job I have ever had,” said Castle. “It demands a lot of heart because running requires 100 percent effort every single day. You can’t go on cruise control or auto pilot, you have to be present every single repetition and give it your all.”

The respiratory infection was a hurdle thrown into his training, but he continues to train and race as he recovers.

“I ran a road mile [recently] in Charlevoix, Michigan,” said Castle. “I came in fourth out of 10, in a really, really competitive race. There were only two seconds between the top-five runners, so we all crossed the line at the same time.”

Based on what she has seen in Castle, Benson believes that his athletic performance hasn’t reached its peak yet.

“Daniel has only been training without interruptions from deployments since October, and what he accomplished this spring was truly unbelievable given the short window,” said Benson. “If Daniel can continue to train, I expect him to be one of the best 1500-meter runners in the nation. He has the capability to represent the United States in international competition.”

His realization of his natural physical fitness and setting such a high goal began when he was 10-years-old in his hometown of St. Joseph, Missouri.

“[My soccer coach] realized that I wasn’t getting tired so I would play entire games,” said Castle. “That was the first idea I had that I might give this whole running thing a try. I went from playing soccer to running 5Ks; that’s where my passion started. It really [resonated with me] when I went to high school. I went to state competitions my freshman year in track, and after that I questioned myself, ‘how fast can I really run?’”

Each year, new challenges and opportunities were presented as he developed his ability.

“In high school, I wanted to be a state champion and break the state record,” said Castle. “Then in college, ‘let’s see if I can break the Academy record’; now, let’s see if I can make an Olympic team. Every year, I got better and better, my dreams became grander and grander. This year was a combination of a little kid figuring out that he was good at something, becoming passionate in it and just wondering where that passion could go. Nineteen years later it took me to the Olympic Trials.”

Castle believes that during his journey his family and friends have helped make his dreams obtainable.

“My coaches, my wife, my family and training partners being there every day supporting me during the sickness and being my support structure really made this year so great. They allowed me to keep training even when it got really difficult,” said Castle.

Castle has set his current target on joining the U.S. team at the World Track and Field Championship in London next year.

• Date Taken: 08.09.2016
• Date Posted: 08.09.2016 14:30
• Story ID: 206577
• Location: MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, KS, US
• Hometown: ST. JOSEPH, MO, US