A former soldier is planning to run a marathon in Afghanistan and complete a unique treble of sporting achievements in the world’s most troubled hotspots.
Jordan Wylie has already completed a 10k run in Somalia and a half marathon in Iraq.
But the ex-intelligence specialist faces his toughest challenge yet in running across the unforgiving terrain of the Afghan desert.
Despite the risk of an ex-soldier returning to the war-torn country he will be running alone without any back up teams or support on his first ever attempt at a marathon.
Jordan, who served for 10 years in the Army with tours of duty in Iraq and Northern Ireland, told Mail Online he is aware of the risks of a ex-soldier returning alone to Afghanistan.
Jordan Wylie is planning to run a marathon in Afghanistan and complete a unique treble of sporting achievements in the world’s most troubled hotspots
British troops fought a 13 year war against the Taliban in Afghanistan following the invasion by US forces after the 9/11 terror attack on New York.
More than British 400 soldiers were killed and over 5,000 injured during the conflict.
Jordan said: ‘Of course it will be high risk as I am a former soldier in the British army and returning to a country where we were in conflict with the Taliban.
‘ I am aware of that, and have all my training to know about the risk. But there are other elements that make this such a tough place to be.
‘The marathon will be at an altitude of 3,500ft and so there will be problems with the climate and the conditions will be extreme.
I know it is going to be extremely tough. I am not worried about how long it takes to run the marathon – I just want to finish.’
Jordan cannot reveal the exact date he will start the marathon or its location due to security reasons, but hopes to be finished by the end of next month.
Jordan, who served for 10 years in the Army with tours of duty in Iraq and Northern Ireland, told Mail Online he is aware of the risks of a ex-soldier returning alone to Afghanistan
He has already completed a 10k run in Somalia and made an emotional return to Iraq in May earlier this year to take part in the Baghdad half marathon.
It was the first time Jordan had returned to the country where he lost several friends during the conflict and said he had wanted to return to keep their memory alive.
The ex-corporal in the King’s Royal Hussars spent 10 years in the Cavalry Regiment and completed two tours of duty to Iraq in 2005 and 2007.
His role was as a tactical interrogator and those skills have landed him a role in the C4 series ‘Hunted’.
In the forthcoming special ‘Celebrity Hunted’ he will be helping to track down TV presenter Kay Burley and MP Johnny Mercer for the reality show.
He will later be seen in the latest series of ‘Hunted’ where guests have to evade police officers, intelligence and army personnel.
Jordan, who left the Army in 2009, has already completed a 10k run in Somalia and a half marathon in Iraq
Jordan now works as a maritime security consultant advising shipping companies on how to combat the menace of modern-day pirates mostly from Somalia
Jordan left the army in 2009 and now works as a maritime security consultant advising shipping companies on how to combat the menace of modern-day pirates mostly from Somalia.
He came up with the idea of running across three of the world’s most violent places to raise awareness of children affected by war and called his ambitious project ‘Running Dangerously’.
He hopes to raise enough money from the three runs from sponsorship and donations to put a child from each of the countries through full time school.
He said: ‘Having spent much of my life in conflict and war zones around the world, I have seen first-hand that many children’s lives have been destroyed before they have even began. I know from my own experience how education can be so beneficial.
‘I left school with no qualifications but then through the military I went on to do my bachelors and masters and its opened so many new doors for me having the education behind me.’
Former Olympic star and ex-army physical training instructor Kelly Holmes has been advising him on fitness for long distance running and he has been preparing for months to take part in the 26.2 mile run.
Former Olympic star and ex-army physical training instructor Kelly Holmes (pictured with Jordan) has been advising him on fitness for long distance running
Jordan, who wrote a bestselling book ‘Citadel’ about his experiences in the army and tackling modern day pirates, said he had no trouble getting permission to visit Afghanistan
Jordan, who wrote a bestselling book ‘Citadel’ about his experiences in the army and tackling modern day pirates, said he had no trouble getting permission to visit Afghanistan.
‘There wasn’t much of a queue in the visa queue to go to Afghanistan,’ he said.
‘Lots of people have done a marathon, lots of people have climbed a hill. I am doing something different.’
The Afghan ambassador to the UK has given his support to Jordan and sent a video message wishing him every success.
Said Tayeb Jawad, Ambassador of The Islamic Republic of Afghanistan’s Ambassador to the UK, said: ‘I just want to let you know how grateful the people of Afghanistan are to the wonderful work you are doing to bring us together. I wish you the best of luck, especially for the marathon project in Afghanistan.’
Further information can be obtained from www.runningdangerously.co.uk