Aydin Aygun

Born by the River Euphrates in Eastern Turkey in 1970, Aydin graduated as a first lieutenant officer from Military Academy, but left the army after serving one year. Instead, Aydin earned a graduate degree in Christian and Roman History at Gonzaga University in Spokane and began leading academic study groups for archeological and Biblical programs. He’s also an endurance athlete who has competed for the Turkish national team and still holds the Military Academy’s 1991 record for the 3000m steeplechase. After his longtime passion of running had to be put on hold due to injuries, Aydin discovered cycling as an alternative. Since 1994, he has been guiding adventure groups on biking and hiking expeditions in Greece and Turkey. He continues to run marathons and travels around the world to run orienteering races in different terrains and forests. His motto is “the more we learn the more we love and I am the soldier of peace.”