LRS chief shares marathon insights

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Torri K. Larson
  • 48th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
ROYAL AIR FORCE LAKENHEATH, England --  (Editor's Note: This is the first part of a before and after series involving two Liberty Airmen competing in the Air Force Marathon.) 

Two Liberty Warriors were selected to represent USAFE in the 12th annual U.S. Air Force Marathon, held Sept. 20 at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. 

Chief Master Sgt. Fermon Reid, 48th Logistics Readiness Squadron and Master Sgt. Thomas Good, 48th Fighter Wing will both have the chance to compete in the marathon. 

"I'm excited about the opportunity to represent RAF Lakenheath and USAFE and to compete in our very own Air Force Marathon. It's been one of my goals since I started running marathons about four years ago," Chief Reid said. 

The chief submitted an Air Force Form 303, Request for USAF Specialized Sports Training, to USAFE. He had to list his running experience and any significant performances in the last three years to be considered for the marathon. He said USAFE selected a team of men and women to compete in various age categories for the half and full marathons. Chief Reid was selected for the USAFE half-marathon team. 

"I began long-distance running about five years ago, while stationed at Robins Air Force Base, Ga., where a co-worker challenged me to a half-marathon race," he said. "Initially I was reluctant once I discovered the half-marathon consisted of 13.1 miles, 10 miles more than the longest distance I had completed while running track in high school, 22 years earlier." 

The chief took the challenge, though, and trained for 12 weeks. He competed in the 2004 Museum of Aviation Half-Marathon and finished just a few minutes ahead of his challenger. Since then, he's competed in two full and three half-marathons. 

Chief Reid said he trains five days a week doing a combination of short intervals, tempo runs, long runs and cross-training. All this exercise allows him to boast an excellent physical training score. 

"My family, especially my wife Pearl, and the fine men and women I serve with at Lakenheath keep my motivation high," he said.