Air Force Marathon MAJCOM Challenge brings Airmen together

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. Kellie Rizer
  • 48th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AFB, Ohio --  The sun peeks out from behind the clouds above thousands of runners staring anxiously at the starting line ahead.

I look down at my watch: 8:28 a.m. Two minutes until the gun fires and 10,000 half marathon runners rush past the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, returning to this exact location only after sprinting, jogging, and, if need be, crawling the next 13.1 miles.

Four months ago, I had no idea I would be running in the Air Force Half Marathon, much less as a member of the U.S. Air Forces in Europe team. In late spring, I applied for the USAF Marathon Major Command Challenge, but never expected I would actually get the opportunity to go back to my hometown of Dayton, Ohio (specifically, Beavercreek, but close enough), and run with Airmen based all around USAFE.

The MAJCOM Challenge was founded by Gen. Bruce Carlson in 2007. The idea was to promote esprit-de-corps between the Air Force MAJCOMs through competition. Today, each MAJCOM in the Air Force, including the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve, is represented by a team of 10 runners composed of seven male and three female Airmen. The selection process requires applicants to submit their half marathon and full marathon race times. The four male and two female athletes with the top half marathon times are chosen to run the half. Similarly, the top three male and female full marathon times complete the full 26.2 miles. The team with the lowest combined time wins the challenge.

The USAFE team was composed of runners from Ramstein Air Base, Germany, Incirlik AB, Turkey, Aviano AB, Italy, and the remaining five runners were selected from UK bases--four from Royal Air Force Lakenheath and one from RAF Mildenhall. We had varied running experience and training methods, but what we had in common was that we were really happy to be there participating in the 19th Annual Air Force Marathon just one day after the Air Force's 68th birthday.

The Friday before the race, my teammates and I attended the Breakfast of Champions, where a panel of running experts talked about their experiences, offered race-day advice and answered questions from participants of every skill level, ranging from beginners to long-distance superstars, typically seen decked out in running belts filled with energy gels, water bottles and electrolyte tabs.

Two of the panel's speakers were Chuck Engle, known as the "Marathon Junkie" and Traci Falbo, a successful ultra-runner. In the running community, these people are big, like the Peyton Manning of running kind of big. Engle has won more than 150 marathons and holds the record for being the only person in history to win a marathon in all 50 states. Falbo's running stats are just as impressive. She holds the American and world 48-hour indoor track records, meaning she ran the most miles in a 48-hour period than anyone else. Her grand total? 242.09 miles--that's 943 laps around a track! I was inspired by their success stories and relentless work ethic, but mostly, I was anxious. These people could run faster than me in their sleep and I just didn't want to let my team down.

Back to Sept. 19, where I'm still standing by my teammates and waiting for the gun to signal the start of the race. I had several half marathons under my belt and had even finished the last five miles of a race on a broken foot, which I would highly discourage anyone from trying. Despite running thousands of miles and dozens of races over the years, I still had that sweaty palm nervousness in the final moments before I would be required to either start running or risk being trampled by the Asics, Brooks and Mizuno-clad feet behind me.

The final seconds ticked away, and, finally, I hear the sound of the loud pop and the runners were off. The first five miles were hot and uncomfortable. English summer weather has ruined my tolerance for any real heat, and I was dying as if it were the middle of the desert. At the halfway point, the course took us onto the highway and the gradual incline combined with the burning in my calves was the closest I have ever come to climbing a mountain.

I powered through the remaining few miles with an internal monologue jumping from encouragement and motivation to pure frustration and a string of questions. "Why do I torture myself this way?...Is my shoe about to come untied?...Why did I pass the last water station without grabbing any water?...How many calories worth of donuts have I burned off?"

Right as I hit mile 12, I felt someone brush my arm as they passed by me, leaving a trail of their heavy sweat glistening just above my elbow. Despite my exhaustion, I was at the edge of disgust and annoyance when I realized that the sweaty runner was none other than the Marathon Junkie, himself. Yep, that's right, Engle, genetic wonder of a marathon runner, passed me as I ran a half marathon, and he completed a full. To be fair, he started an hour before me, so he didn't technically lap me.

As I watched Engle shrink into the distance, I gathered the last of my remaining energy and attempted my best sprint to the finish. In the last 200 meters, static plane displays lined both sides of the straightaway while cheering spectators scream for you to go faster, and, for a second, you forget about the aching muscles, dehydration and mental distress. Just like that, it was over.

Between the 10K, half- and full-marathon races, 15,000 runners passed through this last stretch to cross the finish line. Sure, winning the first place trophy and being named the fastest MAJCOM in the Air Force would be a huge accomplishment. But, I think the challenge was much more than just a running competition. Airmen from all ranks, career fields and bases around the world came together in the birthplace of aviation to test our mental and physical limits. You don't have to run a marathon to understand that overcoming obstacles and making personal connections are what make our Air Force great. Will I go out for the team, again, next year? I'll give it some serious thought once I can walk up and down a flight of stairs without wincing.