2007 U. S. Air Force Marathon participants have many stories to tell

  • Published
  • By Mike Wallace
  • Skywrighter Staff
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio --  The 2007 Air Force Marathon started as usual from a spot on Loop Road, Area B, and the temperature at the start was in the low 50s. Most of the more than 6,300 participants arrived early, and they talked, stretched, and paced until time to head toward the starting line. 

Nearby was a tent run by the Chief's group and Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts from Troop and Pack 162. Their tent featured some water, snacks, and coffee, something very welcome in the chilly morning air. 

The temperature eventually did rise, but never got hot. Most runners favor cool conditions, and the winning times reflected that. 

The opening ceremony began with the posting of the colors by the base Color Guard and the singing of the National Anthem by Staff Sgt. Justin Allen of the Air Force Band of Flight. Retired Senior Master Sgt. Chris Stanley emceed not only the race opening, but also the closing, and color commentary throughout the race. 

Joining him on the speakers' platform were Gen. Bruce Carlson, commander of Air Force Materiel Command; retired Lt. Gen. Kenneth E. Eickmann, former commander of Aeronautical Systems Center and the person primarily responsible for the first Air Force Marathon; the honorable Claude Bolten, assistant secretary of the Army for Logistics and Technology, and retired Air Force major general. Gen. Bolten ran in all the Air Force marathons. Also on the platform were Dick Beardsley, former Olympic marathoner; running coach Bill Squires; and Mark Goulart, senior vice president of Bearing Point, the presenting sponsor of this year's marathon. Goulart told the field of competitors, "You are here, and you need to find your perfect speed." 

Besides the runners, there were several medical specialists and Tech. Sgt. Dan Hesselbacker on or near the course. Sgt. Hesselbacker, of the 88th Security Forces, led the runners and wheelchair competitors in a car, watching for obstructions and unauthorized people on the course. He also was the initial security person if any problems were to arise during the race. 

Wheelchair racer, D.J. Murray, of Utica, Mich., was racing in his first marathon, and hoping to finish in less than two hours. He decided at the end of last year to try this event, and heard about it from some people on his wheelchair basketball team. 

Another wheelchair racer was Dick Pace who claimed his "chair" at 24 pounds was a little lighter than D.J.'s. "The front forks on mine are titanium," he said. In his 65th marathon, this Arkansas native said he raced in South Dakota once and was clocked at 43 miles-per-hour going downhill. "It was more like two miles-an-hour going uphill though," he said. 

As Gen. Carlson fired the starter's pistol for the wheelchair race to begin, an F-15 Eagle flew over the starting line. It was followed shortly after by a gaggle of geese. Within just a few short moments, the wheelchair racers were headed up the hill on Loop Road, well ahead of the next group, the full marathon runners.
The elite runners gathered at the front, and focused on winning if possible. The bulk of the runners however simply were hoping to finish, and each had his or her own reasons for being there. 

For example, Dr. Ashis Roy, a 75-year-old internal medicine specialist and cardiologist from New Delhi, India was there, in his 80th marathon, for health reasons. "At age 52, I was putting on weight, just sitting," he said. "I 'woke up' one day and decided I must start running. I went from 75 kilograms (about 165 pounds) down to 65 to 68 kilograms." 

His other reasons for running: "Looking good is very important; I believe running has helped my vision, and I feel better due to running. I have my heart checked every year by an independent physician, and I'm very healthy. And mentally and sexually, I've remained strong for a long time." 

He added some advice for American runners: "Run on grass, not concrete. America has plenty of open spaces to run." 

Another participant, retired Master Sgt. Clyde Landry, ran his first marathon at age 41. 

He's now 60, and the Air Force Marathon was his 29th one. A Colorado Springs resident, he said, "I began running when I was in the Air Force. The one-and-a-half mile PT run made me breathe hard, so I started running year 'round." He added that in August this year he ran up the 14,110-feet-high Pikes Peak, a mountain in Colorado, on the 18th and up and down on the 19th. These races are known respectively as the Pikes Peak Ascent and the Pikes Peak Marathon. 

Calling this marathon "a good advertisement for the Air Force," Clyde said that the medal awarded to finishers "was the best one of any marathon I've ever been in." 

Other groups of racers included the half-marathoners who were running a mere 13.1 miles. Just like last year, several members of the University of Dayton Reserve Officer Training Corps ran and walked this event in combat boots while carrying 35-pound packs. They used the event as a tune-up for next month's Ranger Challenge competition on the steep hills of Fort Knox, Ky. 

The last group was the relay racers. Among them were 37 members of the Air Force ROTC group at Ohio University.