Marathon continues to attract participants

  • Published
  • By James Baker
  • WPAFB Skywrighter staff
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio --  The 2007 U.S.Air Force Marathon is continuing to attract a variety of registrants from both here at Wright-Patterson and around the country. 

Lisa Butler, of Tulsa, Okla., said she is planning on participating in her first Air Force marathon to add to her already impressive and lengthy athletic resume.
Butler said she is a passionate runner who is seeking an opportunity to qualify for the 2008 U.S. Olympic trials and hopes to use this year's marathon as a spring-board to attain her goal. 

"I sincerely appreciate the opportunity to compete as an elite athlete in the U.S. Air Force Marathon," Butler said. "I am genuinely excited and looking forward to meeting and showing my gratitude and appreciation to the men and women serving our country." 

Butler has a personal record time of 2 hours, 54 minutes and is looking for a sub-2:47 time in order to qualify for the Olympic trials in the women's marathon. 

Besides being an avid runner, Butler is also a high school teacher, basketball and cross country coach and tri-athlete. 

She said she began taking her marathon running seriously in 2003, running a marathon a month from February to December. She saw her time plummet from 4:05 down to 2:58 in less than one calendar year. 

"This led to being part of an incredible moment for me as one of the 34 elite women chosen in the first ever "elite women's early start" in the 2004 Boston Marathon," she said. "Although I had severe foot pain that began early in the race, I was determined to finish what I had started and I did." 

In 2005, Butler competed in her first ever Ironman distance triathlon, which consisted of a 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike and 26.2 mile run. She finished third in her age group, allowing her to qualify for the Hawaii Ironman, fulfilling another personal dream. 

Butler said she is excited to see what the U.S. Air Force Marathon has to offer and has started focusing her attention and training on the big event. 

According to Molly Louden, the U.S. Air Force Marathon director, the number has easily surpassed 1,000 men, women and children who have signed up for the marathon, half-marathon, relay or 5k run. 

To volunteer for the Sept. 15 event, contact the Air Force marathon office via e-mail at usaf.marathon@wpafb.af.mil or call 257-4350. You can also register for the marathon at http://www.usafmarathon.com.