55th FSS team to run marathon

  • Published
  • By SSgt James M. Hodgman
  • 55th Wing Public Affairs
OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. --  For many people, running 26.2 miles may seem like a crazy idea. But, for the nine members of the 55th Force Support Squadron's running team, it's just another challenge to overcome.

The team, consisting of Airmen from airman first class to captain, formed in July after some members of the 55th FSS expressed interest in running the Rock 'n' Roll San Antonio Marathon on Nov. 14.

The team's coach, Master Sgt. Johnathan M. Ward, personal reliability program monitor for the 55th Security Forces Squadron, is a certified marathon maniac having completed 13 marathons. He emails the team regularly with training tips and a running plan for each individual member.

Another member of the team, Capt. Alejandra Czerniak, Manpower and Personnel Flight commander, has completed five marathons including ones in Boston and Dublin.

However, for most members of the team, the San Antonio Marathon will be their first.
"I think our goal is just to finish," said Staff Sgt. Nina Lawson, NCO in charge of installation personnel readiness and one of the team's leaders.

"It's not necessarily to finish at a certain time or be the fastest, but it's a personal goal to accomplish something that so few people say they've accomplished," Sergeant Lawson said.

The team's fastest runner, Airman 1st Class David J. Smith, a fitness specialist, shares Sergeant Lawson's sentiment.

"I've never actually run a marathon and I just want to run (one) to say I did it," Airman Smith said.

A veteran of numerous 5Ks, Airman Smith said finishing the marathon is the ultimate goal and running with his fellow Airmen is helping him meet that challenge.

"I normally only run 10 miles on the weekends without a set plan," he said. "Training as a team is teaching me to keep running and run for longer distances, it's also (improving) my conditioning as we increase our mileage every week."

Each team member runs anywhere from four to five times a week. Runs from Monday - Friday consist of easy runs between four and six miles, as well as hill and speed training. The team then meets on Sundays for a long run.

On Oct. 3, the team, wearing their 55th FSS running shirts, completed their longest run to date, 18 miles at the Wabash Trace Nature Trail in Council Bluffs, Iowa.

After the run, several members talked about running for more than just themselves. They're running to honor the lives and memory of others.

Airman 1st Class Wilson Delos Trino, a force management operations technician, is running to honor Fran Pritchard, a former civilian employee who passed away earlier this year because of cancer.

"Running for Fran has been a life changing moment for me," Airman Delos Trino said.
"When I talked to the people she worked with and I saw their eyes and how happy (they were) to know I'm running in honor of her, that kind of touched my heart," he said.

Senior Airman Brianne S. Bishop, a retentions technician and Airman 1st Class Jarvis T. Cobb, an installation readiness journeyman, are running in honor of retired Tech. Sgt. Gary Snyder, who recently lost his battle with cancer.

Mr. Snyder's wife, Heidi, was so moved by both Airmen's desire to run for her husband that she sponsored both Airmen, covering their marathon entry fees.

"Heidi Snyder is a really sweet lady and when I first got here her husband was going through a lot of problems," Airman Cobb said, "I really didn't know her at that time, but over the past two years working with her, I've gotten to know her and when she asked to sponsor us for our run (that) was a big thing.

"When she looked at us, she said 'you're gonna do this, you're gonna finish it.' Knowing someone is supporting you for doing something for someone they loved, (that's) amazing," he added.

Every member on the team is running for something more than just themselves. Staff Sgt. Yaneth M. Tebo, the NCOIC of promotions and a team leader, is running for human rights, Airman 1st Class Adam M. Dilley, an assignment counselor, is running for his grandparents and Sergeant Lawson is running for any servicemmeber who has ever been a prisoner of war or reported as missing in action.

"I run because others can't," she said.