3 reservists represent Team Whiteman in AF Marathon

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Danielle Wolf
  • 442nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs
WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. --  Eleven service members assigned to Whiteman completed the 16th annual Air Force Marathon Sept. 15.

The 26.2-mile marathon took place in Dayton, Ohio and had more than 13,000 participants.

Unlike previous years, this year's Team Whiteman group was a true representation of
the installation and of total-force integration.
The team included three reservists from the 442nd Fighter Wing, a national guardsman from the 131st Bomb Wing, a national guardsman from the 1/135th Attack Battalion, Army National Guard, and six other active-duty Airmen from throughout the 509th Bomb Wing.

"This is the most diverse group we've ever had - truly a joint force," said Tech. Sgt. Joseph Laxson, 509th Bomb Wing Airman Leadership School instructor and team coach for the event.

Potential runners competed for slots to represent Whiteman by sending Laxson scores from previous runs. While not everyone who applied had competed in a marathon before, he said all runners had completed some sort of timed distance run.

The 11 runners trained together on the Whiteman running track two days a week with speed work and long-distance runs to ensure everyone was properly trained to prevent injury and successfully complete the run.

"It really helped motivate everyone to train together," Laxson said. "Out of our group, we saw a few people rise up to become leaders and help others through encouragement and physical training."

One of those leaders, he said, was Tech. Sgt. John Straka, 442nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron weapons expediter.

Straka has been a distance runner since 1998. He has completed six marathons, including the Boston marathon earlier this year and has another marathon scheduled for October.

Straka said the most important thing a runner can do is take small steps - figuratively speaking - and build on the skills he or she already has.

"Don't try to just pick up and run a half-marathon - that can be overwhelming," he said.
"But if you know you can run five miles, then add another, and then another until you work your way up to 13 miles. Running is 80 percent psychological training and 20 percent
physical training."

The next Air Force Marathon is scheduled for fall 2012, with registration beginning Jan. 1, 2012. For more information, visit www.usafmarathon.com.