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Laughlin Marathoners take gold in AF's biggest race

  • Published
  • By Airman Sara Csurilla
  • 47th Flying Training Wing
LAUGHLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  Perfect weather equaled perfect results for a team of runners from Laughlin Air Force Base during the 11th Annual U. s. Air Force Marathon at Wright-Patterson AFB Sept. 15. 

A relay team of instructor pilots from the 86th Flying Training Squadron comprised of Capts. John Mirtich, Aaron Gill, Daniel Arneson, and 1st. Lt. Aric Wagner placed first in the Men's Open Division with a time of 2:40:24.

"It was absolute perfect weather to run," said Captain Mirtich, "...about 50 degrees and sunny."

Each member of the four-person relay ran a specific leg of the marathon, which their team captain chose. Leg distances included 5.1 miles for leg one, 8 miles for leg two, 6.5 miles for leg three and 6.6 miles for leg four; the team's gross elapsed time determined the winners.

The relay division had nearly 80 teams competing against each other, added Captain Mirtich. 

"It was great to compete with so many other teams--we were excited to run together and push our team as hard as we possibly could," said Captain Mirtich. "We were happy we could represent the 86th, Laughlin and AETC, and perform as well as we did."

The Laughlin team's victory was the result of many hours of long, hard work.

For example, Captain Arneson, who also participated in the Boston Marathon in April, said he prepared for the marathon by running 30-35 miles a week with speed workouts on the track once a week and long runs on the weekends.

Other Laughlin members who participated in the Air Force Marathon included a team comprising of Capt. Sharon Beuscher, 2nd Lts. Alison Fischer, Amanda Ollenburg, and Micki Smeeding.

"We placed sixth in the Women's Open Division, but more important, we had a blast supporting each other during the training and the race itself," said Lieutenant Fischer. "We each had a training plan based on the length of our run which ranged from five to eight miles per person."

The Air Force Marathon is held annually around the Air Force's anniversary. The marathon path takes runners past the Air Force Museum, Air Force Institute of Technology, the Wright-Patterson AFB flight line and the Wright Brothers Museum.

The marathon events featured more than 6,300 competitors from around the world.

"Running alongside thousands of other military personnel was a very neat experience," said Lieutenant Fischer. "The four of us got to participate in a joint effort toward the Air Force's goal of being 'fit to fight.'"