TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- – In a multi-tiered effort to raise esprit de corps, community outreach, and raise money for the 2017 Tyndall Air Force Ball, Tyndall hosted its second annual 5K color run/walk Aug. 26, 2017.
The event allowed approximately 100 participants from Tyndall and the surrounding area to enjoy a fun run with their friends and family.
Joshua Jovene, 325th Operation Support Squadron air traffic controller, the first male individual to cross the finish line represented 325th OSS with pride, and Petra Blevins, the first female, was a participant from the Panama City, Florida, community.
“My chief control officer at the tower suggested I run and that’s how I found out about the event,” Jovene said. “It is the first color run I have attended and I enjoyed it. It was pretty cool, I didn’t put on any color until the end – it’s too much weight. I just like to run and I was looking for a 6:30 pace. If someone blew passed me, I didn’t care – I just wanted to run.”
In addition to being the fastest individuals of their gender and the love of running, Jovene and Blevins had other things in common.
“It was not my goal to win for the females, I just wanted to do my best,” she said. “I don’t usually do just 5Ks, I prefer obstacle course racing. This is my first color run as well, it was fun. I was just trying to keep a good pace and the people throwing the color made it really cool. I’m all color dyed now, so now I just hope I don’t mess up my car,” she said with a laugh.
The event was attended by runners of all ages, and supported by Team Tyndall volunteers. The volunteers provided hydration stations and made the color run – colorful.
Those in attendance were happy with the event and look forward to Tyndall potentially hosting another one in the future.
“I usually have to travel to Southwestern Florida to go to events so this was really nice it being this close. Thank you Tyndall for this, and I hope they host more races here,” Blevins said.