Crossing the finish line

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Rachelle Elsea
  • 325th Fighter Wing/ Public Affairs
TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  Tyndall Airman participated in the 2009 Air Force Marathon Sept. 19 at Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio.

The event featured a full marathon, half marathon, 10K and 5K race. Nearly 10,000 servicemembers and civilians took part.

The first official Air Force marathon took place on Sept. 20, 1997, celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Air Force, and is held in September each year in celebration of the U.S. Air Force anniversary.

This year was full of new faces, including a group of 325th Civil Engineer Squadron Fire Protection Specialists, lead by Staff Sgt. William Mavity, who ran the marathon, and Senior Airman Kristoffer Chacon, 325th Force Support Squadron Food Specialist, who ran the 10K.

"We started training about six months ago," said Sgt. Mavity. "We were running about six days a week leading up to the event. "

The group consisted of himself, Senior Airman Gary Lorenz and Airman 1st Class Matthew Wilson. Sgt. Mavity said they started out with a couple more, but as the time came closer the group dwindled down.

This was Sgt. Mavity's second race and he plans to continue running in the future.

"I have always wanted to compete in a marathon," said Sgt. Mavity. "I ran a half marathon in January in Pensacola, Fla."

He said his goal is not to win a race, just to get better every time. For Airmen Lorenz and Wilson, the goal was to finish.

"I was confident I was going to finish," said Airman Wilson. "It's just the sense of satisfaction and accomplishment you get when you complete the race that meant the most to me."

Airman Chacon, who represented the Air and Education Training Command, competed in the 10K and took first place. In the months leading up to the race, he said he took part in small races around Florida.

"Well, what kind of happened was, I looked at the results from last year's race," said Airman Chacon. "I looked at the first place guy and his time and I knew I had to get to that level. I trained really hard, and little by little it started paying off."

He said the races he participated in before the marathon were exciting and he got a chance to travel and see more of Florida.

"Eventually my time matched the winner from last year," said Airman Chacon. "I was training so hard to match his time; I was hoping he would be there as someone to push me."

Last year's winner did not participate in the 10K this year.

Airman Chacon said this was the best race he has ever done.

"I started hearing footsteps behind me around the third or fourth mile," he said. "My rule of the thumb and what my coach taught me is to never look back. I knew my mom and dad were at the finish line and the whole squadron was counting on me."

Airman Chacon said he hopes to go back next year and maybe participate in the half marathon. In the meantime, he is looking into applying for the Air Force Track and Field Team.

"It was a great experience overall," said Airman Chacon. "It made me reach down deep inside and rise to a new level."