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Team Bagram runs for morale, fitness

  • Published
  • By By Tech. Sgt. Drew Nystrom
  • 455th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan --  More than 1,000 members of Team Bagram lined up before dawn to participate in an Air Force-sponsored half-marathon here Saturday.

Department of Defense civilians, contractors and members of every branch of the armed forces ran in the 13.1-mile event held two weeks before the official Air Force Marathon at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio.

Winners of the half-marathon were:
-- Men's Half Marathon: U.S. Marine Sgt. Michael Wood at 1:23:37
-- Women's Half Marathon: U.S. Army Capt. Ronee Farrell at 1:37:03

According to Kenny Jenkins, 455th Expeditionary Force Support Squadron fitness manager and race organizer, races like this are a morale booster.

"We had over a thousand people sign up and actually show," Jenkins said. "It gives them a break from the daily grind. It's 5 a.m. and a thousand people from all over the base and even different forward operating bases are here to participate."

Lt. Col. Bob Noonan, the commander of the 817th Expeditionary Air Support Operations Squadron, said his participation is all about connections.

"It's a way to connect with the Air Force Marathon back home, a good way to stay fit to fight and be part of the Air Force team out here," he said.

For 1st Lt. Stephen Kilijanczyk, a registered nurse at the Craig Joint Theater Hospital, fitness was his motivation.

"It's a good way to exercise," Kilijanczyk said. "I've been running a lot since I got here so this is a good way to keep it up and see how far I've come."

Making sure the event went off without a hitch took more than just firing the starter pistol, Jenkins said.

"We couldn't do it without all the people who stepped up to volunteer to help," Jenkins said. "More than 50 volunteers - from medics, to water station attendants, misting station attendants and registrars - all came together and helped things run smoothly."

Another challenging aspect, according to Jenkins, was safely executing a race of this size in a deployed environment where operations never cease.

"Lots of organizations around the base helped," he said. "Security Forces added personnel to the perimeter and had Airmen directing traffic at busy intersections. It definitely was challenging, but all the participants finished strong and healthy like they started."