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Desert Eagle Team participates in half marathon Tuesday

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Cassandra Locke
  • 379th Air Expeditionary Wing
SOUTHWEST ASIA --  Two hundred and seventy one Airmen, Sailors, Soldiers, civilians and coalition members from the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing participated in a half-marathon put on by the Royal Air Force's 901 Air Expeditionary Wing Air Operations members. 

Proceeds from the marathon went to support the British Limbless Ex Service Men's Association (BLESMA). Overall $3,200 has been raised, with more donations still coming in. 

Participants either ran individually for 13.3 miles or split the miles among their coworkers. 

There were 68 individual competitors and 30 who that competed. One lap around the course in Coalition Compound equaled 1.5 miles. A total of nine laps around the compound were necessary to successfully complete the race. 

"This was undoubtedly a very successful event and that can be seen by the amount of individuals and teams that entered," said British Royal Air Force Flight Lt. Michael Denison. "However, more important than that is the fact that money will be going to a very worthy charity. I think all who took part can be rightly proud of their contribution, but I must single out the volunteers who turned out to dish out water and act as traffic directors." 

The half marathon idea came up after a 10 kilometer run held May 13. The flight lieutenant and his training partner, Royal Air Force Sgt. Tracey Perrett, hadn't been doing any distance training up to that point but decided to register for the 100-mile club, which is a running incentive program where one can track miles ran for a T-shirt at the end of the rotation. 

"The idea for the half marathon just fell out of the same conversation," said Flight Lt. Denison. 

This marathon gave servicemembers an opportunity to better themselves as one of the three goals the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing commander has for those deployed here.
Tech. Sgt. Eric Ferro from the 379th Expeditionary Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron said he and members of his unit competed in the race and it elevated their camaraderie.
"It was challenging, but our squadron competed as a team and did a great job," said Sergeant Ferro. The 379th EAES squadron had individual competitors as well as a nine-person team that completed the half-marathon. 

Maj. Mike O'Connor recorded the fastest time with 1:28.40. 

The Royal Air Force 617th Tornado detachment team recorded the fastest time with 1:34.06.