Photo By Staff Sgt. James Avery | Spc. Japeth Ng’ojoy, medical laboratory technician assigned to William Beaumont Army...... read more read more
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FORT BLISS, Texas - In the pre-dawn hours in front of the Joshua W. Soto Physical Fitness Center here , hundreds of service members and civilians were stretching out and warming up for the annual Commanders Cup 10-Miler qualifier Friday.
The inflated arch that capped Gulf Victory Avenue would serve as the start and finish line for a race that would, in part, determine who would qualify for the team representing Fort Bliss at the Army 10-Miler at the Pentagon, Oct. 12.
Holly Imbriaco, Group Fitness Director at Soto Gym, held her starter pistol over her head and began the countdown from five seconds to “get ready, get set, go!”
“The top five males and females qualify for the team that goes to the Pentagon,” said Imbriaco. “The top eight usually train together.”
More than 200 competitors ran the 10-Miler and all of them completed it in less than three hours. 1st place finisher Spc. Japeth Ng’ojoy, a medical laboratory technician assigned to William Beaumont Medical Center, completed the race in less than 55 minutes.
“There are Soldiers out there who are young, fit and healthy, but they don’t push themselves to be the best they can,” said Ng’ojoy. “Competitions like this one teach you to understand what you’re capable of, and that surprises some Soldiers. They didn’t believe they could run 10 miles.”
Aside from the Army Advanced Physical Fitness Test running standards, many units have their own individual standards for running times. Some units, such as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 6th Infantry Regiment, have a standard for running four miles.
“We run a lot at my unit,” said Spc. Eric King of Suisun, Calif., a cavalry scout assigned to HHC, 1/6 Infantry. “Our platoon standard is to run four miles in under 32 minutes. This 10-miler helps us get to that point and maybe get even faster.”
Some Soldiers such as Spc. Ryan Ruhle, a native of Albuquerque, N.M., and a cavalry scout with HHC, 1/6 Inf., uses events like the 10-Miler for extra exercise.
“I ran the 10-Miler for fun and to challenge myself,” Ruhle said. “It’s a good way to keep in shape and stay motivated.”
Retired Sgt. Maj. Brandon C. Gangstad, Troop schools manager here also ran the 10-Miler, but Gangstad didn’t run just for fun or exercise. He is the team trainer for Fort Bliss.
“I like coaching the team because it’s a challenge,” said Gangstad, a Duluth, Minn., native. “It’s also another venue to help young soldiers focus their energy and show their potential. The Army has a structured Physical Readiness Program, but many of the young Soldiers just don’t understand what that means. It’s not just about running. It’s about strength, fitness, stretching and mentality. It’s a great experience for them.”
As competitors began to trickle in, some one at a time while others came in groups, there were smiles all around. There was cheering from the large crowd of on-lookers as runners finished, had their times checked by race workers, and then made their way to the table of refreshments which included water, bananas and oranges. Everyone got a hardy applause when they crossed the finish line, no matter how long it took them. The camaraderie of the runners was a powerful incentive to finish, and finish strong.
“It’s really cool to see Soldiers who usually don’t run farther than four miles go across the finish line,” said Imbriaco. “It’s a real accomplishment for them.”
| Date Taken: | 06.24.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 06.24.2014 18:10 |
| Story ID: | 134262 |
| Location: | EL PASO, TX, US |
| Hometown: | DULUTH, MN, US |
| Web Views: | 233 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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