A Running Celebration on Fort Bragg

Photo By Stephenie Tatum | Donna Palisca, 31, crosses the finish line at the 12th annual Fort Bragg Birthday 10-Miler Friday as the top female finisher overall with a time of 1:04:37. This was Palisca's third time in a row winning the race.  

FORT BRAGG, NC, UNITED STATES

06.13.2008

Story by Stephenie Tatum 

Fort Liberty Garrison Public Affairs Office

By Stephenie Tatum
Fort Bragg Public Affairs Office

FORT BRAGG, N.C. -- As most people were just waking up Friday morning, others were lacing up their running shoes on Fort Bragg. Just as the sun was rising around 6:30 a.m., about 1000 runners dashed across the starting line to run the streets of "the home of the airborne" and compete in the 12th annual Fort Bragg Army Birthday 10-Miler on Longstreet Road celebrating the Army's 233rd Birthday.

This year's event also featured a four mile walk for fun, which drew about 65 participants. An additional change to the 2008 race was the location of the starting line, due to construction at Hedricks Stadium.

"The 10-Miler race is held not only as a special way for Soldiers and family members to celebrate the Army's birthday but also as a qualifying race for the Fort Bragg men's and women's Army 10-Miler teams," said Karen White, Fort Bragg Sports, Fitness and Aquatics athletic director. White went on to say, "We have got a large community and the military and their readiness, including their fitness, is important. Fitness is a natural fit to their normal daily life and regiment."

The Army 10-Miler race runs along the streets of the Nation's capital and is scheduled for Oct. 5 in Washington D.C. So far, 26,000 runners have registered to compete in the "Army strong" race.

For many runners, this was not their first race or their last. When asked about her results, Donna Palisca, 31, was in high spirits and optimistic about the future. "I am very happy. It was a tough race but I had a good and tough challenger (Angela Johnson). I wanted to continue my running streak and I did. I hope my husband can be here next year," said Palisca.

Palisca has won first place in the women's overall category at the Fort Bragg Army Birthday 10-Miler for three years in a row.

A paratrooper from the 1st Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Battalion was this year's male overall winner of the 10-miler event. Lawton Hare, 23, won the race with an impressive time of 59 minutes, 43 seconds, breaking his goal of finishing in less than 60 minutes.

"It feels great. It has been a while since I won an overall race," said Hare, who was off to celebrate his accomplishment at the International House of Pancakes after the awards ceremony.

The 2008 Fort Bragg Army Birthday 10-Miler awards were presented by Brig. Gen. Arthur Bartell, deputy commanding general of the XVIII Airborne Corps and Fort Bragg, who along with Palisca and Hare conducted the ceremonial cake cutting with a saber following the awards ceremony.

Bartell remarked how proud he and the Army were of the runners and their accomplishments. Closing his remarks, Bartell commented, "Just looking at the results, I think we're going to kick some butt in October."

• Date Taken: 06.13.2008
• Date Posted: 06.18.2008 10:32
• Story ID: 20599
• Location: FORT BRAGG, NC, US