KFOR Runner Finishes Army Ten-Miler, completes 1,000 miles on Camp Bondsteel

Courtesy Photo | Multi-National Battle Group-East soldier Maj. Robert Lundgren, Task Force Falcon Medical Preventive Medicine officer in charge, logs the 1,000 mile run on Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo, in his log book. Lundgren is a member of the North Dakota National Guard who arrived October 2009, part of Kosovo forces 12 and extended with KFOR 13. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Joshua Dodds, 130th Public Affairs Detachment)  

CAMP BONDSTEEL, KOSOVO

10.24.2010

Courtesy Story

130th Public Affairs Detachment

By Sgt. Joshua Dodds

CAMP BONDSTEEL, Kosovo - Physical training has been the backbone to the Army Fitness Program for decades, and with the evolution of the Army Comprehensive Soldier Fitness Program, focus is given to not only physical, but to mental fitness.

A Multi-National Battle Group-East soldier has embraced fitness for the last 30 years, and has been keeping track.

When Maj. Robert Lundgren, Task Force Falcon Medical preventive medicine officer in charge, crossed the finish line of the Army Ten-Miler, Oct. 24, it was his 1,000th mile run at Camp Bondsteel.

Lundgren has been running in Kosovo since arriving with KFOR 12 in October 2009, and his logged miles include a marathon and numerous Morale, Welfare and Recreation five and 10 kilometer fun runs at Camp Bondsteel, usually held on holidays.

Lundgren said he started actively running in 1980 during high school, and to keep track of his accomplishments he has kept a log book noting every mile run. Since 1980 he has consistently averaged 800 miles a year.

"I have been logging my runs since I started, and have about 3 or 4 journals filled back home," he said.

Lundgren, Bismarck, N.D., spent 12 years in the Air Force expanding his love of running before joining the North Dakota Army National Guard in 2002, where he works in preventive medicine for the State Medical Detachment.

"I completed numerous five [km] and ten [km] runs and slowly evolved to marathons," he said. "Then I got into triathlons - which is something I really enjoyed to do - but Desert Storm hit and put an end to my training, so I went back to strictly running."

"I extended with KFOR 13 to gain more experience in my job and get better at it," he said. "Deployments are a great learning environment to apply training in a real world situation."

Lundgren said as a member of preventive medicine he is responsible for the force health protection of all personnel on Camp Bondsteel by checking water and air quality, food facility inspections, and ensuring healthy living conditions.

His duty mirrors his outlook on his own health and well being. His dedication to his own health bodes well from those who live and work here.

"I run to stay healthy and to keep in shape. I hope to lead by example to promote health and fitness," Lundgren said.

The Army Ten-Miler is an annual event held at the Pentagon and other locations where U.S. service members are stationed.

• Date Taken: 10.24.2010
• Date Posted: 11.01.2010 17:32
• Story ID: 59248
• Location: CAMP BONDSTEEL, ZZ