Courtesy Photo | Nine members of the National Guard All-Guard Marathon Team pose after finishing the...... read more read more
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TEXAS - Nine members of the All-Guard Marathon Team, including Arizona’s own Chief Warrant Officer 3 Chase Duarte and Sgt. Luke Mostoller, competed in the Texas Independence Relay running 203 miles from Gonzales to the San Jacinto Monument near Houston, Texas, March 5-6.
The team started at 2:05 p.m., Saturday, March 5 with 146 of the 150 competing teams starting in front of them; most of which had several hours lead, some starting as early as 6:00 a.m.
The race entailed 40 segments ranging from 2.45 to 8.86 miles not including a 1.15-mile prologue and .38-mile epilogue that the team ran together. The team completed the 203-mile race in 22 hours, 22 minutes, 56 seconds for an average of 6 minutes, 37 seconds per mile earning fourth place.
Team Captain Duarte, Arizona Army National Guard, arranged the nine All-Guard runners into an optimal running line-up to match abilities to course-leg descriptions in order to maximize the team’s strength.
“I used a formula based on everyone’s predicted pace per mile and re-arranged the running order several times; each time the aggregate team time was faster,” said Duarte.
Duarte ran more than 25 miles of the relay and averaged an even 6:00 minute per mile pace during the race. Mostoller completed nearly 23 miles and averaged 6:47 minute per mile pace.
The race allows for 12 runners per team and the All-Guard Team fielded nine runners putting them at a disadvantage competitively as they had to pick up additional segments with less recovery time between legs.
Not only did they compete with three fewer runners, but they entered in the elite open men’s category having two women on the team.
“Some tell me having nine instead of 12 runners, two of which are women, would handicap us, but the team didn’t think twice about it, rather they embraced the challenge,” said Duarte.
“Additionally our women, Maj. Rebecca Hoffman with the South Dakota Army National Guard, and Capt. Varinka Barbini with the Kentucky National Guard, are strong runners who can compete in this type of event at this level.”
“This event is in it’s fourth year and is growing, last year the team’s same time would have placed them second overall,” said Sgt. 1st Class Mike Hagen, NGB Marathon coordinator.
“Texas has the nation’s most Guard members and we received a lot of support from the communities we ran through. It was a successful event, and we brought a lot of positive visibility to the National Guard.”
The next event for the All-Guard Marathon Team is the Bataan Memorial Marathon in White Sands, N.M., March 27.
The Lincoln National Guard Marathon in conjunction with the National Guard Bureau’s Recruiting/Retention workshop for runners is May 1. Here Guard members from around the country compete for their state team and vie for a spot on the coveted All-Guard Marathon Team.
Last year 265 Guardsmen participated in the 2010 Lincoln National Guard Marathon. This event displays community excellence through partnership with the Lincoln Track Club by marketing and hosting the sold out Lincoln National Guard Marathon which reached it’s capacity of 10,000 runners earlier this year; it has earned the reputation as a premier "military" event ranked with the USAF Marathon, USMC Marathon, and the Army 10-Miler.
Soldiers and airmen who compete at this event serve as physical fitness mentors to fellow National Guard soldiers/airmen and civilians by utilizing All-Guard Marathon Team athletes and Guard Fit Challenge to increase unit readiness levels and provide valuable lead-generating tools for local area recruiters.
“The All-Guard team runners generated more than 500 recruiting leads in FY10,” said Hagen.
“Additionally, the All-Guard team improves the image of the National Guard by educating the public at two-day marathon health and fitness expositions.”
At the local level all soldiers and airmen who attend the National Guard Bureau’s Recruiting/Retention workshop for runners perform five recruiting and retention duties which enhance the recruiting and retention force by presenting the image of a fit and healthy National Guard.
“Several runners exceeded five events last year,” said Hagen.
“Based on last year's attendance, direct National Guard lead generation exposure tops 1,325 events in local communities across the country.”
| Date Taken: | 03.05.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 03.11.2011 13:55 |
| Story ID: | 66869 |
| Location: | TX, US |
| Web Views: | 346 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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