Sweat burns her eyes as she looks through her sunglasses at the road ahead.
It is another cool morning at about 88 degrees. With the desert sun rising in the sky, it won't stay that way for long. It is just her and the asphalt in front of her, foot after foot, mile after mile. If the late Gen. George S. Patton was right when he said, 'A pint of sweat will save a gallon of blood,' she will never have to worry about bleeding.
This is a normal morning for Capt. Kristen Thompson, 964th Expeditionary Airborne Air Control Squadron, who ran her thousandth mile, Aug. 26, since getting here in May.
This is nothing new for her though.
"I have been a runner all my life," the California native said. "I run about the same amount at home so this really wasn't a step up. Both my parents are runners, so they got me into it at a young age.
"I was about three," she added.
According to Staff Sgt. Vincent Sims, fitness supervisor and personal trainer from the 380th Expeditionary Force Support Squadron, running is an important part of the fit to fight concept.
"It keeps our force lean and ready," he said. "Benefits of running are weight loss, having an elevated mood and more energy, which helps us do more, longer"
Not only does this show her dedication to have a healthier life and be fit to fight, but it also shows Airmen that they can achieve their physical fitness goals — even if it is running 1000 miles, he added.
Running a thousand miles wasn't a hard goal for the Air Force captain to reach.
"It is just my time to go out and relax," Captain Thompson said.
"A lot of people come up to me and say, 'I know you are a runner, can I go running with you? It will help me make my goals,'" she said. "It is good helping people get fit to fight."