Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Joel Quebec | Army Capt. Dianna Pegeuese, a public affairs officer with the 314th Press Camp...... read more read more
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – For the third consecutive year, Army Reserve Soldiers of the 314th Press Camp Headquarters participated in the 13th Mercedes-Benz Marathon held annually in Birmingham, Alabama, where the 314th is stationed.
While the average Soldier must perform an Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT) at least once a year, sometimes more, which includes the two-mile run (a timed event depending on the runner’s age) the majority of Soldiers do not keep themselves to only a minimum of pushups, situps and running a mere two miles. Many push themselves to a higher level and participate in various public races of different distances up to and including marathons.
“I run [the Mercedes Marathon] because it gives me a sense of pride in the accomplishment,” said Staff Sgt. Bryan Tull. The 314th fielded 11 runners in this year’s event. “What I like the most about it,” Tull said, “is doing it with the unit.” Tull competes in about six such races throughout the year culminating the Mercedes.
According to Staff Sgt. Lisa Simunaci it’s a good way to get out into the community.
“Not all of us live right here in Birmingham,” she said, “so it’s a good way for the Army Reserve to interact with the community as well as keep us in the mindset of physical fitness.”
“I love the camaraderie, running with our unit and hopefully we’re inspiring people who don’t run, to get into it.”
The Mercedes-Benz event has a full marathon of 26.2 miles, a half-marathon of 13.1 miles and a team relay consisting of various distances where each of the five the team runners pass off the tracker to the next team mate at intervals if six, three, six, three and then the final eight miles. The 314th relay team finished with a time of 4:37:58.
“I believe that this kind of event breaks the myth of the APFT two-mile run being the pinnacle of fitness,” Tull explained. “While it prepares a Soldier for the APFT, it sets ultimately higher goals.”
“We look forward to this race ever since our first 314th team entry three years ago,” said Lt. Col. Stephen Harlan, the unit’s commander. “Our participation in the Mercedes Marathon has grown beyond an incentive to increase physical fitness. Our Army Reserve public affairs Soldiers use it as a catalyst for team-building, journalist skills training and engagement with the greater Birmingham community. The whole unit comes away from the day with a greater sense of pride and esprit-de-corps for a job well done by all.”
Not all of the 314th troops could be at the Mercedes Marathon. Sgt. Samantha Hamilton had previously arranged to run in the Disney Princess Half Marathon on the same weekend.
“It was fun,” she said. “I’m a little sore right now, but it was a lot of fun.”
For some, running a marathon is a bucket list event or some other source of pride for having accomplished the feat, having persevered through 26.2 miles.
“By the 18th mile I was ready for it to end,” said Army Capt. Oluwole Osibodu, who had been training for months for his first marathon. “I was inspired today by many people who had one kind of ailment, illness or another but still kept running, even an amputee. I might do the next one faster or on an easier course, but this one will always be the most memorable.”
The runners of the 314th PCH were, Full marathon: Capt. Chris Parker and Capt. Oluwole Osibodu.
Half marathon: Capt. Kyle Johnson, Capt. Dianna Pegeuese, Staff Sgt. Lisa Simunaci and Staff Sgt. Bryan Tull. Relay: 1st Lt. Delicia Battle, Capt. Manikia Boyd-Liburd, Command Sgt. Maj. Chris Luchsinger, 1LT Carolyn Nielsen and Staff Sgt. Paul Roberts.
For more information on the Mercedes-Benz Marathon visit: http://www.mercedesmarathon.com/index.php
| Date Taken: | 02.22.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 02.27.2015 16:21 |
| Story ID: | 155576 |
| Location: | BIRMINGHAM, AL, US |
| Hometown: | BIRMINGHAM, AL, US |
| Web Views: | 139 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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