North Dakota Guardsmen excel at Lincoln Marathon

Courtesy Photo | Maj. Nathan Dicks, of Mankato, Minn., veteran athlete and North Dakota Marathon Team coach, crosses the finish line May 3 at the Lincoln National Guard Marathon in Nebraska. With a pace of seven minutes/mile, he finished the marathon in 37th place out of 1,147 Lincoln Marathon participants. (U.S. National Guard photo courtesy of Nebraska National Guard/Released)  

BISMARCK, ND, UNITED STATES

05.03.2015

Courtesy Story

North Dakota National Guard Public Affairs

BISMARCK, N.D. — Seven members of the North Dakota National Guard marathon team were among the 1,147 participants who ran the 26.2-mile Lincoln Marathon May 3 in Nebraska.

Team coach Maj. Nathan Dicks, of Mankato, Minnesota, led the North Dakota runners in the Lincoln National Guard Marathon, a part of the Lincoln Marathon, finishing the race in three hours, three minutes. He and Sgt. 1st Class Sharlene Seefeld, of Bismarck, who finished in four hours, took first place in their respective age divisions.

Dicks, Seefeld and 1st Lt. Aaron Kramer, of Bismarck, who finished in 3 hours, 25 minutes, qualified for the National Guard Bureau’s All-Guard Marathon Team, which is comprised of the fastest 15 female and 40 male participants in the Lincoln National Guard Marathon.

“Marathon preparation requires a lot of self-discipline, endurance and perseverance – highly desirable qualities of all Soldiers and Airmen,” said Maj. Gen. David Sprynczynatyk, North Dakota adjutant general. “Events like this are tremendous training opportunities and I applaud each of our Guard members for their efforts in preparing for and participating in this race.”

Seefeld was the only female on North Dakota’s team this year. After participating in the 2014 Lincoln National Guard Marathon, she spent the year training with the hopes of qualifying for the Boston Marathon. She missed her goal finish time by mere minutes but that hasn’t left her discouraged.

“I would love to run Boston in 2016 and I’m not going to quit until that happens,” she said. “I have great support and as long as I have that, I can accomplish anything.” She said that she would be happy to see more female representation on North Dakota’s team, as well as more “rookie” participants.

To be considered for the Lincoln National Guard Marathon, participants must prequalify by completing a marathon in a predetermined timeframe within 12 months of the race, or they can register as the “team rookie,” which doesn’t require prequalification. Capt. Jarrod Simek, of Dickinson, North Dakota, fulfilled that role this year and finished with a time of four hours, 50 minutes.

Also participating were veteran runners Maj. Jerod Tufte, of Dawson, North Dakota, who finished the course in three hours, 56 minutes; Tech. Sgt. Adam Krueger, of Fargo, North Dakota, who completed the marathon in four hours and Staff Sgt. Adam Walsvik, of Menoken, North Dakota, who finished in four hours, two minutes.

This year marked the 31st anniversary of the National Guard Marathon, which is facilitated solely by volunteers. It has been run in conjunction with the Lincoln Marathon since the early 2000s.

According to the National Guard Bureau, the marathon program is designed to instill self-discipline and esprit de corps among Soldiers and Airmen and to enhance quality of life and well-being for the participants.

• Date Taken: 05.03.2015
• Date Posted: 05.11.2015 20:23
• Story ID: 162968
• Location: BISMARCK, ND, US
• Hometown: BISMARCK, ND, US
• Hometown: DICKINSON, ND, US
• Hometown: MENOKEN, ND, US