Photo By Tech. Sgt. Victoria Nelson | Senior Master Sgt. Jeff Delorey, the superintendent of health services with the 157th...... read more read more
Subscribe
PEASE AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, N.H. -- On the morning of Sept. 13, a bus of endurance runners from around the globe left Nairobi, Kenya, and rumbled across hundreds of miles into the wide-open wilderness of Eastern Africa.
Among those runners was an Air National Guardsman from Hampton Falls, New Hampshire--Senior Master Sgt. Jeff Delorey, the superintendent of health services with the 157th Air Refueling Squadron.
After a seven-hour journey, Delorey and the other cramped and sweaty passengers stepped off the bus and into their base camp at the Lewa Conservancy. That was just the beginning of a 143-mile ultramarathon across four wildlife conservancies in support of the wildlife rangers who protect Africa's most endangered species.
Five days of running later, Delorey would be first across the finish line, 41 minutes ahead of the second place competitor.
“It was challenging, the heat we were in, the environment, the mental grit, all of it,” said Delorey. “When I crossed the finish line I was emotional. My heart and mind couldn’t be fuller from this journey.”
The stage race, which included daily mileage ranging from 24 to 30 miles, traversed winding dirt roads through baking grasslands, rocky hills, riverbeds and mountain forest teeming with East African wildlife.
Delorey said he and his fellow runners used the paths the local conservation rangers used to navigate while working to protect the wildlife. They also had the opportunity to go through small, rural villages and meet the locals living there.
The runners passed three checkpoints during the daily stages, each stocked with water, medical care and a time check. The checkpoints provided the opportunity to refuel, get hydrated and stay safe.
“A couple sections, we were running within feet of these enormous baboons, cape buffalo and elephants,” said Delorey, “The rangers and directors did everything in their power to make the course safe but you still had to be vigilant running on the animals’ land.”
The runners finished the first four stages at temporary base camps built by teams of race crew. The small sea of tents was settled around a community structure and a fire pit. Delorey said he enjoyed sharing stories and learning about his fellow runners around the nightly fire.
“It makes you realize how important and how much value there is in connecting with humans from other parts of the world,” he said, adding it was also a time for the participants to learn more about why they were running.
The For Rangers Ultra is an annual event centered around raising funds for the welfare of wildlife rangers. According to the Wildlife Conservation Society, the largest and longest standing field conservation program in Africa, poaching activities for rhinos and elephants have reached catastrophic levels in the past decade.
Delorey said the rangers who supported the race were highly knowledgeable about the plants, the landscape, and the animal behaviors, something he found inspiring and provided a new appreciation for the work.
“They were wonderful humans and just true warriors,” he said of the rangers who risk their lives every day to protect the animal populations that have been decimated through poaching and industrialization.
Delorey originally planned to compete in September 2020 but the race was postponed two years in a row because of the COVID-19 pandemic. He still managed to find a silver lining in the delay and took the obstacle in stride.
Maj. Michelle Mastrobattista, the administration officer for the 157th MDG, said Delorey took the delay as an opportunity to train more and kept a positive attitude throughout.
“There were a couple times during his training that he would share setbacks but they never got in his way,” she said.
After waiting through global setbacks and also becoming a father in the year before the event, Delorey said the journey felt surreal but he was ready for the challenge.
He added that his Air Force career has taught him how to overcome challenges, navigate obstacles and adapt in real-time–all skills that prepared him for the lengthy training block and race that both tested his resolve.
“I think there are a lot of similarities to how you approach goals in the military and how you approach them in endurance races,” he said. “You have to constantly go through your checklist and it’s all really strategic. You can’t let your mind wander too much because there are so many things going through your head to make sure you are running efficiently and safely.”
Delorey said after three years of waiting and training he felt a sigh of relief when he crossed the finish line in first place. He also believe he found his athletic niche and plans to pursue more stage races in the future.
Mastrobatista said she wasn’t shocked by the performance.
“I don’t think he set out to win, but I wasn’t surprised because he always does his best. He did this race to challenge himself and that is an amazing feat on its own,” she said.
The ultra-running guardsman credited his family as a big part of his success.
“My wife is so supportive and my family is really the reason I’m able to do this,” he added. “They make me excited for what is on the horizon.”
| Date Taken: | 09.23.2022 |
| Date Posted: | 09.23.2022 16:49 |
| Story ID: | 430011 |
| Location: | NH, US |
| Web Views: | 473 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
This work, Airman Wins 140-Mile Ultramarathon in Kenya, Africa, by TSgt Victoria Nelson, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
LEAVE A COMMENT