Photo By Staff Sgt. Jimmie Baker | U.S. Army Cpt. Payton Heitkamp, civil affairs officer, 92nd Civil Affairs Battalion, ...... read more read more
Subscribe
More Than Miles: Inside Team SF’s Relentless March Through the JFK 50 Mile By Staff Sgt. Jimmie Baker
BOONSBORO, Md. — Before the sun crests the ridgeline above Boonsboro, the Appalachian Trail lies in wait—silent, cold and indifferent to the thousands gathering at its base. Among them stands Team SF, a formation of operators, Soldiers, veterans and family members bound not by uniform but by a relentless drive to test themselves against 50 unforgiving miles. The JFK 50 Mile is the longest-running ultramarathon in the nation. What began six years ago with a handful of Green Berets embracing the challenge has grown into a community of 132 strong; powered by resilience, heritage and the unbreakable spirit of the Army’s special operations community.
BUILDING A RUNNER, BUILDING A TEAM Training for the JFK 50 Mile differs from conventional race prep; it’s a juggling act. Work-ups range from three to six months, depending on a runner’s base fitness, schedule, or—common among the active-duty ranks—injuries that never fully healed. Runners start around 20 miles per week and build to 40–60, balancing early-morning miles with strength training, mobility drills, hydration strategies and deliberate recovery. At the forefront of Team SF stands Command Sgt. Maj. Lionel Strong, the senior enlisted advisor for the 1st Special Forces Command (Airborne) and the leader of this year’s team.“Preparation matters, but it doesn’t mean things will be easy,” Strong said. “Accept the fact that running 50 miles is hard and build your training plan around durability and resiliency, be comfortable being uncomfortable, and rely on good teammates to pull you through your low points.”During the JFK 50 Mile, the Appalachian Trail (AT) section is where the race shows its true rugged character. Covering roughly the first 15-16 miles, this stage takes runners over rocky, root-strewn terrain and steep climbs. Most notably, the accent to South Mountain. The trail demands focus and technical footing on the sharp, uneven rocks that define most of the AT. For many runners, the AT segment is both the most scenic and the most challenging part of the JFK 50 Mile. One of the standout performances from Team SF belonged to Cpt. Payton Heitkamp, a civil affairs officer assigned to the 92nd Civil Affairs Battalion. Heitkamp finished 12th in the Overall Female division and completed the 50 miles in a little over seven hours. Heitkamp’s cohort from Team SF and the Sandhills Running Club logged miles across Southern Pines, Pinehurst and Fort Bragg. Sand trails, rolling country roads, humidity-heavy mornings and cold winter winds give them a mixed but punishing training ground. These routes bear little resemblance to the Appalachian Trail’s ankle-breaking rock fields—but that’s the point. Uncertainty is baked into the training. “You don’t get to rehearse the exact terrain,” Heitkamp said. “So, you train for everything.” Their hallmark: a 30-mile long run roughly a month out, a rehearsal for the low points and discipline required on race day. “Perseverance was crucial many times during the race,” Heitkamp stated. “There were many times my legs were tired, and I wanted to just walk to the finish. In those moments, I tried to think less of myself and ran for those around me who lifted me up.”
THE CHARACTER OF A 50-MILE RUNNER Team SF is open to all, but certain values are found within each member of the team. Humility, hard work, self-discipline, and teamwork. These are the non-negotiables. “Somewhere around mile 37, hard work and humility collide and you see people’s character,” Strong said. “There is a lot of time to reflect and appreciate the little things like a hot cup of coffee, a dry T-shirt or socks, or helping another person who may be struggling along the route. You will see the best in people throughout the race.” Heitkamp emphasized self-discipline—not just in training, but in the unglamorous tasks runners often skip: accessory exercises, injury-prevention routines, nutrition planning.
INTEGRATING OPERATORS, FAMILIES AND VETERANS INTO ONE FORMATION Team SF is unique among military groups in the race because of its diversity. This year’s team included 97 men, 35 women, and runners from age 15 to 59. There were seasoned operators, junior Soldiers, spouses pushing their limits, veterans reconnecting with military life, and even children embarking in the historic race. “It’s about connecting people and communities, not the beret you wear or your background,” Strong said. “Everyone has taken in the same challenge, everyone made sacrifices and put in hours of hard work. We are all just trying to get across the finish line; both in the race and in life.” The team trains together when schedules allow, often only on weekends or one day a month. Yet the camaraderie is unmistakable. Heitkamp noted that even sporadic attendance is met with encouragement, never judgment. “I am only able to run with the team about once a month; however, when I am able to make it everyone is encouraging and supportive,” Heitkamp said.
Brown Bags, Family Crews and the Quiet Heroes of Mile 38 While the runners fight the trail, a small army of volunteers ensures they stay fueled, hydrated and mentally anchored. The JFK 50 Mile’s 14 aid stations provide baseline support, but Team SF adds its own coordinated pit crews at mile markers 15.5, 27, 38 and the finish line. Soldiers, spouses, parents and kids stand in the cold for hours to hand off gear, calories and offer encouragement. Heitkamp described the “brown bag system”: each runner labels bags for each checkpoint with nutrition and gear preferences. Volunteers sort, deliver and ensure no one misses their critical resupply. “It might sound simple,” Heitkamp said, “but these bags allowed us to switch shoes, socks, shirts—everything. They allowed us to get across the finish line.” Strong said morale spikes every time a runner sees the pit crew—especially at Mile 38, where exhaustion peaks and spirits dip. “Almost everyone who volunteers wants to run the next year,” Strong said. “Crossing the finish line with friends and family brings relevance to hard training sessions and sacrifices made along the way.”
THE WEIGHT OF HISTORY: JFK, SPECIAL FORCES AND THE 50-MILE CHALLENGE The JFK 50 Mile is not just another race for Team SF. It is part of their lineage. Although open to the public, the JFK 50 Mile is in spirit a military race. It always has been and always will be. In 1962, President Kennedy challenged military officers to complete a 50-mile foot march to maintain their commissions, reviving a concept first championed by Theodore Roosevelt. Soldiers, NCOs and civilians joined in, creating the first iteration of the ultramarathon in the spring of 1963. Kennedy created an everlasting impact on the special operations community that is still on display today. Kennedy visited Fort Bragg in 1961 and authorized the wear of the Green Beret for the Special Forces. After his assassination, First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy requested the Green Berets be a part of his funeral. Retired Command Sgt. Maj. Francis Rudy, alongside over 40 Green Berets, were assembled as Kennedy’s Honor Guard. Rudy placed his beret on the President’s graveside, a tradition every command sergeant major fulfills each year. That heritage is not forgotten. Newer Team SF runners are given that backstory early—sometimes formally, sometimes through storytelling on long runs. Many listen to a Special Warfare Center podcast episode dedicated to the JFK 50 Mile. “We use the run to share our stories of our lineage and the connection to JFK with other runners,” Strong said.
TEAM SF VS. THE FIELD Team SF has become a dominant presence at the JFK 50 Mile in recent years. The team has won the Kennedy Cup, awarded to the top military team, three of the past six years. The U.S. Naval Academy claimed the prize the last two years, raising the stakes—and the excitement—for the Army–Navy rivalry on the course. What distinguishes Team SF, Strong says, isn’t athletic dominance so much as a culture of resilience and commitment. The team came into this year with three goals: build a community by connecting the military to the local area, get every runner across the finish line health, and win back the Kennedy Cup.
WHY THEY RUN Before joining Team SF, Heitkamp had never run anything close to 50 miles. But at Fort Bragg, surrounded by Soldiers relentlessly pushing their limits, the JFK 50 Mile felt like the natural next step. “The challenge of running 50 miles sounded a bit crazy, but I was curious what I could do and was excited to compete as a member of the team,” Heitkamp said.
For Strong, the race is personal. Distance running became a healthy outlet—one that helped him manage PTSD, maintain fitness and find meaning outside the operational tempo. “I found an outlet to connect with people, nature, and spiritually,” Strong said. “I met amazing people with inspiring stories.” Strong highlighted some moments that have inspired him such as finishing last year’s race with his daughter Rebecca, completing this year’s race with his wife Cassie, watching his 15-year-old daughter Elizabeth compete this year, and witnessing a Wound Warrior complete the race with one functioning lung and a body full of shrapnel.
THE FINISH LINE: AN END AND A BEGINNING As runners approach Williamsport High School, legs shaking, teeth chattering, emotions raw, the cheering becomes a wall of noise. Children sprint out to meet parents. Spouses hold signs. Veterans embrace former teammates. Heritage meets the present. Pain meets pride. Heitkamp said finishing represents challenging yourself for the betterment of the team and the nation. Strong sees it differently but no less powerfully: “The finish line just symbolizes the start of your next hard thing. What will you do next?” For Team SF, the answer is simple. They will keep running. For each other. For the community. For the Green Beret. For President Kennedy’s challenge echoing across six decades. And next year, they’ll be back on that start line—132 strong, or perhaps more—ready to face the rocky trail, the long canal path, the final punishing road. Continuing to carry the legacy of the special operations community with every mile.
| Date Taken: | 12.04.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 12.08.2025 14:27 |
| Story ID: | 553029 |
| Location: | BOONSBORO, MARYLAND, US |
| Web Views: | 19 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, More Than Miles: Inside Team SF’s Relentless March Through the JFK 50 Mile, by SSG Jimmie Baker, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
