FORT CARSON, Colo.—Fourteen Soldiers lined up at the starting line for the last of four Army Ten-Miler time trial runs, June 25, for a chance to earn a place on one of the Fort Carson teams.
“It’s a great race in Washington, D.C.,” said Maj. Lindsey Halter, commander, Fox Company, 7th Battalion, 158th Aviation Regiment, 224th Aviation Brigade, 11th Aviation Command. “It’s a beautiful day spent running in great weather with around 30,000 other people. It’s a terrific atmosphere and being able to represent Fort Carson is an honor.”
The Army Ten-Miler began Oct. 13, 1985, started by fitness officials connected with the Army Headquarters staff in the Pentagon. The race was originally led by staff assigned to the Pentagon with the logistic support of the Military District of Washington and was reassigned to the Military District, where it is headed by a year-round, full-time professional staff.
“Since the inception of this race Fort Carson has had a long history of participation with a lot of success,” said Lorri Martindale, fitness facilities manager, Directorate of Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation. “Right now the Fort Carson male team has won the commander’s cup for three years running.”
If the male team wins the commander’s cup again this year, it will be the first to achieve four straight wins.
Martindale said that once the time trials are complete the fastest eight male and female runners are chosen to represent Fort Carson in eight-member male and female teams.
“We hope to have great teams again this year to show force for Fort Carson and I think the outcome will be really good,” said Martindale, who’s organized the Fort Carson teams for 15 years.
Even though not all of the runners will make the teams, the time trials still served as a personal challenge and team building exercise.
“We motivated each other. Every time someone passed me we cheered each other on and every time I passed I did the same for them,” said Sgt. Philip Plack, cavalry scout, Bravo Troop, 2nd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division. “We didn’t run like we were trying to beat each other we ran like we wanted to be better as a team. One team one fight.”
Once the team rosters are approved by Maj. Gen. Ryan F. Gonsalves, commanding general, 4th Inf. Div. and Fort Carson, the Soldiers will begin training together in preparation for the 2015 event scheduled on Oct. 11.