FORT BRAGG, North Carolina — In ancient Greece a messenger named Pheidippides ran from the city of Marathon to Athens to tell of the military victory the Greeks held over the invading Persians.
Though the military no longer uses running as a method of message delivery, running is still used as a way to maintain overall readiness, personal fitness and esprit de corps among Soldiers.
“What I like about running is [that] you get what you put in,” said Staff Sgt. Claudia McNally, a Psychological Operations Specialist assigned to Alpha Company, 6th Psychological Operation Battalion, 4th Psychological Operations Group, here.
McNally and a team of other Soldiers will be representing Fort Bragg at the Army’s annual Army Ten-Miler in Washington D.C. on October 7, 2018.
McNally was born in Germany and moved to the U.S. at the age of 19 years old when she was recruited to run cross-country at Coastal Carolina University.
“I graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration but eventually decided to enlist,” said McNally.
Once in the Army, McNally joined the Fort Bragg Ten-Miler team in 2013.
“I found out about the team while I was still in SWCS [the U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School], the selection program for Psychological Operations,” said McNally. “A friend of mine told me that I was a good runner and should tryout.”
Over the years she has alternated between running on the team and coaching it. But this year is special for her, because she was accepted into the Army’s Officer Candidate School and this will be her last race representing Fort Bragg.
McNally has been working with U.S. Army Maj. Kelly Calway to prepare for the upcoming race. Calway not only coaches McNally but she coaches the All Army Women’s Marathon and Cross-Country team as well as runs for the All Army Ten-Miler team.
“We focus on building her [McNally’s] endurance early in the season, said Calway. “So when it’s super hot down there at Fort Bragg she is getting in the miles.”
Calway designed workouts for McNally that will help her increase her efficiency and strength over time. This allows her to hit her peak during the race.
“Once she has a good base in endurance, I add in the anaerobic speed work,” said Calway.
McNally has proved herself to be a serious athlete who takes competition and her training very seriously, said Calway. It being her last run for Fort Bragg and the beginning of a new chapter in her military career only adds to her drive for success.
“She is one of the best people I have ever coached,” said Calway. “I’ve previously coached at West Point [United States Military Academy], the marathon team there, and I’ve coached a number of people and she is so dedicated.”
Though she is not delivering a message, McNally will be running the Army Ten-Miler Race with a sense of honor, because, like Pheidippides, she will representing something bigger than herself.
“In the end everything happens for a reason,” said McNally. “I am looking forward to competing one last time for Fort Bragg, and I am so honored to represent them.”
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