AETC selects two Luke runners for marathon

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt. Phil Ventura
  • 56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  Air Education and Training Command has selected two Luke runners to represent the base and command at this year's Air Force Marathon, scheduled to take place Sept. 16 at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio.

Master Sgt. Mary Simmons, 56th Medical Group patient advocate, and Tech. Sgt. Philip Cushman Jr., 56th Communications Squadron NCO in charge of network administration, earned two of the four slots sponsored by AETC for this year's race.

More than 40 runners from across the command submitted packages for the slots, said Judy Peterson, 56th Services Fitness Center programs director.

"I don't feel like a terribly gifted athlete, but if you work at it, you can achieve great things," Sergeant Cushman said.

This will be Sergeant Cushman's second time running the Air Force Marathon and sixth marathon in his running career. His goal is to run the 26.2 mile race in under 3 hours, 8 minutes. To date, his best marathon time is 3 hours, 15 minutes, which he set at the Las Vegas marathon, in Nevada last year.

"I feel a little more pressure to succeed now that I'm being sponsored," Sergeant Cushman said.

While this will be her second full marathon, Sergeant Simmons has been a runner all her life. She ran Phoenix's 2006 P.F. Chang's Rock 'n' Roll Marathon in 4 hours, 13 minutes, and is aiming to complete the Air Force Marathon in less than four hours.

Last year she competed as part of an AETCsponsored relay team at the Air Force marathon.

"It's a privilege to represent the base and the command," Sergeant Simmons said.

Both runners describe the training they are doing for the race as, "intense." They have been juggling getting up early and using parts of their weekends for running and weight training, while continuing to work and contribute to their families.

And while both runners appreciate the physical benefits of their training, Sergeant Simmons also uses the time for meditation and spiritual reflection.

"I always think of the Bible verse that refers to 'our bodies as a temple for the lord,'" Sergeant Simmons said. "And if I wish for the Holy Spirit to enter and live in me, then I want it to be a place of honor and respect."

The Air Force Marathon is an official Air Force event. It began in 1997 to celebrate the Air Force's 50th anniversary. This year there will be a half marathon, 10K and 5K race options in addition to the full marathon.

More information on the event can be found at www.usafmarathon.com.