Thunderbolts show grit in 200-mile relay

  • Published
  • By Lt. Col. Brian Jackson
  • 62nd Fighter Squadron
LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  The words "awesome" and "running a 200-mile race" are not normally used in the same sentence, but that is exactly what was heard Feb. 24 through Saturday from 12 members of the Thunderbolt family.

A team of pilots and spouses from the 56th Operations Group recently competed in the Ragnar Del Sol relay. The Ragnar relay is a 200-mile, two-day relay run on a circuitous course from Wickenburg to Tempe.

The Luke Air Force Base team members ran three legs each varying in length from 3 to 9 miles through two days and one night. But the race wasn't just about the running; it was about the fun challenge of running a race while living out of a minivan with your closest friends.

The team was allowed two vehicles to take runners to the start of each leg of the race. Because of the distances traveled, these vehicles were home to the runners for the entire event, but these Thunderbolts made the best of the situation. The vans were decorated with the team name and squadron colors. Inside sleeping, eating and stretching combined with talking, card playing and movie watching to make this an unforgettable race. Just the logistics of packing the right gear, bringing the right food and drink, and getting rest when and where you could required careful planning and cooperation.

The team members were well trained to run 9 miles at a time, but when combined with little sleep and running at all hours of the day and night, it became quite a challenge.

"We got the call at 3:30 a.m. that we had to start running again in 30 minutes," said Capt. Matt Olson, 62nd FS director of staff. "I had fallen asleep about an hour earlier. Needless to say we were not exactly wellrested for our last leg."

But the members of the Spike relay team were more than ready for this challenge.

The team crossed the finish line together while proudly wearing the squadron colors in just under 28 hours, earning them 40th place out of 391 participating teams. The team averaged a 8:20 per- mile pace over the 200.5-mile course.

The team members agreed they enjoyed the run, but it was the camaraderie between the teammates and other teams that made it memorable.

The difficulty of staying motivated while running alone with just a headlamp at 3 a.m. on an unlit road was made bearable by knowing that around the next corner there would be van loads of other crazy runners ready to cheer you on. But for the members of this relay team, there was another motivation, too.

The Spike team used this race as an opportunity to raise money for the Knights of Heroes Foundation. This foundation was started by another F-16 pilot following the death of Maj. Troy Gilbert in 2006 to commemorate his dedication to his country and family. The foundation sponsors an allexpense paid summer camp for boys and girls who have lost a father while serving in the military. By asking people to support them in the race by making donations to the Knights of Heroes Foundation, the Spike team raised more than $2,600 -- enough to send five boys or girls to the camp.

When asked if she would do it again, Emily Jackson, team captain, said, "If you asked me at the finish I would have said no. But after a day of rest, a good meal and some reflection, now I would say yes. I'm proud of our accomplishment and was amazed at how the team pulled together to beat our goal of 28 hours. If you asked any of the members of this team if they thought the running was fun, I don't think many would say yes. But, if you combine the challenge of the run with great friends and a great cause, the muscle soreness and lack of sleep was well worth it."