Keeping it in stride

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Kristina Overton
  • 341st Missile Wing Public Affairs Office
MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. --  With Air Force's new physical training standards, the essential need to remain physically fit is more apparent than ever. Some Airmen dedicate countless hours a week to staying in shape, while others just do what's necessary to remain aloft. Regardless of whether servicemembers work out to remain up to standards or for enjoyment, PT is a personal thing. Some go above and beyond the expectations of the Air Force, like 2nd Lt. Todd Brinkley, 341st Missile Maintenance Squadron officer in charge of facilities maintenance section.

Lieutenant Brinkley competed in the ING New York City Marathon Nov. 1, finishing with a time of two hours and 49 minutes and covering 26.2 miles. The marathon is one of the largest in the world, with a course that runs through all five boroughs of New York City.

"You had to qualify for it," said the lieutenant about the NYC marathon. "There are two other premier marathons in the United States, the Boston Marathon and the Chicago Marathon."

Lieutenant Brinkley loves marathon running, but initially running was just a way for him to stay in shape.

"I was overweight in elementary school," he said. "I started running in about the 6th grade and lost 30 pounds. I never really got serious about it until after college though. I basically just concluded that I was decent at running, saw results and kept at it."

"Marathon running is a good goal, but it's something people have to work towards," the lieutenant continued. "Everyone's capable of doing it, but it's not necessarily for everyone."

The lieutenant has been running marathons for two and a half years. His first marathon was the Little Rock Marathon in March of 2007 and then the HSBC Calgary in Canada in May of 2009.

"Running is like eating for me," he said. "I have to do it. I feel on top of my game when I run, being in such good shape. For me, running keeps me normal and generally it just helps me to function better."

To compete in marathons, runners must endure strenuous training and conditioning. Failure to properly train can result in serious injuries or failure to complete a race.

"Training can consist of up to 50 to 70 miles a week, which I run mostly on weekends," said Lieutenant Brinkley. "Food wise, I try to keep it as healthy as possible and stay hydrated. I drink tons of water and tons of coffee."

Training in Great Falls isn't always an easy task either. With the weather variations and perception of some of the people in the area, marathon preparation can become hazardous.

"In training, I get yelled at a lot for running," said the lieutenant. "I've even had a bottle thrown at me on New Year's Eve. Sometimes when I'm running people make fun of my shorts. It's beyond me how someone will make fun of a person in typical running clothes. I assume it's because people think I'm weird for running, but it's worth it."

Lieutenant Brinkley's next marathon will be the 26.2 mile Boston Marathon in April 2010.