Global Strike Command pounds the pavement

by Airman 1st Class Joseph Raatz
Air Force Global Strike Command Public Affairs

9/18/2013 - BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. -- Elite athletes from all around Air Force Global Strike Command will compete against thousands of other runners at the Air Force Marathon on Wright-Patterson Air Force base, Ohio.

Scheduled for Sept. 21, the 17th annual Air Force Marathon is expected to draw approximately 15,000 participants across four events. Athletes may elect to run a half-marathon or a five or 10 kilometer race, rather than the full marathon. The 26.2 mile full-marathon course traverses several historic locations on Wright-Patterson Air Force Base including the National Museum of the United States Air Force, the Air Force Institute of Technology and the Wright Brothers Memorial Monument.

As part of the race, AFGSC team members will participate in the Major Command Challenge, an Air Force-wide competition open to active-duty and activated Guard and Reserve servicemembers. The challenge pits MAJCOM teams against one another in a friendly competition to achieve the lowest combined time. A prestigious traveling trophy will be presented to the winning team's MAJCOM commander.

Gen. Bruce Carlson established the MAJCOM Challenge in 2007 to promote broader participation in the Air Force Marathon and foster esprit-de-corps through inter-MAJCOM competition. This is the first year teams will include 10 members and scores will be based purely on combined time.

In accordance with Air Force Marathon regulations the AFGSC team consists of seven men and three women, split into two groups. Members include:

Full Marathon
Capt. Bryan Kelly, 393d Bomb Squadron, Whiteman AFB, Mo.
1st Lt. Elizabeth Brown, 91st Operations Support Squadron, Minot AFB, N.D.
Tech. Sgt. Marc Rehm, 608th Air Communications Squadron, Barksdale AFB
Senior Airman Kyle Sturdefant, 5th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Minot AFB

Half Marathon
Maj. Warren Carroll, 2nd Bomb Wing, Barksdale AFB
Capt. Kevin Hostettler, 509th Bomb Wing, Whiteman AFB
Senior Master Sgt. Julie Van Hise, 709th Munitions Squadron, Whiteman AFB
Senior Airman Tania Miranda Costa, 90th Logistics Readiness Squadron, F.E. Warren AFB, Wyo.
Airman 1st Class Timothy Schlappich, 5th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Minot AFB
Airman 1st Class Cyril Rumsey, 90th Force Support Squadron, F.E. Warren AFB

Sturdefant will return this year to once again represent AFGSC at the Air Force Marathon. Last year he finished the marathon with a time of 2:40, making him the fourth fastest finisher among active duty participants and sixth overall.

"It's my second year on the team, and I feel pretty happy about it," Sturdefant said. "I plan to finish in the top three this year."

The AFGSC team is financed entirely by non-appropriated funds, which are funds raised by the command for the purpose of morale and welfare, rather than by funds budgeted by Congress.

Also participating in the Air Force Marathon is Lt. Gen. James Kowalski, AFGSC commander, who will run the half-marathon with several family members.