LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE, Texas –
A culture of runners is blossoming at Lackland as it seems a new activity pops up every day, and now, the latest endurance competition makes it official.
The Gateway Half-Marathon, Oct. 24, organized by the 37th Force Support Squadron, may prove to be a big event.
"We are pretty excited about it," Fitness and Sports director Steve Reichert said. "It's going to be sort of a learning curve, but we've already had formation runs and fun runs, and now we are just expanding that scope to more of an endurance event."
The race itself was a year in the making.
When former 37th Training Wing leadership, Brig. Gen. Len Patrick and Chief Master Sgt. Juan Lewis, returned from last year's Air Force Marathon at Wright-Patterson, Ohio, they brought back the idea of planting a large-scale endurance run on base.
After the 37th TRW change of command July 24, incoming wing commander Col. William H. Mott V and Col. Gregory D. Parsons, 37th TRW vice commander, kept the dream alive, encouraging a panel of base representatives to hold planning meetings August through September.
Along with discussing the logistics of trafficking the expected 500-plus participants 13.1 miles around an active base, the representatives agreed they wanted the race to become a part of competitors' calendar year, situated between the Air Force and San Antonio Rock 'N' Roll marathons.
In order to legitimize the race, a chip timing system by Redemption Race Productions will be used along with digital display clocks. First-aid and water stations will be located throughout the course.
Alongside the half-marathon, the race will include 10K and 5K events with a mass start beginning at the parade grounds and the final lap for each distance culminating on the bomb run. A ceremony at the review stand will award the top runners.
Each registered runner will receive a T-shirt, commemorative medal and an assorted grab bag. The race-day environment will feature a live disc jockey, and food and drinks.
The new race mirrors the increased importance of running fostered by the new Air Force fitness program.
"Hopefully, this will be an incentive to help people increase their aerobic capacity," Reichert said. "If this is what (active-duty) enjoy doing, and they want to challenge themselves, then we want to provide them with the opportunity to do that."