Marathon bonds Air Force family
By Brett Turner
Skywrighter Staff, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base
September 19, 2003
While a lot of people will be glad to see the finish lines at Saturday's seventh annual Air Force Marathon, one family will see crossing as the end of a great beginning. In the past few months, Col. Clyde Moore, Aeronautical Systems Center vice commander, his wife Leslie and kids Amedee and Austin said they have found training for the even a healthy bonding experience.
While there aren't a lot of sports families can participate in together, running is an exception. And the addition of the 13.1-mile half-marathon and 5k (3.1-mile) races for this year's marathon meant even more chances for people to run.
"A lot of people like me are carrying around injuries and the 5k and relays let us run too," said Clyde Moore.
Clyde Moore says his only previous experience with the Air Force Marathon was as a group commander at Eglin and authorizing planes to fly over the event. Now he said he's excited to be a part of it.
Amedee Moore, a senior at Dayton Christian High School , got interested in running through Col. Richard Mihalik, ACS commander's staff director and veteran marathon runner, who lives in the same neighborhood. Although her running experience was limited to just a little for exercise, Amedee found Mihalik an inspiring running partner and formed a goal - to do the half-marathon.
Soon she was running four to five miles a night around the brick quarters and Prairie Trace Golf Course. And it wasn't long before Amedee's enthusiasm rubbed off on her family just as Mihakil's had her.
The rest of the Moores followed suit, running near the flight line to near Gate 15A three to four miles several nights a week.
"Amedee really got us motivated," said Leslie Moore.
Clyde , Leslie and Austin Moore signed up for the 5k race at the marathon. They got their first taste of competition at a training 5k last month sponsored by the base fitness centers.
Austin Moore was already considered the athlete in the family. A freshman football player at Dayton Christian, he thought running would aid in his conditioning.
"It was a little hard at first," he said. In time, he was leaving his parents behind on runs.
By the time football practice had started up, Austin Moore noticed a difference as did a few others.
"Last year I was in the back of the line during wind sprints; this year, I'm in the front," he said.
The improvement earned Austin a team captain slot. Thought he won't have much time for running aside from the 5k at the marathon, Austin said he'd like to pursue running more in the future.
Clyde and Leslie Moore were active in a running club in Texas 20 years ago. They competed in 5k and 10k races, as well as a half-marathon.
Then, injuries and other family demands curtailed their running. Now, their interest has been revitalized.
While the health benefits are a great motivator for running, The Moores have found other positives in their runs. For instance, Leslie Moore said she finds it a good time for spiritual reflection; Amedee Moore uses it as stress relief; and Austin uses it as time with his own thoughts.
Clyde Moore said he things the marathon is a great way for active duty Air Force members to get prepared for the upcoming mandatory fitness requirements. But perhaps the biggest benefit is it's something the entire family can do together.
"When you've got two teens with a common interest it's a good thing; it's good bonding for us," he said.
The family said they were prepared for Saturday. Amedee Moor said she and Mihalik took a trial run, which worked out well except for the steep upward incline on Wight Brothers Memorial Hill, she affectionately called " Mount Doom ."
She was afraid a knee injury might keep her from competing. But she said it seems solid and ready to go.
"I kept saying to myself' it has to get better, it has to get better,'" said Amedee Moore.
And It sounds like this won't be a one-time event for the Moore 's running career. All of them said they plan to continue running to various degrees in the future.
"The other neat part besides running with my family is being with the Air Force community," Clyde Moore said.
"We're here with people we work with and socialize with and like to spend time with." It's going to be a fun morning."