Marathoners motivated by more than fitness
Media Advisory,
Wright-Patterson Air Force Base
88th Air Base Wing Office of Public Affairs
Air Force Materiel Command
September 5, 2006
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio - Next week, Wright-Patterson AFB will be flooded with running enthusiasts from around the world as they compete in the USAF Tenth Anniversary Marathon on Sept. 16 at the National Museum of the United States Air Force.
While it may be obvious that participating in such an event requires hours of training, rigorous stamina and overall fitness, there are many more motivators lurking just under the surface of many who will run the race next Saturday.
These are their stories:
TSgt. Michael Carswell will never forget September 11, 2001. He was inside the Pentagon when the plane hit the building. After seeing several doctors for treatment of the emotional aftermath of the experience, he started running. Shortly after taking up his new hobby, he no longer needed medication and has lost almost thirty pounds. He is dedicating this race and his next 124 races (one for each worker) to his co-workers who died that day. "I will race every opportunity I get to dedicate a race to one of them until I have dedicated one race to each of them.I only pray that the good Lord above will grant me the time on this earth I need to complete it," Carswell said. "I run for my coworkers that did not go home to their families on 9/11," he said.
Beasey Hendrix will have more on his mind than simply running because Sept. 16 is the exact five-year anniversary of the stroke which left him paralyzed and cost him his left leg. He now competes while promoting awareness of handicapped, disabled & challenged athletes. His goal is to finish the race in less than 8 hours in order to qualify for the Boston Marathon - all with a prosthetic leg and while recovering from a second stroke suffered in April.
Ricky Ryan's goal is to run 25 marathons and 5 ultra marathons this year while raising funds for various causes and picking up the expense of running and traveling himself. He has served in three consecutive overseas tours of duty and works his training around his career as an active duty Navy pilot.
After running in the 2001 US Marine Corps Marathon, only one month after the September 11 tragedy, Don Hoben and his wife Peggy say they will never forget rounding the Pentagon and chanting "U-S-A, U-S-A," along with the other runners. Since then, the Hobens have made a commitment to run all other service-sponsored runs at least once in their lifetime, and this year they will run the Air Force race.
Capt. Robert J. Schabron runs in memory of his little brother and seven of his friends, all members of the University of Wyoming cross country team, who were killed by a drunk driver on Sept. 16, 2001 - five years to the day of this year's race.
"This one's for Cosmo," said Capt. Eric "Stit" Seng. "Cosmo" is Major Jonathan Sheer, an A-10 Thunderbolt II "Warthog" pilot who passed away in 2004, and mentor to Seng. Since the USAF is honoring the A-10 in this year's race, Seng said it is appropriate to run in honor of the friend, leader and mentor who made a difference in his life.
Also running in memory of an A-10 pilot is Jennifer Waters. Marathon weekend marks the twelve year anniversary of her brother's fatal crash. "I am running in memory of him and hopefully turning a usually melancholy weekend into something positive," she said.
Race registration ends Sept. 8. Visit www.usafmarathon.com for more information.
Media wishing to pursue any of these stories should call 88 ABW Public Affairs at 937-522-3520 for more information.
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Contact: 88 ABW Public Affairs, 937-522-3520.