New Years Eve mustang run closes out 09 with flair

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Wesley Wright
  • Minot Air Force Base Public Affairs
MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. --  The 5th Maintenance Squadron closed out 2009 with determination and flair; running the first known half marathon at the base fitness centers indoor running track.

With a dozen runners and nearly 30 staff, lap counters and cheering section, the squadrons Inaugural New Years Eve Mustang Run went off without a hitch while also changing some lives along the way.

These determined Airmen ran 105 laps, achieving 13.1 miles to show their commitment to health and wellness. For more than half of the participants, running a half marathon was a leap of faith, and the task was daunting. However, when the last runner finished their final lap, the once-thought crazy idea paid dividends in a feeling of accomplishment. In the end, many of the spectators and event staff vowed that they were inspired by the half marathon and were excited to train for the next opportunity.

The Inaugural New Years Eve Mustang Run was a test run of a much grander idea.

"I really wanted to see if a half marathon could be run upstairs during the cold weather months," said Master Sgt. Tom Raupach, 5th MXS production supervisor. "Many critics felt it would be boring and the continuous laps would be tough on the legs but 8 miles into the run we came to realize that this wasn't as bad as it was thought to be."

In fact, because of the small confined area, the "pit stop" proved to be a great component of the run. Each lap the runner had a cheering section, music, water, light snacks and even a medic on call. This gave the runners more options as they progressed through the 105 laps.

Future half marathons could be on the horizon based on the success of this one, culminating in a summertime full marathon. No plans have been made yet but stay tuned for future base-wide functions.

On several occasions, the 5th Maintenance Group commander, Col. Clifford Stansell, said "finishing is winning" and for everyone making the journey, the accomplishment was just that: a big win.

"This was my fifth half marathon in two years and this New Years Eve run was special to me," Sergeant Raupach said. "I got the chills when I saw our first-timers overcome the huge milestone. I'm so proud of our whole group of runners; absolutely no one quit."

All finishers were presented a commemorative t-shirt for their accomplishment that stated, "I finished, I wore out the middle two lanes, and I'm still dizzy". The humor in the quote certainly means something to all the runners as they all were dizzy with pride and accomplishment to close out 2009.

[Editor's Note: Master Sgt. Tom Raupach contributed to this article.]