Misawa athletes race the base

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt. Cammie Quinn
  • 35th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan --  The gun shot and more than 1,300 runners were let loose to race in an annual event made possible with joint effort between 35th Fighter Wing and Misawa City officials.

Runners lined up to participate in the 2010 Misawa "Race the Base," Sept. 12 which started and finished in American Park, located just outside the Misawa Air Base Friendship Gate.

Athletes as young as 6 years old ran alongside runners in their 80s, in one of five events of the day's events - a 1-mile kid run, a 3- kilometer, 5K, 10K and half-marathon.

The 35th FW and installation commander, Col. Michael Rothstein, and Maj. Gen. Maehara, Japan Air Self-Defense Force 3rd Air Wing Commander, presided over the event and were present to hand out awards to the winners of the 5K and half-marathon race.

For two participants, the 2010 Race the Base was the first half-marathon they'd completed.

First-time marathon runner, 2nd Lt. Austin Francis, 35th Contracting Squadron, said he has always wanted to complete a half-marathon, and set a goal of finishing under two hours.

"I beat my goal by five minutes," he said after crossing the finish line with a time of 1 hour, 55 minutes. "It feels great to be done, I'm going to be sore but I'm using this as motivation to train for a full marathon."

"My friends and I are already planning training together for next year's run," he added.

Lieutenant Francis isn't alone in his accomplishment. One captain also finished his first half-marathon, and did it more than 50 pounds lighter than when he'd first started running.

"I turned 42 this year, and decided it was time to step it up a notch," said Chaplain (Capt.) Todd Harder, 35 FW Chapel. "When I started, I wasn't even able to run down the block," the chaplain said. "Now I've finished my first half-marathon - it feels good and I'm glad I did it."

Along with bragging rights for a year, top winners of the "Race the Base" half-marathon received a bicycle.

Takehi Yanagita won first place for the male's half-marathon with a time of 1:11:41. Women's first place went to Yoko Matsui with a time of 1:33:53.