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U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Donald Tull, left, 35th Munitions Squadron conventional maintenance technician support supervisor, runs alongside Airman 1st Class Henry Lokken, 35th Munitions Squadron conventional maintenance technician, during a running clinic at Misawa Air Base, Japan, May 12, 2026. The clinic encouraged accountability and peer support while helping participants improve endurance, pacing and overall fitness performance. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Angelica Winther)
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U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Robert Marts, 35th Force Support Squadron food service shift leader, records participant run times during a running clinic at Misawa Air Base, Japan, May 12, 2026. Coaches documented participant performance throughout the clinic to monitor progress, reinforce accountability and measure improvements over the six-week program. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Angelica Winther)
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Participants run during a baseline two-mile assessment during a running clinic at Misawa Air Base, Japan, May 12, 2026. The assessment established a starting point for the six-week program, allowing coaches and participants to track progress and evaluate improvements in endurance and overall fitness performance. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Angelica Winther)
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U.S. Air Force 1st Lt. Jackson Disilvestre, left, 13th Fighter Squadron chief of intelligence, and Senior Airman Robert Marts, 35th Force Support Squadron food service shift leader, record participant run times during a running clinic at Misawa Air Base, Japan, May 12, 2026. The first session of the six-week clinic included a baseline two-mile assessment used to evaluate participant fitness levels and measure improvement throughout the program. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Angelica Winther)
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Participants perform dynamic warm-up exercises during a running clinic at Misawa Air Base, Japan, May 12, 2026. Coaches incorporated mobility and recovery techniques to help attendees build sustainable fitness habits and improve overall running performance. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Angelica Winther)
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U.S. Air Force 1st Lt. Jackson Disilvestre, 13th Fighter Squadron chief of intelligence, demonstrates a stretching exercise during a running clinic at Misawa Air Base, Japan, May 12, 2026. The clinic equipped service members with techniques focused on mobility, recovery and injury prevention to improve physical performance, build resilience and support mission readiness across the 35th Fighter Wing. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Angelica Winther)
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MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan — The 35th Operational Support Team (OST) partnered with the Potter Fitness Center to host a six-week running clinic, first launched in September 2024, aimed at improving Physical Fitness Assessment (PFA) performance and reinforcing force readiness at Misawa Air Base.
“We saw an opportunity to help Airmen strengthen their performance in the run portion of the PFA,” said Megan DeHaven, 35th OST strength and conditioning specialist. “So I built a six-week program to give people the tools and techniques to improve. By the time they finish, they’re better off.”
The clinic begins with a baseline two-mile run and progresses through weekly focus areas such as cadence, posture, pacing and breathing techniques before introducing the high aerobic multi-shuttle run. Each session includes guided warm-ups, skill instruction, running workouts and recovery techniques designed to improve performance and reduce injury.
Participants are paired together throughout the clinic while coaches provide guidance, feedback and accountability during each session.
“When people sign up, they’re being intentional about the change they want,” DeHaven said. “You’re not just running, you have a coach guiding you and a group of people working toward the same goal. That support system makes a big difference.”
The clinic provides an opportunity to improve confidence, running technique and overall fitness in a team-oriented environment.
“I joined the running clinic to learn more about proper form and lower my run time in preparation for the new fitness standards,” said Master Sgt. Amy Tordera, 35th Force Support Squadron resource management section chief. “The knowledge gained through the clinic has helped me feel more confident as the weeks go by.”
According to DeHaven, participants in a recent clinic improved their two-mile run times by an average of more than three minutes, while even high-performing runners continued to see measurable improvements.
Open to service members, dependents and civilians, the program also contributes to Misawa AB’s broader fitness culture by encouraging long-term healthy habits and accountability through structured training and peer support. To support continued demand, the program is expanding with additional coaches from across the wing trained to lead future clinics and increase availability.
“The reason this is growing is because it’s working,” DeHaven said. “People are seeing results and want to come back.”
As the Department of the Air Force continues to emphasize physical readiness and a stronger fitness culture, the clinic helps ensure Airmen remain prepared to meet the physical demands of the mission.