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Georgia Air Guard marathon runners

Left to right: Master Sgt. Timothy Brown, Capt. Randy Reid, and Master Sgt. Rickey Dickens.

 

Four Georgia Army Guardsmen and three Georgia Guard Airmen traveled to Nebraska for a special mission that would challenge their physical and mental limitations. This particular mission, the Lincoln National Guard Marathon, is a qualifying race for the All-Guard Marathon team.

 

Each state Guard brings anywhere from one to five or more runners to compete, but only the top 25 males and 15 females make the All-Guard Marathon team, which will travel throughout the next year to various marathons to compete and promote the National Guard.

 

This year, more Guardsmen participated than ever before – up from 163 last year to 265 this year. The race itself had over 1,100 runners in total. Each runner had each trained many grueling months for the event, in their own way, on their own time, through all types of conditions, in varying locations. In the case of Georgia’s participating Guardsmen, they found time to train no matter where they were – whether that be the mountains of northern Georgia or a forward operating base in Afghanistan.

 

All this training aimed at accomplishing something less than one percent of Americans have ever managed to do: complete a marathon.

 

Of those 265 competing Guardsmen, Georgia’s seven runners all finished the grueling 26.2 miles on an unusually hot day. Georgia’s top finisher and team captain, Lt. Col. Jeff Olive finished in two hours and fifty-two minutes, putting him in second place for his age group. His performance was solid enough to secure him a position with the All-Guard team for the fifth time.

 

1st Sgt. Devika Hull put forward her personal best marathon performance, finishing in three hours and fifty-eight minutes and taking 3rd for her age group among Guard runners. Despite finishing nine minutes faster than her personal best time, she just missed the cut this year for the All-Guard team.

 

Cadet Teale Marchette, running his first ever marathon, finished in three hours and sixteen minutes, just missing the All-Guard team cut as well, but taking home third place for his age group among guard runners.

 

1st Lt. Mike Mallon, just home from Afghanistan in March, ran a 3:30 to complete his third marathon appearance – though this is the first time he has competed a Lincoln.

 

The three Air Guard participants ran well also. Captain Randy Reid finished in 4:27, Master Sgt. Timothy Brown finished in 4:38, and Master Sgt. Rickey Dickens crossed the finish line in 4:58.

 

Overall, the event was quite a success for both the Georgia Army and Air National Guard and the National Guard as a whole. If you are interested in participating next year, please contact Ltc. Jeff Olive (jeffrey.olive@us.army.mil or 678-462-9031) with your name, age, and a recent half marathon or marathon time.

 

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Uploaded on May 18, 2010
Taken on May 2, 2010