288.2 miles and counting

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Rachel Martinez
  • 319th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
GRAND FORKS AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. --  The United States Air Force is scheduled to hold its 12th annual marathon Sept. 19 at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. 

Col. Kathleen O. Concannon, 319th Medical Group commander, has participated in the marathon every year since it has began. This year, marks her 12th year competing. 

The first marathon was held September 20, 1997 in honor of the 50th Air Force birthday and has since continued to grow. There has only been one year in the past 13 years when the Air Force marathon was not held. 

Participants can compete in either a running category or a wheelchair category. Both categories can participate in the full marathon, a total distance of 26.2 miles, a half marathon, a total distance of 13.1 miles, a 10K race, a total distance of 6.2 miles or a 5K race, a total distance of 3.1 miles. 

Colonel Concannon trains year around for the marathon. She trains three times a week during her unit's physical training and on the weekends she runs on her own. 

"I'll run outside until it gets about zero degrees out then I'll run indoors," said Colonel Concannon. 

Colonel Concannon also said that if a person is interested in training for a marathon there are training plans available. One training plan Colonel Concannon has used in the past, prepares the runner to compete in a marathon within 16 weeks. The person training starts with running three miles a day and adding more distance as time goes on; eventually the person can complete a marathon. 

"If you can run five miles, you can run a marathon," said Colonel Concannon. 

The main reason why Colonel Concannon runs the marathon every year is for the feeling of power and accomplishment when she crosses the finish line. 

Colonel Concannon isn't worried about how fast or slow she runs or trying to win, for her, it is the knowledge that she'll finish the marathon. 

Colonel Concannon said that when she crosses the finish line she always turns around and looks for someone younger and skinnier than her and waits for them to finish. Once she sees them finishing after her, Colonel Concannon knows the marathon was a personal victory for herself. 

Another personal finish line ritual Colonel Concannon partakes in is calling her husband and telling him not to cash in her life insurance policy. Colonel Concannon also tells him that she made it through the marathon alive with her own pulse and with no medical intervention. 

"When other challenges come up, I can say this isn't so hard, I have run a marathon before," commented Colonel Concannon. 

Although Colonel Concannon has participated in the marathons in the past, she grew up a devoted swimmer. 

"Running was the worst thing I could think of [growing up]. When I joined the Air Force and was told that I need to complete a mile and a half, it was the first time I ran," said Colonel Concannon reflecting upon the past. "The first time I ran 20 miles straight, I felt so proud." 

Colonel Concannon is also considering competing in two marathons a year versus the single marathon she does now. 

"If I could give some advice it would be to just sign up and do it. Start with a 5K, then a 10K, moving up to a half marathon then a full marathon, working your way up to the marathon. Just commit to it, plan to finish and don't expect to win; when you cross the finish line it's a personal win," said Colonel Concannon.