Sherry wins Marine Corps Marathon

[thedrifter]

Sherry wins Marine Corps Marathon


By Sandra Jontz, Stars and Stripes
European edition, Monday, October 27, 2003


ARLINGTON, Va. — Army Maj. Jacqueline Chen, a podiatrist at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany, summed up her efforts in the Marine Corps Marathon on Sunday with two short words.

“Still … alive,” she said between pants after completing the marathon in 3:07:36, making the 41-year-old doc the first military woman to cross the finish line and 144th overall.

More than 18,000 runners gathered Sunday in the unseasonably warm and humid Washington, D.C., fall day to run the 28th annual Marine Corps Marathon, enduring blistered feet, cramps, and for some, a dose of humility when things didn’t go as hoped.

But for some, there were surprises.

Like for Peter Sherry, 35, who thought it was all but over around the eighth mile into the 26.2-mile run. “I had a cramp and thought I was going to have to drop out. But then I started feeling better and better, and kept plugging away.”

He ended up winning.

Sherry, who just opened a runner’s supply story across the street from the Pentagon called “Gotta Run,” was the first runner to cross the finish line with a time of 02:25:07.

“I was in this to win,” he said, adding he’ll be trying out for the U.S. Olympic team.

Unlike other marathons, however, there is no cash prize at the end of the Marine Corps Marathon, dubbed “The People’s Marathon” because just about anyone can sign up to compete and there are no qualifying times, just a registration deadline.

Geoff Hopkins, 38, was the first hand-crank cyclist to cross the finish line, with a time of 1:54:30. One phrase kept running through his mind as the paraplegic circled the nation’s capital: “My elbow doesn’t hurt. My elbow doesn’t hurt,” he said, letting out a hearty laugh.

Heather Hanscom, 25, a research assistant for the American Red Cross, not only made Sunday’s marathon her very first ever, but she also was the first female finisher, marking in with a run time of 2:37:59. Her first mission upon crossing the finish line was to search for a Stars and Stripes reporter, who could deliver a message to her father, a civilian working in South Korea, and who would be scanning the paper the next day for any news.

“I want to tell him: ‘Dad, I did it,’ ” she blurted. “He’s always been there. He’s just a great dad, fan and supporter.”

Army Staff Sgt. Gerardo Aliva, stationed at Fort Lewis, Wash., was the first U.S. military man to cross the finish line. “I feel good, and frankly, I’m just glad to be done,” said the 30-year-old infantryman.

The 26.2 miles are grueling and tough on the body. When asked why she does it, Lt. Cmdr. Sue Himes, 34, chuckled: “I ask myself the very same question.”

Sometimes, she comes up with an answer, said intelligence officer for the amphibious ship USS Nassau in Norfolk, Va.

“You forget about the pain and it becomes about camaraderie and a great feeling of personal satisfaction.”


http://www.estripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=18322

Sempers,

Roger
:marine:


http://www.estripes.com/photos/18322_1026222324b.jpg


2003 Marine Corps Marathon
Washington, D.C. area, Sunday, October 26, 2003; Joe Gromelski ©Stars and Stripes....click link for more pic's
http://www.stripes.com/marathon/index.html

http://www.stripes.com/marathon/images/mara01.jpg

Hundreds of runners pour from the Rosslyn, Va., Metro station before the start of Sunday's Marine Corps Marathon.

[thedrifter]

Marathon tests mind, body


By Sandra Jontz, Stars and Stripes
Pacific edition, Tuesday, October 28, 2003

ARLINGTON, Va. — Heather Hanscom, 25, not only ran her first-ever marathon Sunday, but the novice also finished as the top female runner.

Elated, she made her No. 1 mission upon finishing the 26.2-mile run in the 28th Marine Corps Marathon to find a Stars and Stripes reporter, who could deliver a personal message to her father, Richard Hanscom, a civilian working in South Korea, and who would be scanning the paper the next day for any news.

“I want to tell him: ‘Dad, I did it!’” she blurted. Hanscom said she had a brain tumor removed 11 years ago, and had made the marathon a personal goal ever since.

She thought of her dad often during the run, said the research assistant for the American Red Cross who marked the end of her race with a run time of 2:37:59. “He’s always been there. He’s just a great dad, fan and supporter. I’m a daddy’s girl.”

More than 18,000 runners gathered Sunday in the unseasonably warm and humid Washington, D.C., area fall day to run the marathon, enduring blistered feet, cramps and, for some, a dose of humility when things didn’t go as hoped.

But for some, there were surprises.

Like for Peter Sherry, 35, who thought it was all but over around the eighth mile into the 26.2-mile run. “I had a cramp and thought I was going to have to drop out. But then I started feeling better and better, and kept plugging away.”

He ended up winning.

Sherry, who just opened a runner’s supply store across the street from the Pentagon called “Gotta Run,” crossed the finish line with a time of 2:25:07.

“I was in this to win,” he said, adding he’ll be trying out for the U.S. Olympic team.

Unlike other marathons, there is no cash prize at the end of the Marine Corps Marathon, dubbed “The People’s Marathon” because just about anyone can sign up to compete and there are no qualifying times, just a registration deadline.

Geoff Hopkins, 38, was the first hand-crank cyclist to cross the finish line, with a time of 1:54:30. One phrase kept running through his mind as the paraplegic circled the nation’s capital. “My elbow doesn’t hurt. My elbow doesn’t hurt,” he said, letting out a hearty laugh.

Army Staff Sgt. Gerardo Avila, stationed at Fort Lewis, Wash., was the first U.S. military man to cross the finish line. “I feel good, and frankly, I’m just glad to be done,” said the 30-year-old infantryman.

Army Maj. Jacqueline Chen, a podiatrist at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany, summed up her efforts in the Marine Corps Marathon on Sunday with two short words.

“Still … alive,” she said between pants after completing the marathon with a time of 3:07:36, making the 41-year-old doctor the first U.S. military woman to cross the finish line.

The 26.2 miles are grueling and tough on the body. When asked why she does it, Lt. Cmdr. Sue Himes, 34, chuckled: “I ask myself the very same question.”

Sometimes, she comes up with an answer, said the intelligence officer for the amphibious ship USS Nassau in Norfolk, Va.

“You forget about the pain and it becomes about camaraderie and a great feeling of personal satisfaction.”

http://www.estripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=18330

Sempers,

Roger
:marine:


http://www.estripes.com/photos/18330_1027125244b.jpg

Sandra Jontz / S&S
U.S. Marine volunteers from Marine Corps Base Quantico begin to fold up the "start" arc after the last of the runners left the start line for the 28th Marine Corps Marathon, held Sunday in and around the nation's capital.

[thedrifter]

OIF Veteran Runs for Remembrance at 28th Marine Corps Marathon
Submitted by: Operation Tribute to Freedom
Story Identification Number: 2003102812319
Story by Spc. Lisa Lotter



WASHINGTON(Oct. 26, 2003) -- The Marine Corps Marathon is the seventh largest marathon in the United States and the 13th largest in the world, but that wasn't why Marine Lt. Col. Clarke D. Clodfelder took on the challenge of running the 26.2-mile race.

"I am looking forward to getting together with all of the friends that I made (and trained with) during the war," said Clodfelder, who returned from deployment in Kuwait just last month.

Clodfelder, an 18-year Marine Corps veteran (nine years active duty, nine years reserve), is an operations officer for a reserve Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron out of Ft. Worth, Texas. Clodfelder's squadron deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom Feb. 1, 2003, for more than seven months. His squadron spent the first four months in Bahrain and their remaining three months in Kuwait.

Clodfelder's squadron, assembled from command post units located throughout the United States, came together during hard times committed to conquering one mission. Clodfelder explained his squadron provided airborne command and control support, aerial refueling, and assault support.

"This included transportation of personnel, casualties, equipment, and ammunition into and out of Iraqi airfields," said Clodfelder.

Clodfelder's interest in running happened only a year and a half ago when he wanted to lose weight and he got "hooked".

"Now I can't stop because I eat so much (that if he stopped running) I would swell up like a tick," said Clodfelder.

When Clodfelder was called to active duty in support of OIF, he continued his newfound love for running and found the time to put together a training group and organize a marathon for his squadron, just in case he didn't make it home in time to participate in the MCM. "I was planning on putting a training group together this year, and then we ended up deploying to the Persian Gulf," said Clodfelder, when asked where he got the motivation to conduct training and create his own marathon.

When Clodfelder began his training group it included only three friends from his squadron. "Then three swelled to a dozen.... then twenty.... then over sixty," said Clodfelder.

"It was a great thing to do over there to relieve stress, get in shape, and it was a fun social time as well," said Clodfelder.

Clodfelder and his training group used a rigorous and thorough Olympic training program, running all together, sometimes in the morning, other times in the afternoon. "By summer, we were running at 4 a.m. to beat the heat in Kuwait," said Clodfelder.

For training locations they found different places to run on the various bases they spent time at. "The Loop," "The Lighthouse," and "The Flightline" were a few that Clodfelder mentioned. "If our unit was still overseas, we would have measured out a 26-mile-385-yard course, grabbed a few stop watches, scribbled some number on our green skivvies and held our own USMC Marathon," said Clodfelder.

Now most of Clodfelder's squadron has returned home. "There are only two or three group members deployed right now," said Clodfelder. "Therefore, it would be hard for them to still conduct their own USMC marathon we had once planned."

"I am proud of the good work that our squadron did (during the war) and glad to be home," said Clodfelder.

As a pilot for United Airlines in civilian life, Clodfelder explained that his running hobby fits into his career schedule well. "All I have to carry is a pair of shoes and shorts and I can hit the road wherever I end up laying over," said Clodfelder.

Previous to Clodfelder's participation in the 28th MCM he competed in last year's marathon. "I was planning on running four or five races this year," said Clodfelder, "but they decided to hold a war and I was invited."

Clodfelder's goal at last year's marathon was to "beat Oprah.... Every Marine feels obligated to beat all talk show hosts and also beat four hours," and he did just that. He successful completed his first marathon in just under four hours.

At this year's MCM, Clodfelder is just excited to run the marathon with his wife, Paula, and other first-time marathon runners from his training team.

"This year I will improve my personal record with a good time at the Dallas White Rock Marathon in December," explained Clodfelder, when asked about his upcoming goals.

The 28th MCM, also known as the "People's Marathon", held in Washington each year, attracts a unique group of athletes who compete for pride of accomplishment and not for a prize.

It is a non-profit organization that could only operate successfully with the hard work of thousands of volunteers including civilian and Marine Corps personnel. "This exemplifies a true partnership between the military and civilian community," said Col. Christopher McRae, Marine Corps Operations Tribute to Freedom liaison officer.

This year's race included 23,884 entrants, ranging in age from 14 to 83, with 12,550 first-time marathon runners, from 36 different countries and every state.

The Marine Corps Marathon continues a combined tradition of dedication, sportsmanship and patriotism. Since its inception, more than 277,000 civilian and military runners from all walks of life have participated, deservingly earning the event its nickname "The People's Marathon."

http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/image1.nsf/Lookup/20031028123220/$file/marathonlow.jpg

Lt. Col. Clarke D. Clodfelder, an 18-year Marine Corps veteran (nine years active duty, nine years reserve) and an operations officer for a reserve Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron out of Ft. Worth, Texas, ran the marathon excited to run the 28th Marine Corps Marathon with his wife, Paula, and other first-time marathon runners from his training team.
Photo by: Spc. Lisa Lotter


http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/main5/2DA21ED1B6D2D28285256DCD00603C63?opendocument


Sempers,

Roger
:marine: