DVIDS – News – Nationwide Guard Troopers on the All-Guard Endurance staff from 4 states win the Lincoln Marathon Rucksack Relay

126 Nationwide Guard members competed within the Lincoln, Nebraska 26.2 miles rucksack relay. The Nationwide Guard Endurance staff got here in first with nearly a 25-minute lead.

The staff members completed in first place with a end time of three:51:40.

14 Nationwide Guard Ruck march groups, every comprising 9 service members from completely different states, accomplished the marathon in a relay whereas carrying 35-pound rucksacks and guidons, small flags displayed by army models. Every runner was liable for about three miles.

Forming the relay staff wasn’t an excessive amount of of a problem, joked 1st Sgt. James Curler of Iowa “some folks volunteered, and a few had been voluntold.”

Members of the successful staff embody:

1st Sgt. James Curler, Group Captain, Iowa

Capt. Gary Parks, Indiana

Capt. Valentine Roberts, Hawaii

Capt. Lauren Meyer, Ohio

1st Lt. Blaine Zimmerman, Indiana

Sgt. Maj. Joe McFarren, Indiana

Sgt. 1st Class Jerrod Abel, Ohio

Sgt. 1st Class Chris Edwards, Ohio

Spc. Nate Sink, Ohio

Till this previous 12 months, the Lincoln Marathon served because the annual time trial for the nation’s All-Guard Marathon Group, however these spots at the moment are decided each two years.

Nonetheless, roughly 200 Nationwide Guard troopers and airmen from 28 states participated, together with 30 members who competed individually within the marathon or half-marathon.

The Lincoln Marathon has served because the official time trial for Troopers and Airmen hoping to compete for a spot on the “All Guard” Marathon staff yearly since 1984, with one exception. The 2020-time trial shifted to the Omaha Marathon in September after the Lincoln race was canceled in the course of the top of the primary wave of COVID-19 in Nebraska.

“Across the nation within the Nationwide Guard Marathon neighborhood, this is named the ‘Tremendous Bowl,'” stated Nebraska Army Nationwide Guard Sgt. 1st Class Douglas Stephens, Nationwide Guard marathon coordinator. “Everybody needs to be chosen to symbolize their state in Lincoln. Each race I am going to, opponents speak about Lincoln.”

“It is superior, so to see these guys and all of the onerous work they put in coming throughout the end line. It is superior to know that they gave it their all to attempt to win,” Stephens stated.

The All-Guard Endurance Group started as an thought to develop the prevailing Nationwide Guard Marathon Program, which promotes the Army and Air Nationwide Guard each domestically and nationally whereas bolstering the Nationwide Guard Retention Program by instilling bodily health, self-discipline, and esprit de corps amongst Nationwide Guard members.