AFAF Endurance Run Promises Fun For All

By 2nd Lt. Chris Hoyler 
43rd Airlift Wing Public Affairs 

The 2009 Team Pope Endurance Run benefiting the Air Force Assistance Fund will be “Going The Distance” to keep up with a tradition started in 2007 and 2008, when more than $25,000 was raised by Team Pope for the AFAF.

This year’s event, which is sponsored by the Company Grade Officer’s Council, will kick off April 2 at 9 a.m. and conclude April 3 at 9 a.m. Throughout those 24 hours, there will be athletic competitions and fun events for all Airmen and their families.

“We’re aiming to involve everyone on base this year, not just those who love to run,” said 1st Lt. Dave Skiba, 43rd Logistics Readiness Squadron and the event co-coordinator.

Among those events include a new Strong Airman competition, which ties directly into the run competition and will start at noon April 2. There will be three competitive classes broken down by weight (males 180 lbs and above, males below 180 lbs and all females) and participants can compete individually or as part of a three-person team.

If choosing to compete as a team, there must be at least two males (either weight class) and one female, with each individual’s performance in their weight class combined for one team score. All teams (not individuals) must be partnered with an Endurance Relay team, as the top three teams will earn miles toward their running partners final mileage tally.

The competition will consist of five events, each with a unique characteristic and differing factor for the male and female competitive classes:

n The kettle bell carry will consist of a zig-zag course that must be negotiated for time.

n The sledge hammer strike will use a 16 lbs hammer for males and an 8 lbs hammer for females

n The vehicle push/pull will be a Humvee for males and a Bobtail for females

n The tire flip will be 250 lbs for males and 100 lbs for females

n The sandbag transfer will consist of a 70 ft. distance in which males will have to move 19 sandbags and females will have to move nine.

“This will be a fun and competitive contest for everyone, regardless of their perceived strength level,” said 2nd Lt. Kristina Sawtelle, 43rd LRS and event co-coordinator. “All of these events have been tested and performed by regular Airmen who were simply in general good health and had a decent fitness level.”

The evening will be highlighted by the Pope Chapel’s Family Area and conclude with the popular Loudest Car Stereo contest and the beginning of a softball tournament that will run into the morning of April 3.

Similar to last year’s family-focused activities, this year’s Family Area will include bouncy castles, face painting booths, Commanders’ dunk tank, movies, games and static displays from security forces, ambulance services and the fire department. Food will also be available from the CGOC hot dog vendor.

The wrap-up of the Family Area at 9 p.m. will lead right into the Loudest Car Stereo contest at 9:30 p.m. and the softball tournament’s tentative start time of 10 p.m.

Teams and participants will continue running through the night and push toward the Pope Special Activities Committee’s Pancake Breakfast at 6:30 a.m. April 3, which will be the final event before the event completion and Medallion Ceremony at 9 a.m.

If you are interested in registering a team for the Endurance Run, Strong Airman competition or entering the car stereo competition or softball tournament, contact Lieutenant Skiba at 394-8206, Lieutenant Sawtelle at 394-7754 or log on to the EIM Homepage for all the necessary information and forms.