Photo By Capt. Earon Brown | The Road Warriors Running Club from Shaw Air Force Base, S.C. poses for a team picture...... read more read more
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SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. - A fleet of vehicles line the parking lot of the Historic Columbia Speedway as their passengers assemble under the stars. More than 70 teams of competitors make final checks on their gear and race schedule, all while preparing themselves mentally and physically for the looming race to Charleston, S.C. The morning sky begins to brighten as the racers find their positions at the starting line, and after several brief announcements, the 200 mile foot race begins.
The Road Warriors Running Club here took part in the annual 200 mile relay race across South Carolina known as the Palmetto 200. The nine person team, along with their two support drivers, covered the 198.8 mile distance April 12 to April 13.
The running club's membership is comprised of both active-duty and civilian personnel from a variety of units and career fields who train and compete together.
"The Road Warriors Running Club is a group of people who enjoy getting out and running together," said Master Sgt. Micki Kistler, 20th Comptroller Squadron and Wing Staff Agencies first sergeant and captain of the road warriors. "We aren't necessarily the fastest runners, but we enjoy the sport."
This year marked the second time that the organization took part in the Palmetto 200.
The scenic race began at the Historic Columbia Speedway in Cayce, S.C., near Columbia, S.C., and finished at James Island County Park just outside of historic Charleston.
Each year the trek is broken into 36 legs ranging in length from two to nearly 10 miles, according to the official race website.
During their individual legs, runners would tackle everything from rolling hills and dirt trails, to navigating towns and suburbs in between. At the end of each leg laid an exchange zone where teammates passed the baton, or in this case, a light-weight slap wristband.
The road warriors fielded a full team this year which consists of nine to 12 members. Also competing were ultra teams comprised of only four to six individuals. Depending on their team's size, runners could expect to cover a total mileage anywhere between 16 to 50 miles.
"The Palmetto 200 is a challenging run that pushes runners not only physically, but mentally," said Kistler. "You take four to 12 runners and stick them in a van for a day and a half, and then ask them to run 200 miles on little to no sleep. That's tough."
As the sun began to subside, the runners continued in stride. With the onset of darkness, those on the road were required to dawn reflective vests, blinking lights and a headlamp. As they carried on into the night, the only company for some runners was that of the stars.
For many, the low visibility and lower temperatures, juxtaposed the runs they had done throughout the day.
"Most races start and finish in 30 minutes to six hours depending on the distance," added Kistler. "After you finish the race, you go home and recover. The Palmetto 200 challenges runners because you finish your first run and might have four to six hours rest before you are back out running again."
As the exchanges continued on into the next morning, the teams drew closer and closer to their final destination.
When their final runner rounded the last corner, the road warriors assembled together for one final run across the finish line. At about noon that Saturday, the team finished the race they had started together more than 24 hours ago.
According to the official site for the Palmetto 200, the road warriors ranked 25th overall this year with a total time of 29:13:00 and an 8:49 pace.
"We had an awesome team this year," said Kistler. "Our inaugural Palmetto 200 took us over 31 hours to finish. This year we smashed that time by over two hours. The best part about this year's team is seven out of the nine runners were new to the race. We represented five different units and two Air Force bases."
Each member of the team had their own reasons for competing, but all agreed that the race left a lasting impression.
"I decided to take part in the Palmetto 200 to get back in shape after my pregnancy," said Staff Sgt. Arana Khan, 20th Equipment Maintenance Squadron Munitions Flight munitions inspector. "I knew if I signed up, it would motivate me. The race definitely gave me a new outlook on what I was capable of."
"The race was by far one of the best experiences I've had since I moved to South Carolina," said 2nd Lt. Samantha Garrido, 20th EMS Fabrication Flight commander. "It was worth every penny and every hour I spent training for it. At the end of the race, it was hard to believe that I was in Charleston and that we had spent the last 30 hours running 200 miles to the finish line, while sleeping in a van and eating at IHOP every chance we got."
After a successful race, Kistler's plans for the Road Warriors Running Club include recruiting as many new members as possible and raising money for charities during upcoming races. For those interested in joining, there is no cost except the registration fee for the races the team participates in.
Currently, the team is in the process of registering for the Tuna Run 200, a team relay similar to the Palmetto 200, which will take place across North Carolina in October.
"The aim of the club is to get people to run together and push each other to run farther and faster," Kistler concluded. "We all enjoyed running and the camaraderie we built from running together has established friendships that will last a lifetime."
| Date Taken: | 04.12.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 04.24.2013 15:39 |
| Story ID: | 105763 |
| Location: | SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, SOUTH CAROLINA, US |
| Hometown: | CAYCE, SOUTH CAROLINA, US |
| Hometown: | COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA, US |
| Hometown: | SUMTER, SOUTH CAROLINA, US |
| Web Views: | 60 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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