Photo By Sgt. Amber Bohlman | Denise Winkler, high school P.E. teacher and cross country coach, runs the final...... read more read more
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GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba— Before dawn, all is quiet around U.S. Naval Station Guantanamo Bay. Most heads are still resting on pillows, while others are continuing the constant mission of Joint Task Force Guantanamo. But for 110 individuals, laces are being tightened, stop watches are being calibrated and last minute stretches are being done.
Feb. 7 marked the first scheduled Morale Welfare and Recreation full and half marathon of the year.
For one woman in particular, Denise Winkler, the W.T. Sampson middle and high school P.E. teacher, this half marathon was not only going to be a race for her best time yet, it was her opportunity to motivate her past and present students here.
“I have a couple students actually out here running this with me today,” Winkler said. “We not only have been practicing during the week, we’ve been going out on the weekends and preparing. They have been running almost the entire route with me.”
Winkler said preparing properly for a race like this is important. You need to eat right, hydrate and mentally and physically prepare your body for the 13.1 or 26.2 miles, whichever you may choose.
“I’ve always been a pretty good eater, but I find myself eating a little better before a race – more carbs and I hydrate a lot,” Winkler said. “You have to put the time in, and you have to be mentally strong and physically strong out here. Even if you come out here prepared with your body, that doesn’t mean anything if your mind can’t.”
About seven miles into her half marathon, Winkler’s friend caught up to her, and they both worked together to finish the race with a personal record time of 1 hour and 48 minutes for them both.
“She thought the whole time she was feeding off of my energy, but the whole time I was really feeding off of hers,” said Nicolas Mikhael, Winklers friend and a civilian who works on the base.
Running is a passion of Winklers. Ever since she moved to Guantanamo 11 years ago, she’s become more involved with running events around the base. She started off running in MWR 5K’s, and now, she just finished her second marathon.
“There is something about running. I can’t stop. You get out there and get in your own little zone there is just something about running that I really enjoy,” Winkler said. “When you finish running, especially in a race like this it’s such an achievement! You feel great and it’s bigger than just winning a game for me.”
After stretching and thanking her friends for their support, Winkler said what got her over the finish line was mentally saying “one more mile,” her personal mantra.
| Date Taken: | 03.03.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 03.03.2015 11:03 |
| Story ID: | 155787 |
| Location: | GUANTANAMO BAY, CU |
| Web Views: | 46 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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