Courtesy Photo | U.S. Army Cpt. Grayson Haws, 7th Army Training Command administrative law attorney, is...... read more read more
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GRAFENWOEHR, Germany – When Grayson Haws injured his arm while playing baseball in high school, he had no idea what he would do while he was on the mend.
Haws, currently serving as an administrative law attorney for the Judge Advocate General’s (JAG) Corps, assigned to the 7th Army Training Command at Grafenwoehr, Germany, remembered thinking, “I think I can run pretty well.”
He approached his high school coach and said, “I think I want to run track. I think I want to run the 400-meter sprint.”
He had no idea that his coach would enter him in four events: the 1,600-meter run, the 800-meter race, the 400-meter sprint, and the 4x400 relay races.
“I believe he was trying to discourage me, but instead it lit a fire within me.”
His desire to compete in track and field grew stronger after seeing the 2008 Beijing Olympics. He would watch the Olympics and say, “I want to try to make it there.”
Haws continued to run track and field throughout high school and went on to run competitively in cross country at Southern Nazarene and Oklahoma universities.
“I didn’t run as much in law school, but once I knew I was going into the military and could participate in events like the Army Ten-Miler (ATM) and the Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT), I got back into it and discovered how much I missed it.”
Running was able to connect his many years as a collegiate athlete in his former life to his new life as a Soldier and a military professional.
Last year’s ATM was the first in-person race since coming out of COVID. “I participated on the Army Ten-Miler team representing the U.S. Army Europe and Africa (USAREUR-AF), I was on the team and had such a fun experience,” Haws said.
“Six out of the 10 member from last year team are returning to compete this year,” he added. “I wanted to try to make the team again this year, and fortunately I did.”
“It will be a lot of fun to catch up with my teammates, it feels a bit like my former cross-country team competing towards a common goal,” he concluded.
As he prepares to tackle the ATM, he must also contend with the aftermath of completing the physically demanding Air Assault School in June.
“Finding the right balance can be a daunting task,” Haws shared. “You’re not training for an ATM when you’re training for air assault.”
The Army, known for its rigorous training programs, demands peak physical fitness from its Soldiers. However, the conflicting physical requirements of the air assault course and the ATM present a significant challenge. While air assault focuses on honing specific skills necessary for aerial operations, the ATM demands a different set of physical capabilities.
Haws is undergoing an intensive 12-week training program to prepare for this year’s ATM race in Washington D.C., because of his previous experience as an athlete, Haws knew to be competitive he would need to increase his weekly mileage to 60 along with targeted workouts and dedicated leg preparation.
Haws believes our bodies are intelligent, and if you’re not in it mentally or that your runs are significantly more difficult than they used to be, it’s probably because you’re pushing yourself too hard and your body need some rest.
With a strong bond built on trust and years of shared experience, Haws has found the perfect partner in cross country and track coach Andrew Leahey, ensuring he reaches his goals when it matters most.
“I’ve known Andrew for over 10 years now and had run with him for nearly as long,” Haws said. “I trust his training plans, and If I’m feeling particularly worn down, we discuss them. Ultimately though, he’s always gotten me to the point where I need to be when it’s time to compete.”
Haws’ believes his experiences have given him resilience and perspective. He recognizes that challenges are a natural part of life but emphasizes the significance of setting goals that challenge you.
Referring to past ATMs, Haws recalls, “Just under 50 minutes won it in previous years. If I had a perfect race, I could run a 50:30.”
Despite not running his perfect race, Haws improved his ATM time from 55:36 in 2022 to 54:32 and placed 43rd this year individually while placing 5th with the USAREUR-AF men’s team.
With an appreciation for the journey itself, Haws expressed a willingness to repeat the experience by continuing to prepare one race at a time.
“I learned that it will be okay if something doesn’t work out. It’s rewarding being in the Army and being in an environment that really rewards running,” said Haws. “It taught me to have perspective and to not be afraid to set high goals and strive for them even if I fail.”
“I’ll put another race on my schedule in the spring and get back at it,” Haws concluded.
| Date Taken: | 10.23.2023 |
| Date Posted: | 10.24.2023 07:35 |
| Story ID: | 456310 |
| Location: | GRAFENWOEHR, BAYERN, DE |
| Hometown: | WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, US |
| Web Views: | 111 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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