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Unlikely duo partners for first-ever marathon
Posted 9/12/2012 Updated 9/12/2012
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by Susan A. Romano
AFTAC Public Affairs
9/12/2012 - PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- One is 40. The other is 38. Collectively they have served more than 36 years of active duty service. Neither has ever participated in a marathon.
Yet both have teamed up to run in the 2012 U.S. Air Force Marathon in Dayton, Ohio, and have been training for 16 weeks in preparation for the 26.2 mile trek.
Senior Master Sgt. Robb Musselman and Tech. Sgt. Christian Fridge, both of the Air Force Technical Applications Center here, made the decision to sign up for the race after some casual conversation in the office.
"One day, Sergeant Musselman and I were talking about marathons and how it was one thing we both wanted to do before getting too old," joked Fridge. "I'm a procrastinator, but he's the type who runs with ideas like this. So the very next day he showed up in the office with a bunch of brochures about races and marathons. When we came across one for the Air Force Marathon, we figured how appropriate and meaningful it would be for our first race to be that one."
After filling out all the necessary paperwork and obtaining permission from their supervisors to take time off for the race itself, the two put together a training regimen to get them in shape.
"We started in May, and to date we have run a total of 418 miles," said Musselman. "Initially, we started out running 15 miles a week, and we gradually increased that to 38 miles a week. We did taper down a bit during the last two weeks leading up to the marathon to give our bodies a chance to rest a bit."
So what drives two noncommissioned officers who have never competed in a race of this magnitude to sign up for one of the most prestigious marathons in the United States?
"When we first started out, it was difficult," said Fridge. "I ran our first 11-mile run alone and I found it very hard to stay motivated and I really thought about quitting. Then the next weekend we did the same run together, and I felt extremely different about it and I was ready to take on the challenge. I believe that if I had been training alone, I don't think I would have made the commitment."
Musselman echoed his partner's comments.
"During training, it would vary on who was having a good training day or a bad one," he said. On more than one occasion, I may not have gotten enough rest, but Fridge would keep me motivated by keeping my mind off of being tired. Another time during a 17-mile run, Fridge was having pain in his foot, but instead of quitting, we ended up walking the last six miles together. Our motto is, 'We start together; we finish together.' It's been that way ever since."
In addition to having each other to lean on during their 5-month program, they've also had several cheerleaders on the sidelines rooting them on.
"Next to Fridge, my wife has been my number one supporter!" said Musselman. "She had to put up with me getting up earlier than the crack of dawn, and gave me words of encouragement during my many days of being jaded. And when I'd come home from an exhausting run, my 5-year old daughter would wrap her arms around me and say, 'Daddy, I love you even though you are sweaty!'"
"It's the same for me," said Fridge. "My wife and daughter started running themselves since I've been training. It's been great having them there at my side."
When asked what each was looking forward to most, Musselman quickly responded, "I want to share my testimony with others. In 2010, I was having medical issues that prevented me from exercising. I seemed to spend more time at medical appointments than anywhere else. But now I can say this training has helped me enormously. I scored my first 'Excellent' on my Air Force Physical Fitness Assessment this year and I feel great."
Fridge added, "I've lost 12 pounds and I am now able to max my push-ups and sit-ups on my PFA."
Both men have the same goal in mind for Sept. 15, 2012: to finish the race together - as a team.
"The training has been fun, and the journey has been great--grueling at times--but the best thing I gained from this experience was the camaraderie we developed," said Fridge. "I am now at the point that I have no doubt in my mind that we will be able to cross that finish line together."
The Air Force Marathon, which sold out in record time this year, got its start in 1997, which was the year the service celebrated its 50th anniversary. Since then, it has been held the third Saturday in September at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio.
Race organizers expect to reach full capacity with 15,000 participants in all four events (full marathon, half marathon, wheelchair competition, 10K and 5K).
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