336th TRG team brings home the blue

FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. -- Members of the 336th Training Group who competed in the Spokane Marathon Oct. 14 wait near the start line of the race. A team of Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape specialists received first place in the marathon with a time of 3 hours, 6 minutes, 10 seconds. (Courtesy photo)

22nd TRS relay team victorious in marathon

Published Oct. 18, 2007
By Airman 1st Class Kali L. Gradishar
92nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs

FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. -- Members of Team Fairchild from the 22nd Training Squadron received first place in the Spokane Marathon Oct. 14 with a time of 3 hours, 6 minutes, 10 seconds.

The team consisted of Staff Sgt. Patrick McGrath, Senior Airman Estiven Gonzalez, Airman 1st Class Christopher Lindsay and Airman 1st Class Travis Wilbanks, all Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape Specialists.

"It felt pretty good to come out on top," said Airman Wilbanks. "Last year we placed third and this year we won it, so all the guys were pretty proud."

Two other teams from the 336th Training Group also competed in the relay marathon, including a team of SERE medics and a team from the 336th Training Support Squadron. Also participating in the running events for the day was Chief Master Sgt. William Welch, 336th TRG chief, who ran the half marathon.

The relay marathon, which began and ended in Riverfront Park in downtown Spokane, was a four-leg race totaling 26.2 miles along the Centennial Trail. Each team member ran approximately a quarter of the distance.

Preparation for a marathon can be grueling, and hard work and dedication are necessary for those serious about competing.

"We've all done general physical fitness, and we all go to the gym almost every day," said Airman Wilbanks. And the team members chosen to run the marathon were selected because of their more advanced running capabilities.

The team plans to enter additional marathons in the near future, said Airman Wilbanks.