Academy runners finish strong in Air Force Marathon

  • Published
  • By Ray Bowden
  • U.S. Air Force Academy Public Affairs
U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. --  Five NCOs at the Air Force Academy competed in the 19th annual Air Force Marathon in Ohio Sept. 19.

Heather Henry, Heather Blanchard, Keith Eberhardt, Scott Borlinghaus and Marlon Quitos joined more than 5,000 runners for the marathon, sanctioned by the USA Track and Field Association and a qualifier for the Boston Marathon.

The Marathon was launched in 1997 and takes place on the third Saturday in September at Wright Patterson Air Force Base. This year's event included a full 26.2-mile marathon, a 13.1-mile half marathon and a 10-kilometer race.

Blanchard, Eberhardt and Henry ran the half-marathon course and Borlinghaus and Quitos ran the full marathon course.

Blanchard first competed in the Air Force Marathon in 2014 while deployed to Afghanistan, but said she was excited to run the Marathon's original course this year.

"I was able to run as part of a team with some of the most professional Airmen I have come across during my career," she said. "I will never forget when we crossed the finish line. Representing the Academy was always on my mind - I would ask myself, 'Did I do the Academy justice?"'

For Borlinghaus, the race was a visceral experience.

"The weather was great but the hills were brutal at the end," he said.

He didn't reach his goal of crossing the finish line in less than four hours, but said he still benefitted from the challenging experience.

"I cramped-up at mile-24 and had to walk-run," he said. "I'll train harder and get it next time."

This was Borlinghaus' second Air Force Marathon and Eberhardt's fourth.

"Wright-Patterson was my first assignment - in 1997 and 1998 I was a water-station volunteer," Eberhardt said.

In 1999, Eberhardt and three coworkers competed in the events' now-defunct four-person relay.

"When I (moved) from Wright Patterson in 2000, I knew one day I wanted to be fit enough to run a full marathon," he said. "The only one I ever wanted to run was the Air Force Marathon.

He got his chance in 2010 when he represented U.S. Air Forces in Europe and in 2011 when he ran for Air Mobility Command.

Eberhardt hopes the Academy will be able to double the number of runners it sends to Ohio in 2016.

"We have some terrific runners here," he said. "We could be major-challenge champions," he said. "Being able to represent the Academy at a world-class running event will go down as a career highlight for me."

Henry said representing the Academy at the Marathon was emotional.

"Our entire team came together," she said. "We worked hard and we finished strong. When I crossed the finish line I did it for the entire installation and everyone who has supported and pushed me to this point."

The Marathon was the first for Quitos.

"From start to finish, it was one of the most-well-organized events I have participated in," he said. "Always challenge yourself and you'll be amazed at the outcome."

The Academy's command chief, Chief Master Sgt. Max Grindstaff, said the five runners set the bar when it comes to highlighting the institution's staff.

"I'm very proud of these enlisted folks who represented the Academy," he said. "They embody the pinnacle of fitness all Airmen should aspire to achieve. You can't just show up to run a marathon - it takes an immeasurable amount of training and commitment. They've each gone above-and-beyond and are an inspiration and example for our Airmen and cadets. They represent the quality of our Airmen not only to Colorado Springs but to the Air Force at large."

Senior Master Sgt. Henry is the superintendent of the Academy Headquarters' Command Section; Master Sgt. Blanchard is the superintendent of the Academy's Manpower and Personnel Office; Master Sgt. Eberhardt is the first sergeant for the Academy's headquarters staff, the Dean of the Faculty and Athletic Department; Tech. Sgt. Borlinghaus is an academy military trainer for Cadet Squadron 32; and Tech. Sgt. Quitos is an academy military trainer for Cadet Squadron 16.