The Fires Center of Excellence is flying out its fastest runners to take on the Army 10-Miler Race Oct. 12 in Washington D.C.
Thousands of runners will line up along a strip of highway with the fastest runners up front.
Every eight minutes a new wave of runners will clash onto the concrete.
Wearing Fires red, 16 Soldiers; five women and 11 men, have trained for four months in preparation.
Capt. Charles Billi, B Battery, 1st Battalion, 30th Field Artillery, has represented Fort Sill since 2010.
Thrown into the race as a second lieutenant, his unit only knew he was a good runner. Billi ran in college and was a coach afterward. He continued unit PT as usual which he said left him in shock when it came time for the actual race.
"I didn't know what to expect," said Billi.
Over the years he has constructed a training program and gathered the runners across Fort Sill for formal training.
After long hours and distances, he is optimistic about their chance to place in this year's race.
Last year, the men's team averaged 59 minutes and Billi is hoping to cut that down to 58.
"I think this group can do that. Some of these guys have come back from last year like Sergeant (Derek) Miller and of course (2nd Lt. Brandon) Purdeu he's really progressed a lot," said Billi.
Purdeu ran the 135-mile race, Badwater Ultramarathon in July.
"He's embraced the shorter distances. Now that he's embraced the half marathon to 10-miler distance he's adapted and he's running much stronger. It's going to help our team a lot."
The Soldiers train six days a week with long runs and races on the weekends.
"When everyone is recovering on Sunday watching football, typically the 10-mile team is up at 7 o'clock running a 15-mile run."
This is Billi's last year running for Fort Sill. He said being able to train hard and represent himself as a runner has helped him be a better leader to others.
"It helps motivate some of the other guys. People know me as Captain Billi yeah he's a field artillery officer, but that guy can run fast. People get more interested in running when they see someone from their unit or their post that is really interested in that sport. For most people running is more of a chore than it is an activity or something fun. So when you can switch it in the Army and take something no one likes to do and make it look positive it's really motivating."
Command Sgt. Maj. David Carr, Fort Sill Garrison CSM, is running his fifth ATM as part of the Fort Sill Sergeant Major Team.
"We have won three out of the five times we have raced, and I fully intend to repeat this year," said Carr.
To be on the SM Team the runner must be over 40 years old and must be a sergeant major or above.
"Our training started days after last year's race and most of us have put in over 150 miles each month building our 'base,' said Carr.
He said to win in the sergeant major category, three of the four runners will have to stride it out at a 7:00-to-7:30-minute pace.
"My goal is to run a 1:10 which translates to a 7 minute flat pace."
Maj. Gen. John Rossi, FCoE and Fort Sill commanding general, met with the team before their departure wishing them luck and letting them know they only have one goal: win.
"My job is to accomplish that mission," said Carr. "My opinion: that the trophy is well worth the blisters, lost toe-nails and sweat."
Each runner has spent their own funds on races prior to ATM and new shoes to keep up with the mileage necessary to be competitive.
"The Oklahoma heat really tears up your shoes. I typically switch out my shoes every 300 miles, so that's every month and I ask the other runners to do that as well," said Billi.
The AUSA Fires Chapter and Corvias Military Living is sponsoring the team to pay for their trip to D.C.
Men's team:
Capt. Charles Billi
Sgt. 1st Class Thomas Russell
2nd Lt. Brandon Purdeu
Sgt. 1st Class Shaun Everson
Capt. Kendrick Vaughn
Sgt. Derek Miller
Women's team:
Staff Sgt. Sukhvinder Purdeu
Staff Sgt. Elvia Davila
Sgt. 1st Class Amy Larsen
Capt. Sara Santilli
Pfc. Ianna Thornquist
Sergeant Major team:
Command Sgt. Maj. David Carr
Command Sgt. Maj. Thomas Oates
Sgt. Maj. Jason Maynard
Sgt. Maj. Paul Larsen
Command Sgt. Maj. Kevin Donegan
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