Grafenwoehr Soldier runs ‘for his life’ to complete goal

By Molly Hayden, U.S. Army Garrison Grafenwoehr Public AffairsAugust 2, 2011

Running man
Sgt. 1st Class John Orth, 1st Cargo Transfer Company, 18th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, takes a few laps around the indoor track at the Main Post Fitness Center. Orth recently finished running 1,000 miles for “Run for Your Life,” an incentiv... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

GRAFENWOEHR, Germany -- Completing a marathon is a lifelong goal for many runners. For Sgt. 1st Class John Orth, 1st Cargo Transfer Company, 18th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, however, running in his first marathon was the beginning of a romantic endeavor.

“On our second date we went running, then we ran the Portland marathon together a few months later,” said Orth, referring to his now wife Rachel. “We’ve always enjoyed running, we’ve always been runners, but never really kept track of any of it.”

Two years later, in June 2009, Orth saw a flyer for the “Run for Your Life” program, an initiative that encourages participants to track and log their running mileages, achieving goals and earning badges along the way.

He immediately signed up.

“I was deploying the following month and I thought this would give me something to do to help pass the time,” said Orth. “Plus, it gave me credit for what I was already doing during PT.”

By running three to four loops around the post in Afghanistan to earn his daily mileage, Orth continued with the program, achieving the initiative goals, as well as his own.

“It’s a competitive thing, you always see how far you can go,” he said. “One day you can only run seven miles, then the following week you get up to 10 and it keeps going. When I broke past that personal record it was exciting.”

During the yearlong deployment, Orth logged 768 miles ran. The 1,000 mile goal was well within reach.

“When I first signed up, the goal of reaching a 1,000 (miles) was always in the back of my mind,” said Orth. “But I never thought I’d do it.”

It’s understandable why one would think this.

Running 1,000 miles is the equivalent of running halfway across the United States -- from New York to St. Louis or Los Angeles to Denver. But Orth did it, in less than two years.

“It sound funny, but I really wanted that (1,000 mile) patch,” he said with a grin.

In addition to the allure of the stylish swagger of a newly sewn patch and the obvious physical health benefits, Orth was motivated by the therapeutic elements of running.

“Running is a great time to think. It gives me a chance to come up with good ideas that solve problems and to see and experience were I am in that moment,” Orth said. “Just think about all of the unique things that you see when you’re out running.

“The patch is all of those experiences wrapped into one memento.”