Fort Drum Ten-Miler team trains, prepares to represent post in annual race

By Mrs. Michelle Kennedy (Drum)October 8, 2014

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1 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Fort Drum Ten-Miler Team members and alternates pose for a photo Sept. 16 at the Magrath Sport Complex running track. From left are Pfc. Jefferson Smithery, 2nd Lt. Jose Moncada, Pfc. Edward Limo, 1st Lt. Daniel Szilagyi, Capt. Lindsey Lalonde, Spc. ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
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2 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Staff Sgt. Shannon Corona, left, 3rd Brigade Special Troops Battalion, and Capt. Michelle Kelly, rear detachment commander for 10th Special Troops Battalion, lead the women's Ten-Miler Team runners and alternates during an afternoon practice Sept. 25... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
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3 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT DRUM, N.Y. -- For the past two months, military runners from across the installation have been training for one of the biggest races of the year -- the Army Ten-Miler in Washington on Sunday. The event, which draws 30,000 runners from around the world, takes participants on a scenic route through the nation's capital.

As the runners race past the Pentagon, Arlington National Cemetery, Potomac River and the National Mall, they can connect as a team, become one with the pavement and push their bodies to the limits.

Capt. Michelle Kelly, commander of 10th Special Troops Battalion -- rear and women's coach, and Sgt. 1st Class Michael Hughson, 10th Mountain Division (LI) Fires -- rear and fire support noncommissioned officer and men's coach, have been working with the team for weeks to get the runners ready for the Army Ten-Miler. Both teams have been meeting and training separately on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

This year's race will be the fifth time Kelly has participated in the event and her second time representing Fort Drum.

As a member of the Army's World Class Athlete Program before moving to Fort Drum, Kelly earned a spot on the All-Army Team while assigned at Fort Carson, Colo. She was part of the WCAP's modern pentathlon program. WCAP provides Olympic-level training to the Army's best athletes.

"I have a lengthy background in running and training, so I thought I could probably add my knowledge to the training program," Kelly said.

Kelly, who has a wealth of knowledge running different events, said she has been able to use her experience to build an effective training program for the women on the team.

"There are four women who were on the team last year, but the rest are new to the (Army Ten-Miler)," she said. "We also have some alternates who have been coming out to train with us. It's been amazing and I'm really proud of them. It's nice to see our training program working, and we are working together."

While most of the workouts take place on the track across from Magrath Sports Complex, the women's team runs the physical training routes, too.

"We work out on the track to avoid injuries and to get used to hard workouts," Kelly said. "We wear our uniforms when we train. What's great is we wear our uniforms on post, and (people) see these ladies running really fast along the PT routes. I think that's a great, positive aspect of us being out there."

Running as a team helps runners find someone they can pace their run with, and it is more fun to run as a group, especially on long-distance training days, she added.

This is the second year that Hughson will have participated in and coached the team for Fort Drum's male runners.

"I was on the Fort Sill, (Okla.), Ten-Miler team, but I had to (make a permanent-change-of-station move) before the race," he said. "Racing at this level is a lot different than running a local 5K or 10K. There are a lot of mental preparations that go into it. A lot of it has to do with knowing your body."

When preparing to compete in a longer race, it's important for runners to know their energy levels, when they can surge and when they might want to break away from the group, Hughson added.

"We take time and talk about our strengths and weaknesses," he said. "I try to coach off of the idea of 'racing to your strengths and training to your weaknesses.'"

With the race just around the corner, team training did not get any easier.

"Hard training prepares them mentally and physically to hold their pace for 10 miles," Hughson said.

For Capt. Sarah Wood, commander of Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, U.S. Army Garrison -- Fort Drum, and Staff Sgt. Shannon Corona, 3rd Brigade Special Troops Battalion, who also participate in marathons, running a 10-mile race requires them to rethink their training.

"You have to prepare differently for a marathon and a 10-miler," Corona said.

Runners have to know what pace to maintain for each race, Wood added.

Because a big part of running long distance is a mental test as well as a physical test, runners have to practice keeping their heads in the game.

Trainers from Fort Drum's Comprehensive Soldier and Family Fitness program were invited to some of the practices to help team members understand the mental aspect of long-distance running, Kelly explained.

"It helps with mental prepping," she said. "(Runners can) take a look at themselves and how they think about running, (because) the way they think can impact their (performance). I thought that was great. They give a real positive vibe for the whole team."

One thing the CSF2 trainers will not be able to teach is the adrenaline rush and energy of the crowd on race day, Kelly added.

"It's one of my favorite races of all time," she said. "Given my background, I've competed in a lot of different places and different countries. There are so many people cheering, and you're in Washington, D.C., and you're running and seeing the sites. The wounded warriors are racing and we're cheering them on. It's definitely a feel-good race. When you're out there representing the Army, it's always a great thing.

"I'm thankful for the great group we have," Kelly continued. "It's wonderful to have the support of Fort Drum, and I really feel like everybody is behind us."

Hughson agreed, adding that he's proud of the hard work the team has put in this season.

"We have some very fast runners who, I believe, have a chance at finishing on the podium," he said. "I feel very blessed that I have been allowed to coach such a great group of athletes who push themselves and each other to be their best every day."

Team Members

Men's Team: Spc. Christopher Keegan, Capt. Lindsey Lalonde, Pfc. Edward Limo, 2nd Lt. Jose Moncada, 1st Lt. Daniel Nix and 1st Lt. Daniel Szilagyi.

Coed Team: Second Lt. Olivia Boyd, Staff Sgt. Shannon Corona, Capt. Michelle Kelly, 1st Lt. Brian Landry, Capt. Thad Pajak and 1st Lt. John Steger.

Women's Team: First Lt. Nina Barnhart, Sgt. Mariya Kristeva, 1st Lt. Ashley Murray, Maj. Adrian Sullivan, 1st Lt. Jacqueline Thompson and Capt. Sarah Wood.