Sgt. Erik A. Thurman
11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, Public Affairs
Fort Irwin, Calif. -- A team of eight Soldiers placed fourth in their division while representing Fort Irwin during the 30th Anniversary of the Army Ten-Miler, held in the Washington D.C. area, October 11th, 2014.
The Army Ten-Miler is the world's third largest ten-mile road race that begins and ends at the Pentagon in Arlington, Va.
The event attracts military and civilian running teams throughout the world to promote 'es spirit de corps', fitness and competition. All proceeds for the event go to the Army Morale, Welfare and Recreation program, which support events, entertainment and activities aimed at improving the lifestyle of Army Families at military installations across the globe. But for many runners, competitiveness is the main driving factor.
"I am very competitive by nature," said Staff Sgt. Darryl Jewell, a master gunner assigned to Operations, 2nd Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment -- and coach for Fort Irwin's Ten-Miler team. "I focus on my competition and study-up on how fast they are running. Then I evaluate myself and try to push myself to their level. Then once I get to their level I want to push beyond that."
As coach, Jewell prepared the team with a 12-week training plan. Initially, he was unsure of how far he could push the team, he said.
"After the first month, they were really progressing in the program and I started to realize that we really had a shot," said Jewell. He said that in the beginning, many of the runners were struggling for a seven-minute-mile.
"We would go for a six-mile recovery run, nice and easy. As they progressed, they were just talking amongst each other, laughing, joking and relaxing into the run. They had no clue what pace they were running and here I was looking at my watch, reflecting that during the trials they were struggling for a seven-minute-mile pace, and now they were on a relaxed six-mile run averaging a six-and-a-half minute-mile pace," he said.
Jewell explained that once the other runners saw their level of improvement, it gave them the confidence to excel. "They started believing that they actually could run that fast and that's the biggest thing. You have to believe you can do it. Once you've got the belief than all you have to do is apply yourself," Jewell said.
"We all improved our times, the whole team," said Cpt. Yesenia Byrne, team runner and Chief of the Managed care Division, Weed Army Community Hospital, U.S. Army Medical Department (MEDDAC). Byrne said that though running is an individual sport at its core, the pressure of being part of a team pushes an individual that much further.
Fort Irwin is a unique installation. It is home to the National Training Center, which prepares the Nation's military for operations overseas. The 11th ACR has the responsibility of being the yard stick by which the rest of the Army gauges itself by serving as an enemy force during training. The demands on the 11th ACR and other supporting units are high, yet Soldiers are not only meeting their obligations but, continue to thrive and take on more challenges.
"We were at kind of a disadvantage," said Cpt. Eric Oliva, a team member who serves as the Regimental Assistant Engineer, 11th ACR. He said that most teams are able to train 12-months out of the year. Not only does the 11th ACR have to remain a readily-deployable force, they must also meet the needs of units across the Army coming to NTC to train. Oliva said the Fort Irwin team excelled and placed fourth in their division out of fifty-two other active duty teams comprised of both males and females and were among the top twenty-five out of a total of 633 teams.
"The camaraderie on the team was great. We started to really gel as a team toward the end," said Maj. Racquel Junio, a team member who serves a Chief of Human Resources at the Weed Army Community Hospital, Fort Irwin MEDDAC. Junio explained that with the difficult schedules of each team member, the entire team was not always able to train with one another.
"The pride that we get is pride in ourselves as a team," said Jewell. "Once everything is put into perspective than there is a new-found sense of camaraderie. When that bond grows you start pushing each other and holding each other accountable when it comes to training," said Jewell.
"I am much more motivated to be around people when we are a team," said 1st. Lt. Jacob Enke, team member with the fastest run time of the team, co-team captain with Jewell and a Scout Platoon Leader for Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 1st Squadron, 11th ACR. "Working long hours here, it is sometimes hard to get out the door and train, what I found with this team was that not only did I care about them as a team from a training aspect but I also made seven new friends as well," said Enke.
For Jewell, running competitively as an individual or part of a team is about more than simple competitiveness for a Soldier.
"I feel that it gives you a certain degree of mental toughness," Jewell said. "It is a great exercise to focus the mind. Running is a mind game. And it plays with your head because the body is going to set the limit. It is going to tell you that you are hurting. It is going to start playing tricks on you. It is up to you to actually keep the focus on what you are doing. As an athlete and as a Soldier, the best thing you can do is - keep your head clear," said Jewell.
"But I am proud to say that we met the expectations and we went out there to deliver," Junio said.
Stats: 1st Lt. Jacob Enke: 54:24 min; Staff Sgt Darryl Jewelll: 55:14 min; Cpt. Eric Oliva: 58:13 min; Cpt. Dominic Senteno: 59:13 min; Cpt. Clyde Daines: 59:48 min; 1st Lt. Brent Lanier: 1:06:48 min; Maj. Racquel Junio: 1:09:13 min; Cpt. Yesenia Byrne: 1:10:43 min.
Fort Irwin Army Ten-Miler Team: 4th place, mixed division (male-female). 24th place, overall.
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