Fort McCoy's Army Ten-Miler team is striding into the servicewide event Oct. 8 at the Pentagon with a plan for success, and a number of people with the Directorate of Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation (DFMWR) are helping the 16 athletes reach that event with as much support as possible.
"From planning to execution phase, DFMWR has given our team 100 percent support and access to their staff for all phases of preparation," said Lt. Col. Mark Woommavovah, deputy commanding officer of the 181st Multi-Functional Training Brigade and coach of the Fort McCoy Army Ten-Miler team.
Rumpel Fitness Center Manager and Recreation Specialist Jeff Utesch said Fort McCoy is fielding its largest Army Ten-Miler team in years, and it makes sense to help get the team as ready as possible.
"They have done a lot of the work on their own in making sure they are physically ready to compete," Utesch said. "However, we have been providing as much material support as we can to make sure they are ready."
The support by DFMWR included helping establish the team by holding events that also doubled as team-trial qualifiers, Utesch said. This included organizing the April Showers 5k Run/Walk in April, the South Post Run in May, and the Commander's Run during the installation observance of the Army birthday in June.
"We worked with the team's coach to get these events set up so the team could establish who their best candidates could be," Utesch said. "And here we are with one of the largest teams ever established for this event from Fort McCoy."
DFMWR staff members also have helped develop an overall plan of action and milestones for the team, helped with the team-selection committee, gathered necessary training equipment, marketed events, secured the team's travel orders and event registration, and helped design uniforms for the team.
"I believe that MWR Marketing's support assisted in finding this competitive group of runners," said Sarah Wiedenfeld with DFMWR Marketing. "I also enjoyed designing a uniform that will represent Team Fort McCoy well."
Utesch said the fitness center also was able to supply the team with specialized heart monitors.
"(Maj. Martin) Wennblohm (also with the 181st) is taking the equipment we are providing and really adding a scientific approach to training this year's team," Utesch said. "They are doing specific, planned workouts and really taking their training to the next level. It really is pretty impressive in what they are doing."
Utesch said Rumpel Fitness Center also has served as the team's unofficial headquarters for months. "They are here all the time making preparations, training, and getting in the work they need to do to be successful," he said. "And we'll keep doing all we can do to help them be successful as well.
Woommavovah noted several specific DFMWR staff members who have been very helpful, including Utesch, Wiedenfeld, Julie Pressler, Kaylan Smith, Jobi Spolum, and Christy Stelzner.
And just before they leave for the Army Ten-Miler, DFMWR will host a send-off for the team at McCoy's Community Center from 4 to 5 p.m. Oct. 4 during the garrison commander's call.
"The Fort McCoy Army Ten-Miler team is going to know when they leave the post for this event that not only the FMWR team, but all of Fort McCoy is behind them and rooting for them to do well," said DFMWR Director Patric McGuane.
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