March reservist will attempt third Air Force Marathon 10K win

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Patrick Cabellon
  • 452 AMW Public Affairs
MARCH AIR RESERVE BASE, CALIF. --  Some people only dream of running a 5-minute mile pace for the duration of the Fit-to-Fight mile and a half run. Then, there are those who can run at a consistent 5-minute mile pace for six miles in a row.

The Air Force Marathon 10K (6.2 miles) has long distance runners who do exactly that. One of these Airmen is Senior Airman Kristoffer Chacon, a knowledge operations manager with the 452nd Maintenance Squadron. Furthermore, Chacon not only runs 10K races at this breakneck speed, he wins them too.

Chacon placed first overall in the 10K event the last two years. Chacon's time last year was a clock and chip time of 33:26, and in 2009, his clock time was 33:11 and chip time was 33:10.

However, Chacon has decided to set aside his running shoes after this year's race to focus more on his military career and on college. He said he is closing a chapter in his life and opening a new one.

"The amount of time I put into training was time consuming and required a lot of sacrifice," Chacon said. "I just want to concentrate on other things now. However, I may continue running to stay in shape. I'm not just going to sit around on the couch and eat Twinkies all day."

Chacon ran track and cross country in high school, and since the beginning of his military career, he has been running in military and personal races.

"I was 'volun-told' by my training instructor during basic training to run in competitions between the other training flights," said Chacon. "I believe the military helped foster my running career."

If it wasn't for the military, he wouldn't have continued running, Chacon said.
"It's been fun running these races, but sadly, I'm going to run it for the last time, said Chacon. "I wanted the 2011 Air Force 10K race to be my last professional 10K before I stop running."

The Air Force Marathon takes place at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. The 10K course takes runners along a route filled with historic and significant Air Force landmarks on the base. The course has hydration stations approximately every mile, including water, electrolytes and fruit. There are also medical stations and port-o-lets throughout the length of the course. The 10K is less about endurance and more about speed, Chacon said.

"During the six-mile race, I am able to stay at my peak longer than if I were to run a full marathon," he said.

For his last race, Chacon has set a goal for himself to break his 33-minute run time. He plans on reaching his goal by increasing the distance he runs during his training and work on increasing his sprinting speed.

Tech. Sgt. Thamara Mercado, a fellow wingman who works in the 452 MXS command staff section orderly room with Chacon, also plans on running the 10K this year.

"The stories about his workouts and races make it seem like it's nothing," said Mercado. "He is very energetic, and he definitely has the drive to grab the number one spot this year with ease."

Mercado plans on participating in the Air Force Marathon's full marathon in the future.
"I've never trained for a long distance run," she said. "I'm going to build up my endurance. I want to start running marathons, and I believe the Air Force Marathon [will be] an excellent starting point."

In order to continually participate in races, Chacon had to maintain a strict regimen of dieting and running.

"My running regimen consisted of 60-80 miles a week. On an easy day I might run one or two miles," he said. "Physical training with the military helped add a few more miles a week in addition to my own training."

A strict military diet keeps his food intake in check. His diet consists of lots grains and red meat. He recommends avoiding eating greasy foods where the fat and cholesterol deposits can collect in your veins, This causes your blood flow to be restricted, thereby hindering oxygen from getting to your muscles, said Chacon.

Chacon advises prospective distance runners that, when training, it is best to keep workouts consistent.
"It's not always how hard the workout is. Stick with a daily regimen, [because] you can't just train hard two days out of the week and rest up until the next week," he said. His other advice involves alcohol.

"Be kind to your body, don't drink too much alcohol," he said. "I'm not saying that you have to give it up completely, just go easy with it."

The 10K race is slated for Saturday Sept. 17. Approximately 110 servicemembers from March will be flying to Ohio on a 729th Airlift Squadron C-17 Globemaster III to participate in the 5K, 10K, half-marathon and full marathon distance races.