Holloman officer runs Phoenix marathon

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Heather Stanton
  • 49th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
HOLLOMAN AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. --  A captain from the 49th Fighter Wing ran the P.F. Chang's Rock and Roll Marathon in Phoenix Jan. 14.

Capt. Chrissy Stone, 49 FW protocol, has been physically active all her life, but has never run a marathon before.

"It's something I've always wanted to do," she said. "I finally got the chance to do so."

Captain Stone made her goal of about five hours become a reality by running the marathon in five hours and 15 minutes.

Captain Stone decided on the Phoenix marathon because the location is close and the course is flat, making it a good first marathon, she said.

According to the marathon Web site, www.rnraz.com, 70 bands and 40 cheerleading squads provided entertainment along the streets for the spectators and runners.

The marathon, like all others, was 26.22 miles.

Captain Stone started training for the lengthy run in October in a five-day-a-week training program.

"I would run three days during the week anywhere between three and six miles," she said. "One day during the week, I would run between five and 18 miles."

The days Captain Stone didn't run, she would hit the Fitness and Sports Center on base for weight training.

"The most helpful part of my training was the abdominal-strength exercises," she said. "You need to have a strong mid-section for long-distance running, which most people don't know."

But working out wasn't the only thing Captain Stone had to do to be ready for the marathon. She had to eat a healthy diet to ensure she didn't get injured.

"I ate normal, with carbs" she said. "The marathon is not a weight loss program."

According to the Web site, more than 36,600 people participated in the marathon.

"Now I want to do another one," said Captain Stone. "I feel I can do better and take 15 to 30 minutes off my time because now I know how to gauge the time."

Captain Stone is looking into running the Air Force Marathon in September at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio.