Iowa Air Guardsman find success in running

  • Published
  • By Staff Sergeant Matthew T. Doyle
  • 132d Wing/PA
132d Wing, Des Moines, Iowa --  Staff Sgt. Curt Brass and Senior Airman Tag Noel were members of a National Guard marathon team consisting of both Air and Army National Guard, which had major success at the Panama City Beach Marathon that took place Saturday December 5th 2015

They became a part of the team after qualifying at the Lincoln National Guard Marathon. Senior Airman Noel ran a marathon time of 3 hours and 11 minutes and Staff Sgt. Brass ran a time that also qualified him for the team. The two made the team, comprised of 40 members of the Air and Army National Guard from all 50 states and Puerto Rico.

Senior Airman Noel views his membership on the team as part of a recruiting and promotion tool for the National Guard and physical fitness, as the members are wearing the PT uniforms during the races as well as answering questions at marathon expos.

It worked out well for SSgt Brass and Senior Airman Noel because they both like to run and have done ultra-marathons (any race beyond 26.2 miles) and marathons (26.2 miles). "We do marathons regardless, so why not do it for the Guard" Senior Airman Noel said. "When you put on the uniform you really just feel proud with people yelling "Go Guard!'."

Guard Marathon Team members, pick six marathons they want to do and put them down on a dream sheet. The coordinator picks what works depending on the budget and if the race is all Air Guard, all Army Guard, or both. With the PCB Marathon, they utilized both. Having that race behind them, they have marathons in Houston and Arizona to look forward to. Both Staff Sgt. Brass and Senior Airman Noel are aiming for sub 3 hour marathons and will be returning to Lincoln again this year to re-qualify for the team.