My longest race

  • Published
  • By Chief Master Sgt. Mark Davis
  • 60th Medical Group

TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. – American running guru and Olympian Jeff Galloway said, “The more you frame the marathon as a stressful experience, the more negative messages you’ll receive.  But it’s just as easy to frame it as a positively challenging journey.”

My retirement order reads 30 years, 11 days.  The starting line was the Military Entrance Processing Station in Raleigh, North Carolina, in 1989.  The finish line is here, this September. 

When I enlisted at 17, I had no way of knowing exactly how many miles I could or would run.  Unlike registering for a race where there’s a definitive beginning and end, registering to serve my country was an open-ended challenge.  This challenge, or journey, has lasted nearly 11,000 days; unequivocally more good days than bad.  So, like running, I’ve achieved longevity by celebrating the miles ahead as well as those behind me.  I credit my successes to preparation, maintaining a pace and having a good running partner.

Every journey begins with a single, purpose-driven step.  Running distance and service to my country are rooted in a modest vision of excellence through preparation.  Before I ran my first race or started basic training, there was plenty of mental stretching for an unknown course. 

Despite the trepidation, my unease made the experience more positive since it alerted me to develop a holistic checklist, enabling me to assign knowns to the unknown.  This was indeed a flexibility rehearsal.  While any measure of preparation is better than none at all, only comprehensive preparation of my mind, body and spirit readied me to cross the finish line.

An unknown athlete posited that tough runs don’t last – tough runners do.  Whether in the context of career or running, my imperative has been to maintain a pace commensurate with longevity and/or distance.

The fable about the tortoise and the hare reflects my strategy on how I have accomplished both.  The tortoise understood that the race wasn’t a sprint at all, but instead a journey that required a deliberate and consistent strategy for performance.  I wasn’t the fastest runner nor the Airman who made rank the first time, but I haven’t missed a finish line in 30 years.  I guess I’m as savvy as a reptile.

Furthermore, I have certainly not achieved alone.  I’ve trained with athletes of all levels.  I’ve experienced longevity because of others who afforded me opportunities to develop, gave me room to fail and grow and teammates who encouraged me. 

Undoubtedly, training with like-minded people has bolstered me, facing struggles and sharing excitement together.  For this, I am certain that my list of those to recognize for running with me will be woefully incomplete.  However, my wife, who completely gets the competition between my resolve and potential, will be the first I acknowledge this September.  Like all finish lines, she’s been there with me and for me. 

Thus, I pray your journey to any finish line is purpose-driven, not solitary, and as an amazing experience as it has been for me running my longest race.  Finish strong.