Lieutenant runs off to Tunisia for military championship Published March 9, 2006 By Jennifer Brugman 60th AMW Public Affairs TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- A 60th Surgical Operations Squadron physical therapy resident, will travel to Tunis, Tunisia, Tuesday to compete in the World Military Cross Country Championship. “I’m really excited,” 1st Lt. Elissa Ballas said. “I haven’t been to Africa.” Lieutenant Ballas will run five miles as part of the United States Armed Forces cross country team. Her teammates include two competitors from the Army, one from the Navy and one Marine. Lieutenant Ballas qualified for the World Military Cross Country Championship when she placed sixth at the United States Armed Forces Cross Country Championship in February. “The first thing that comes to mind when you mention Elissa Ballas (in any context) is tough,” said 1st Lt. Lara Brown, who ran cross country and track with Lieutenant Ballas at the Air Force Academy. “Ever since I have known her, she has held herself to such an unbelievable high standard in everything she does — her first marathon she fractured her foot and finished in under 3 hours.” Lieutenant Ballas has been running since she was 10 years old. She runs between six and nine miles each day plus “a little more” each weekend. “I enjoy doing races but I also like it to stay in shape,” she said. “It’s a stress-release. It’s a good time to go out and reflect on the day — especially if it’s a nice day. If it was 20-degrees [outside], I’d probably feel differently.” She qualified for the Armed Forces world team two years ago. However, she was unable to compete due to scheduling conflicts with school. Lieutenant Ballas found out she qualified for the race in Tunisia Feb. 21 and she left Tuesday. “They say it’s fun to intermingle with people from all different countries,” Lieutenant Ballas said. “I’m just as excited about that as the race.” The purpose of world military games is to foster relations between members of the armed forces of all nations. Lieutenant Ballas says she has seen the games foster camaraderie amongst members of the U.S. Armed Forces. “In a few races we run against Army, Navy, and Marine people, and even though you’re competing against them, it’s kind of like you’re on a team with them too,” she said. The future of Lieutenant Ballas’ cross country career after Tunisia is uncertain. She says she may hang up her running shoes for a little while in favor of bicycle wheels. “You can go faster and see more,” she said of biking. “Also you can ride in a big group of people.”