Chaplain, Team Whiteman participate in AF Marathon

  • Published
  • By By Airman 1st Class Bryan Crane
  • 509th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. --  Running has been something Capt. Kevin Hostettler has always enjoyed, but just over a year ago he decided to take it to the next level.

Now after countless 5K runs and half-marathons, the 509th Bomb Wing chaplain took on his latest challenge Sept. 15 -- running the Air Force Marathon for the second time.

"I like the sense of accomplishment after a difficult tempo run two days after a long, easy run," Hostettler said. "I like honestly describing an eight-mile run as a down day and a four miler as an easy run."

Since he began competitive racing, Hostettler has quickly improved and maintains a strict workout regimen. His weekly routine includes a 15-mile tempo run on Mondays, a four-mile run on Tuesdays, 800-meter repeats on Wednesdays, a slow run on Thursdays, an off-day on Fridays, and finishes with a 20-mile run on Saturdays.

For Hostettler, running races is more about accomplishing his "firsts" than getting trophies and
ribbons.

"It's about the first - the first 5k, first 10k, first half-marathon, first marathon," he said. "It's about the first time you break a certain time or a certain pace over a long distance. It's about improving, not necessarily winning."

At this year's Air Force marathon, Hostettler was joined by an impressive Whiteman presence.

The official team consisted of 32 members of Team Whiteman, including Brig. Gen. Thomas Bussiere, 509th Bomb Wing Commander, and his wife Barbara.

However, the most impressive part of Whiteman's presence was the 40 other members who participated on their own, and not part of the official team.

"I am extremely proud of Whiteman's Marathon Team for fielding 32 runners for the 2012 Air Force Marathon," said Chief Master Sgt. Lee Barr, 509th Bomb Wing command chief. "What's more impressive is the fact that an additional 40 Airmen and their family members from our Total Force Integration Team showed in force representing Team Whiteman with 72 runners!"

"I cannot think of a better way of showing America our pride especially since this year's feature platform was the mighty B-2 bomber," Chief Barr added.

For Hostettler, the remarkable presence of Team Whiteman inspires him to continue working hard and improving.

"I beat last year's time by five minutes," he added. "This year my finish time was 3:20:33. Last year was 3:25:22 and I was helped by the motivation of all 32 finishers from the Whiteman Marathon Team."

Team Whiteman reminds those interested in running to begin training for next year's event, as maximum participation is always great to show Whiteman's commitment to excellence.

"Start training early," Hostettler said. "Find a good training plan and join Whiteman Runners on Facebook -- we have a great running community on base."

The following runners made up the official "Whiteman AFB Marathon Team:"

1. Brig. Gen. Thomas Bussiere, 509th BW commander
2. Barbara Bussiere, wife of Brig. Gen. Thomas Bussiere
3. Army Staff Sgt. Michelle Elliot, 1st Battalion, 135th Aviation Regiment
4. Maj. Adam Roberts, 393rd BS
5. Staff Sgt. Joshua Porter, 509th LRS
6. Master. Sgt. John Straka, 442nd AMXS
7. Lt. Col. Gregory Halen, 442nd MXG
8. Tech. Sgt Kevin Balandron, 442nd AMXS
9. Tech. Sgt Jessica Hildebrand, 509th CS
10. Maj. Bentley Brooks, 394th CTS
11. Tech. Sgt Carl Garrison, 131st MXS
12. Senior Airman Sabrina Bertz, 442nd AMXS
13. Master Sgt. Neil Fowler, 509th AMXS
14. Capt. David Wennerstrom, 442nd CES
15. Master Sgt. Daniella Benson, 509 BW/CP
16. Lt. Col. Chris Boring, 509th AMXS commander
17. Senior Airman Ashlea Garrison, 131st BW/CCS
18. Capt. Kevin Hostettler, 509th BW/HC
19. Staff Sgt. Crystal Breshears, 509th BW/CP
20. Tech. Sgt Joseph Laxson, 509th FSS
21. Master Sgt. Jennifer Lyons, 509 BW/CP
22. Senior Airman Bret Berry, 509th BW/JA
23. Master Sgt. Peter McGoldrick, 509th MXG
24. 2nd Lt. Travis Petersen, 509th MDSS
25. Lt. Col. Todd Pennington, 509th BW/JA
26. Chief Master Sgt. Tim Cooley, USAF Retired
27. Jill Wade, 509th FSS
28. 1st Lt. Ben Coffman, formerly of 509th CONS
29. Staff Sgt. Rafael Franjul, 509th BW/JA
30. Capt. Christopher Conant, 394th CTS
31. Senior Airman Charles Quinsay, 509th SFS
32. Master Sgt. Marshall Stafford, 72nd TES

The following runners from Whiteman completed the full marathon, but not as part of the team:

33. Senior Airman Paul Blake, 509th MXS
34. Staff Sgt. Richard Cook, 131st MXS
35. Tech. Sgt. Chiya Dawoudi, 20th RS
36. Brent Duckworth, 509th MXS
37. Staff Sgt. John Hendrix, 131 MXS
38. Senior Airman Corey Kraus, 509 CES
39. Tech. Sgt. Travis Smith, 131st MXG
40. Lt. Col. Kimbra Sterr, 131st MXS commander
41. A1C Brianne Stead, 509th SFS
42. Capt Joseph Yasunaga, 20th RS

The following runners from Whiteman completed the half marathon, but not part of the official team:

43. Senior Master Sgt. Gregory Bicknell, 509th AMXS
44. Nickole Bicknell
45. Carla Boring, wife of Lt. Col. Chris Boring
46. Master Sgt. Rickey Brandenburg, 509th MUNS
47. Bailey Carroll
48. Staff Sgt. Richard Carroll, 131st BW/PRP
49. Master Sgt. Tina Carroll, 709th MUNS/CCF
50. Tech. Sgt. Steven Dale, 72nd TES
51. Maj. James Davis, 509th MDOS
52. Senior Airman Mattox Davis, 509th AMXS
53. Tara Fox, 509th OSS
54. Staff Sgt. Brian Halko, 509th LRS
55. Master Sgt. Michael Hamm, 131st BW/IM
56. Jamie Himes, wife of Staff Sgt. Nicholas Himes, 509th BW/CP
57. Tech. Sgt. Kathleen Janes, 509th LRS
58. Carolyn Knothe
59. Staff Sgt. Ashley Martinez, 20th RS
60. Staff Sgt. Phillip McClanahan, 20th RS
61. Airman 1st Class Lauren Palmer, 509th FSS
62. Angela Patterson
63. Tech. Sgt. David Roberts, 20th RS
64. Kimberly Schwinler, wife of Maj. Randy Schwinler
65. Maj. Randy Schwinler, 509th MXS/CC
66. Staff Sgt. Samantha Scott, 509th BW/CP
67. Chief Master Sgt. Kenneth Slabaugh, 131st MXS
68. Maj John Stubbs, 509th MDOS
69. 2nd Lt. Amy Cottrell, 131stMDG
70. Master Sgt. Jason Wade, 509th MXS
71. Lt. Col. Kevin Minor, 509th BW/CP
72. Jennifer Minor, wife of Lt Col. Kevin Minor