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Iowa National Guard Marathon Team Competes in Lincoln National Guard Marathon

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Rich Murphy
  • 185th Public Affairs
Lincoln, NEB --  Despite an early morning thunder storm that threatened to cancel the race, four guard members from the Iowa Air and Army National Guard joined  10,000 runners who raced in the 35th Annual Lincoln National Guard Marathon, Sunday, May 6, 2012 in Lincoln, NEB. Marty Hogan and Melissa Knight of the Iowa Air National Guard and Brien Waldren and Dan Barker of the Iowa Army National Guard represented the Iowa team in this year's event.

The Lincoln National Guard Marathon is in its 35th running. For the last 29 years, the race has served as the qualifying race for the National Guard marathon team. Over 200 guard members from nearly every state in the country competed for a chance to be a part of the U.S. National Guard Marathon team.

Knight, who recently returned from a deployment in Afghanistan, finished 14th in her division overall and 3rd among the National Guard racers in her division. She has been running the Lincoln National Guard marathon since 2008. "The Lincoln race is awesome. It is great to see all of the military members in this race. It is inspiring."

This was Waldren's first time running in the Lincoln National Guard Marathon. However, only three weeks prior, he had finished the Boston Marathon. "I love this stuff. I ran my first marathon a few years ago when I was deployed in Afghanistan and I have been running them ever since."

While none of the members of the Iowa team made the national team, the runners Iowa guard members said that their experiences in the race were well worth the work. Knight said, "I learn something new about running and myself every time I run this race."

Hogan, who has run the marathon since 2008, said the race is a great opportunity to showcase the National Guard. He said, "When you look at people like Melissa, Dan, and Brien, they are the type of people who we want to represent our state and the National Guard."

Hogan added, "Running for the Iowa team is an honor. When you can take something you do as a hobby and apply it to what you do for a living, that is a great thing. And there is nothing like running across the finish line and having a two-star general put a medal around your neck."

To be a part of the Iowa National Guard marathon team, an individual must be an active member of the Iowa National Guard and must complete a nationally certified marathon in under four hours. For more information about the Iowa National Guard marathon team, contact Marty Hogan. For more information about the Lincoln National Guard Marathon, visit the official website at http://www.lincolnrun.org/races/marathon.