Yellow Ribbon Rep Runs Air Force Marathon Published Oct. 29, 2015 By Chief Master Sgt. Matt Proietti AFR Yellow Ribbon Program Public Affairs WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, OHIO -- The 94th Airlift Wing’s Yellow Ribbon representative ran his first marathon in September as part of the 19th Annual Air Force Marathon. “This was an excellent experience” said Capt. Jonathan Lester. “The course was challenging, but finishing the race and getting that medal showed everyone on the team you can do anything if you set your mind to it and prepare—I really enjoyed it.” Lester, of the 700th Airlift Squadron, was among 13 Yellow Ribbon runners to participate in the marathon’s various divisions. Yellow Ribbon promotes the well-being of reservists and their families by connecting them with resources before and after deployments. These representatives trained for the full or half-marathon after committing to running eight months ago. During a Yellow Ribbon Conference in January, Team Captain Maj. Roxy Hambleton from Homestead Air Reserve Base, Florida, mentioned how running a full marathon—and running the USAF Marathon in particular—had been a goal of hers for years. Lt. Col. Lisa Banyasz from Robins Air Force Base, Georgia, agreed to run with her and they recruited 11 other runners from the Yellow Ribbon Representatives from 38 bases in Air Force Reserve Command. “It seemed like a great idea eight months ago,” said Lester, one of three team members to run the full marathon. “I enjoyed the event and the locale, but as of today, I’m not sure if I’ll ever do another 26.2 again!” The race began at the steps of the National Museum of the United States Air Force with words from Gen. Ellen Pawlikowski, Air Force Materiel Command commander, and a fly over by a U-2 Dragon Lady. Runners who have completed each of the 18 previous Air Force Marathons were honored before a 7:30 a.m. shot from a starter’s pistol set thousands of runners in motion. The marathon, which was launched in 1997 with 4,000 runners, attracted over 15,000 runners who ran everything from the 10-kilometer race, the half marathon, and the full 26.2 mile-marathon. The last 200 yards of the course was lined with aircraft displays. A light drizzle did not stop the cheering spectators watching as their friends and teammates finished. Each runner was presented a medal at the finish line by a general officer. Lt. Col. Donice Wright, the Yellow Ribbon Program operations officer at Reserve headquarters, thanked each member of her team that ran the race and congratulated them on their achievement. “I’m very proud of the representatives that pushed themselves to run this race” she said. “You can’t just show up and run a marathon. You have to train hard for a run of this caliber and our reps did just that.” Yellow Ribbon began in 2008 following a congressional mandate for the Department of Defense to assist reservists and National Guard members in maintaining resiliency as they transition between their military and civilian roles. Each year it trains 7,000 Air Force reservists and family members in education benefits, health care, retirement information and more. Lester’s duties as the 94th AW Yellow Ribbon representative include coordination of pre- and post-deployers at the local level to attend national conferences and serving on the planning committee that hosts the conferences. For more information about the Yellow Ribbon program, or to see if you qualify to attend, contact Lester at 678-655-5373.
