Three SFS Airmen to run in Air Force marathon

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Kerry Bartlett
  • 934AW
Minneapolis, MN --       Three Airmen from the 934th Security Forces Squadron are registered and preparing to run in the Air Force marathon scheduled for September 17th, at Wright-Patterson AFB in Dayton, Ohio.

     Master Sgt. Barry W. Haukoos, 934 SFS First Sgt., 46, Master Sgt. Michael R. Bier, 934 SFS squad leader, 42, and Master Sgt. Donald R. Albee, 934 SFS squad leader, 43, will lace up their shoes for the 26.2 mile event in which Haukoos and Bier will inaugurate Albee in his first-ever full marathon.

     A senior Air Force leader will present a commemorative medal to runners that finish within the seven hour time limit.

     The marathon men have their own reasons for running and inspire each other for competitive events.

     "The First Sergeant talked me into this one", said Bier, whose resume includes 17 previous marathons and four Iron Man events. "I like to challenge myself," he added.
"Now I'm trying to get the First Sergeant into triathlons," said Bier with a grin.

     "I do it for health reasons," said First Sgt. Haukoos. "I quit smoking in 2003 and lost 40 pounds," said Haukoos who began running marathons in 2007. "I would like to do an Iron Man before I turn 50," he added.

     This will be his ninth marathon and is planning to run three this year.

     "My whole world centers around running," said Haukoos. 

     Enter Master Sgt. Albee. "These guys got me into it!" he joked. "This will be my first marathon," he added.

     "This is a manifestation of the Air Force fitness culture," said Lt. Col. Theodore S. Ruminsky, commander, 934 SFS.

     Bier, who leads physical fitness training for the security forces squadron said, "We like to promote fitness within the unit. We've got more people than ever doing biathlons."

     The fitness craze seems to extend beyond the squadron. The wives of Haukoos and Albee also run marathons or half-marathons. Coincidentally, Haukoos met his wife while training for the 2007 Twin Cities Marathon.

     "You can go from zero to marathon at any age", said Master Sgt. Bier. "I look forward to running with these guys," he said.

     "We're hoping for a T-shirt and a medal," said Haukoos.

     "These men set the example," Colonel Ruminsky said.