Mettle man: sheet metal technician hones skills for marathon

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Darrell Habisch
  • 934th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
Minneapolis, St. Paul IAP ARS --  Fit to Fight is the annual test of an Airman's physical ability to perform the mission which culminates in a 1.5 mile run. For Staff Sgt Jose Garza, 934th Maintenance Squadron sheet metal technician, 1.5 miles is just enough to see if his shoe laces are tied tight enough. 

Sergeant Garza is a marathon runner.
His goal is to not just complete a 26.2 mile marathon, but to run it fast. His daily training regimen involves hitting the streets every day, increasing his distance and speed. He goals are to qualify for the Air Force Marathon team and then earn a spot on the Armed Forces Marathon team. 

With five Marine Corps Marathons to his credit, Sergeant Garza participated in the 2009 Air Force Marathon Sept. 19 at Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio. Five weeks later, he will run in the 2009 Marine Corps Marathon at Arlington, Va.
Running came early to Sergeant Garza, beginning at age 11. "My older brother, who was in the Army, would come home and take us kids running. He was my first inspiration."
By 15, he held a national record for competitive run /walk in Mexico.
Sergeant Garza attained his U.S. citizenship in 1999 during his first term with the Marine Corps. 

"My family lives in Texas and Mexico," he said. "My brother, Edward Garza, was born in Texas and I was born in Mexico. I became a legal resident, joined the Marines and became a citizen. It was my way of becoming part of the country; giving it my service."
His best time was 2:32:00 in the 2000 Marine Corps Marathon. More than 20,000 people started the race and little more than 17,000 finished. Sergeant Garza placed 32nd.
"That marathon is where all the armed forces come together to compete, as well as civilians, of course," he said. "And, by the way, the Air Force is very good at winning the Marine Corps Marathon." 

His most inspiring marathon was the Marine Corps Marathon in 2001. It was just after 9/11 and the Marine Corps decided to hold the marathon in spite of the terrorist attacks. The route begins in Virginia and winds among the monuments in the nation's capitol before returning to Arlington. 

"It's a very patriotic marathon. We run by landmarks in the capitol and right next to the Marine Corps monument. We ran alongside the Pentagon and saw the damage. It was very emotional." 

Training is part of life for serious athletes. As soon as one marathon ends, training begins for the next. "I'll take one day off, then begin biking and running for the next one." The goal is to become faster. "I'm now running every day, varying the distance to increase the mileage I complete." 

"Jose's abilities as an athlete are a constant inspiration to the shop's troops, especially come Fit to Fight time," said Senior Master Sgt. Joe Bystedt, 934th Maintenance Squadron fabrication flight chief.
A light workout is nine miles; moderate is 12 to 15 miles and a hard workout is 24 miles.
"When I run 24 miles in training, I don't have anyone to help me." To rehydrate, he places water bottles along his route ahead of time and drinks them along the way.
As a marathon approaches, he begins speed work; sprinting distances on a track to make him faster during the entire race. But at thirty-eight, Sergeant Garza doesn't rely on supplements to keep in shape. He says that eating healthy foods and hydrating well are the keys to successful training. Weekly yoga sessions are also important to avoid injuries and increase flexibility, he said. 

"Today I feel like a teenager again," he said. "My cardio vascular system is much better than when I joined the service and I am much more flexible.
The rewards of running are great, according to Sergeant Garza.
"It relieves stress and it's a time to reflect and meditate," he said. "I want to complete the Air Force Marathon in at least two hours and fifty seconds. Hopefully, I'll be in the top ten Air Force runners." 

One might think that completing a marathon would be time to celebrate your accomplishment, but Sergeant Garza said he "just lies in the grass afterwards. I push harder in the race than in training so I'm all beat up. But it is worth it. Then I start training again."