Wet climate can not ease Army Ten-Miler's camaraderie

Brandon York and his racing team, Redstone Arsenal, jumped into a rental van on Friday for the group's 34-year-old annual trip – from Huntsville, Alta., To Fort Belvoir, Fairfax County, for take part in the army on Sunday morning. Ten-Miler.

Despite being cramped in the van with 15 teammates for nearly 14 hours, York surpassed her goal of placing in the top 10 men by placing fourth overall with a time of 51:26.

"There were three guys in front of me from three miles and I wanted to keep that gap until the end," said York, 33, who was running for the sixth time. "I guess I was doing pretty well depending on their situation. I thought that at some point I could catch one. They were just too strong in the last kilometers.

Army Ten Miler, led by Washington's US Army Military District, is a 15-kilometer race that begins and ends at the Pentagon. His route is to cross the Francis Scott Key Memorial Bridge and cross the Potomac River Freeway. Independence Avenue SW. More than 35,000 people from 50 states and 19 countries have signed up for Sunday's event, the third-largest road race in the world within 10 miles, according to organizers.

The three riders York saw were specialists Frankline Tonui, Sergeant Evans Kirwa and specialist Girma Mecheso, members of the world-class athletes program, who respectively completed the first three entries in the men's category. The distance between Tonui and Kirwa was barely perceptible as they sprinted the last kilometer of the race. Tonui outstripped Kirwa by a few inches as he crossed the finish line in 50:23.

"I was just trying to challenge Frank," Kirwa said. "He already beat me in a race and I thought something positive could happen today. But I did everything I could, so he won the game.

The world-class athlete program also dominated the women's race. Specialist Susan Tanui finished first, smiling broadly and arms raised. She repeated her first place in 56:33, saving 17 seconds less than last year.

"It was a relief," said Tanui, 31. "You know you did it. It's a feat – something you've been counting for days, you're not in it and you're seeing the finish line. "

Humidity has slowed many runners, including the best. York said that he had the impression of "breathing through a straw", but that did not stop the encouragement of spectators and runners towards each other. Several runners ran the course with an American flag or placards and posters to support individual soldiers. In the heat of the run, Tanui could not help but feel overwhelmed by the support and see his fellow soldiers and Wounded Warriors participate.

"I ran along a soldier and I just said," Thank you very much for your service, "she said. "That's what motivates me, especially with the crowd and its support … I'm so honored to be running in the streets of Washington."

The retired Chief Warrant Officer, Richard Williams, also felt the love of others and said that it was one of the main reasons he had taken the "nightmare". plane to Coronado, California, in order to run Sunday.

"I like camaraderie and courts," said Williams, 82, who participated in his 23rd Army, Ten Ten Miler. "Many runners would see my gray hair and support me. They help give me the boost I need to keep running. "