Sports -- 100th SFS Airman to represent RAF Mildenhall, USAFE at Air Force Marathon's half marathon

  • Published
  • By Karen Abeyasekere
  • 100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
RAF MILDENHALL, England --  Trasy Rincan is a tiny little bundle of fizzing energy. A senior airman in the 100th Security Forces Squadron Pass and Registration Flight, she has a handshake that would make a grown man cry (probably due to all the weight training she does) and is extremely passionate about all kinds of fitness - especially running. 

She's been chosen to represent U.S. Air Forces in Europe in the Air Marathon Sept. 20 at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, along with five others, all competing in the half-marathon event. They will be joining another team of six USAFE participants running the full marathon. 

Her first half-marathon was in October 2007 in southwest Asia, when she ran it in 2:02.58. The second was Aug. 29 at RAF Mildenhall, and she shaved 24 minutes off her original time. She ran it in 1:38.02, and finished in first place out of the female participants. 

The half-marathon at the Air Force Marathon will be her third and falls on Rincan's 22nd birthday. And this time, she hopes to run it even faster. She discovered her talent for running by competing in high school during her senior year. 

"I didn't know I had the ability or potential to run competitively, but I ended up being the cross country all star female at my high school. I went to a (Department of Defense Dependents School,) and placed fifth in all of Japan," she said. "I just started running and soon got into competitive distance running. When I went to the desert, I started running a lot there too; that's where I ran my first half-marathon."
 
The 100th SFS Airman said she loves running because it relieves stress and helps her stay fit-to-fight. She also teaches spinning and aerobics classes, and regularly does weight-training, which she said helps her run faster.
 
When not in training, Rincan said she runs four times a week, and does weight-training six times a week. When she's training for a half-marathon, she'll run six times a week, and weight trains twice a week. 

"It definitely helps me run faster. I really enjoy it - once I see results, it's like, 'Gosh, this is so worth it.'" she said, adding that she also wants to compete in a fitness competition within the next year or two. 

"The farthest I run when training for a half-marathon is 10 miles at a time. I like to do speed work twice a week, which helps me to get faster. I also do hills on the treadmill, which I think is the hardest ever." 

When USAFE selected her to run in the Air Force Marathon half-marathon, the Cincinnati native said it didn't seem real.
 
"After I got picked, I called them back and said, 'Are you sure this is me?' I just couldn't believe it." 

But once the news sunk in that she had indeed been chosen, the senior airman started hitting the treadmill and the track even harder. 

Clocking up the miles almost every day provides plenty of time to think. 

"I think about the goals I want to achieve throughout life," she said. "It gives me motivation; I want to eventually be a nurse in the Air Force, run a full marathon, and be a personal trainer. I want to help people adopt healthy nutrition and a healthy lifestyle - not just a diet, but a lifestyle. It makes you feel so good about yourself and energetic and so happy." 

Rincan said her family inspires her to do more running and do the best she can. 

"My family is my role model; they've accomplished so much in life and I want to be successful like them. I also thank God for getting me through everything, and I'm so grateful to have such wonderful people in my life." 

Her parents will be at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, supporting their daughter, as they live just an hour away. 

As well as the Air Force Marathon half-marathon, Rincan is also running the Race for Life at the end of September, which is an annual race held at a huge number of places across England to raise money for cancer charities.