BEALE AIR FORCE BASE –
An avid long distance runner and outdoor enthusiast from the 940th Wing recently qualified for his second Boston Marathon.
Maj. Carl Timm, 940th Wing assistant safety officer, qualified with a runtime of 3:20:27 in the Eugene Marathon May 3, 2009 to qualify for the 2010 Boston Marathon, to be held April 19, 2010.
"I paced myself to get exactly a 3:20 to qualify," said Maj. Timm.
Major Timm, a traditional reservist with the 940th Wing, whose civilian career as an airline pilot takes him all over the country, says running is the simplest way to stay fit.
"You can run anywhere, all you have to do is grab a pair of shoes and go," the major said.
According to Major Timm, the Boston Marathon is one of the premier road races in the country and entry requires runners to meet designated time standard that corresponds to their age group.
"You are running with the best runners in the world and from start to finish there are fans on the sidelines," he said. "Having fans helps motivate you; it's cool."
As a seasoned long distance runner, Major Timm revels in the atmosphere of marathons.
"I have run eight or so marathons. I like to have fun; I talk to the fans and I've even high fived kids. I just like to have a good time," he said.
Training for a marathon usually begins four months prior to the start of the race. There are several different training programs for aspiring marathon runners, stated Major Timm.
"The key to running a good marathon is to arrive at the starting line healthy, if you are not training properly, you could get injured," he said.
"Running is a very individualized sport, and can be very hard on the body," he said. I've been very fortunate to not have been seriously injured. If you do get injured, treat it immediately and, most importantly, have fun; if you train properly, you will have fun."
Major Timm also emphasized that safety is important to a good marathon training regimen.
"You should dress appropriately for the weather conditions; in bad lighting wear reflective clothing and shoes," said Maj. Timm. "During the summer months, drink plenty of fluids, wear sun screen and a hat and most importantly train within your abilities as a runner."
The major credits his active lifestyle to achieving a maximum score on his Air Force physical fitness test and his readiness.
"I am actively involved in a variety of outdoor activities year around to include kayaking, wake boarding, snowboarding and mountain biking to name just a few," he said. "The result of these activities keeps me physically fit and ready to fight anytime anywhere as a reserve Airmen."