Run 4 Life moves Airmen forward during suicide prevention month

  • Published
  • By Jeremy Gerlach
  • JBSA-Lackland Public Affairs

On a sunny Saturday morning here, the thundering footsteps of hundreds of superheroes broke through a quiet section of the Gillum Fitness Center trail during the third annual JBSA-Lackland Run for Life, a JBSA-wide 5K hosted by the 502nd Air Base Wing.

The run is dedicated to raising awareness for Suicide Prevention Month which runs through the end of September.

While the hundreds of participants – many decked out in capes, graphic T-shirts and masks for this year’s “superhero” theme – may have been mere mortals, the ongoing fight for suicide prevention requires a superhuman effort, said Maj. Trisha Stavinoha, Brooke Army Medical Center Department of Nutritional Medicine chief of community and outpatient nutrition.

“When talking about causes of suicide, we typically see bad relationships, isolation and alcohol abuse keep coming up,” Stavinoha said. “With Run for Life, we are aiming – both symbolically and literally – to counter these factors. These 5K runs help people form new relationships and stay active, which acts as a strong counter towards suicidal behavior.”

After its inaugural event at JBSA-Randolph in 2013, the Run 4 Life initiative spread to all three JBSA locations in 2014. The race is typically held on three separate days – one for each installation – and gives each base a chance to put a unique spin on the event.

While JBSA-Lackland’s Sept. 10 run encompassed the aforementioned superhero initiative, JBSA-Fort Sam Houston hosted a ruck march, encouraging participants to fill their rucksacks with donations for the San Antonio Food Bank.

“We didn’t have too many people running with all that weight,” Stavinoha chuckled. “It’s certainly a different way of approaching a 5K.”

While the JBSA-Fort Sam Houston and JBSA-Lackland runs are over, participants can still attend the JBSA-Randolph Run for Life Sept. 24 at Heritage Park. This 5K run starts at 8 a.m. with registration opening at 7 a.m.

Just like the first two Run for Life events, the JBSA-Randolph 5K will include on-site representatives from the JBSA Chaplain’s Office, Military and Family Life Counseling, and other offices involved with suicide prevention efforts, and will have stations with water, fruit and granola bars readily available.

JBSA-Lackland’s superhero theme might be a fun spin on the event, but it also shared a more solemn feature with the other two runs, said Joseph Althoff, 502nd ABW community support counselor.

Participants were each given a tack-on bib, complete with an identification number. While this is standard practice at most competitive events, charity races and fun runs, at Run for Life, each bib had additional space where runners could write down a short testimonial that explained why they were running.

“When people write down their motivation where others can see it, that sends a powerful message,” Althoff explained. “Somebody might be running in memory of a relative, or they might be in recovery themselves. This puts some substance into the run.”

That emphasis on substance extends to the Comprehensive Airmen Fitness model, Stavinoha added.

“Here, you’re running three miles, so that’s your physical component right there,” she noted. “We’ll have chaplains there – that’s your spiritual factor – and other resources for people to do some research about suicide prevention, and that’s your mental aspect.”

Apart from the mental, physical and spiritual CAF components, Run for Life’s biggest draw is always the social interaction, Stavinoha explained.

“My hope is that as people move a little bit slower, they have time to talk to people and to form new friendships,” she said. “Participants can always run fast if they want, but we love seeing people who stop by - maybe they don’t know anyone there at first – but they latch on to a group.”

Struggling against suicide can be an enormous obstacle for Airmen and their families. The organizers behind the Run for Life initiative have always aimed to show Airmen that they are up to the challenge.

“Across all three locations, these are challenging events, and that’s a good thing,” Stavinoha explained. “People like to challenge themselves – whether it’s just traveling three miles or carrying a rucksack at Ft. Sam. This run gives people something to do that is not sedentary – it’s taking care of your body, your mind, and it’s fun.”