Dream to reality

  • Published
  • By Staff Sergeant Carlos Trevino
  • 433rd Airlift Wing
LACKLAND AFB --  When someone says they dream of running a marathon, it usually remains just that, a dream.
Not so for 34-year-old Capt. Amber Marcella, she made that dream a reality. The Executive Officer with the 733rd Training Squadron completes the Austin, Texas Marathon with a competitive time of 4:19:33 in February and is now in training for September's Air Force Marathon. She credits the website of a running coach, Hal Higdon, for giving her a training program to follow and her Air Force Reserve colleagues for inspiration and support.
STAFF SERGEANT TREVINO: I understand you were prior enlisted, what was your Air Force Specialty Code?
CAPT. AMBER MARCELLA: I spent 11 years 9 months and three days on active duty. I was enlisted for 7 years and 10 months--the AFSCs I held were 1T1X1 (Life Support), 3A0X1 (Information Management) and I spent the last two years enlisted on special duty 8T000 (Airman Leadership School Instructor).
SERGEANT TREVINO: You said you got into this because you missed Active Duty. What did you miss about it?
CAPTAIN MARCELLA: I wouldn't necessarily say I miss active duty but I will never have another employer. The sense of accomplishment I get, knowing that even the slightest effort I put into my job benefits the greater good of America.
SERGEANT TREVINO: Why running? As opposed to skydiving, dance lessons, etc.
CAPTAIN MARCELLA: I've been running since I was 12 years old...it's just a way of life. I learned from an early age that your health is partly dependent on the level of fitness a person maintains along with diet etc.
SERGEANT TREVINO: Why did you pick the Austin Marathon, and not the San Antonio?
CAPTAIN MARCELLA: I found out about the Austin Marathon through "Team-in-Training" which is a part of the Leukemia and Lymphoma society that raises money for research in the fight of cancer. I wanted to do something that benefited the community as well as achieve my overall goal of running a marathon.
SERGEANT TREVINO: Do you come from an athletic background?
CAPTAIN MARCELLA: Believe it or not my running began at an early age because I liked watching track and field events and I just started running one day and never really stopped, my level of fitness has varied over the years, either because of my work schedule or life events but I've never not run.
SERGEANT TREVINO: How about your eating and drinking habits, did they change?
CAPTAIN MARCELLA: I'm actually kind of ashamed of my eating habits. I like chocolate, that's my weakness. The running kind of encouraged me to eat whatever, whenever, but the fluid intake was much more frequent and required with the running.
SERGEANT TREVINO: What did you learn about yourself from training?
CAPTAIN MARCELLA: I'm a very strong individual, I'm determined, structured and disciplined, which is what it takes to be an Airman. The qualities required to maintain a successful military career are required in life.
SERGEANT TREVINO: What did you think about during the marathon?
CAPTAIN MARCELLA: Before the race, especially the day of I was scared to death. It's quite often than people get that competitive spirit when accompanied by other individuals and start out too quickly and often find themselves tired too early. I actually had a loved one attend the Austin with me as a spectator and he met me at the three mile mark...from then on I had my motivation until the 15th mile. It's so funny, now I have quite an appreciation for spectators and gummy bears. I ate a simple breakfast which was supposed to hold me over until the end of the race, but at the 15th mile my body literally almost shut down I was so hungry, then I saw a spectator with a measuring cup full of gummy bears and I got so excited. The sugar rush gave me what I needed until mile 17 where I got my biggest motivation of the day. Seriously, I hear a man calling my name, a little more than most spectators, trying to motivate me, then I look back and it's Lt. Col. Fred McMahon, 356 AS Commander. Tell you what, I had the motivation not only to finish, but I think my pace got a little faster. It's amazing what will happen when a subordinate has a senior leader behind him or her to positively reinforce a goal or effort. I'll be forever grateful to Col McMahon, he not only showed up to my race but he actually went running with me to show support, especially on days where I wasn't the most motivated.
SERGEANT TREVINO: How was this training and run a "life changing experience?"
CAPTAIN MARCELLA: I learned that running is a lifestyle I can't give up, it gives me a sense of accomplishment. It gives me a great sense of accomplishment. To run a marathon takes approximately 18-weeks of formal training.
SERGEANT TREVINO: Do you think anyone can do a marathon?
CAPTAIN MARCELLA: With any kind of physical training it's more than just a physical thing. It's mental, anyone who puts their mind to something can do anything. There are people who've done the impossible with little to no support. I've had it easy, I've had nothing but positive reinforcement.
SERGEANT TREVINO: What about the mental aspect of running?
CAPTAIN MARCELLA: Running a marathon is 50 percent strength and 50 percent mental. There are people accomplishing the impossible. I'm healthy and strong and this is nothing.
SERGEANT TREVINO: Tell me about your 'extended family', what did each do to support you on your quest?
CAPTAIN MARCELLA: My extended family are those people I surround myself with daily, the 733rd TRS, 356th Airlift Squadron and our active duty counterparts in Detachment 6. Each either supported my running monetarily, with kind word or food in some cases. I have to thank the members of the 356th AS for $1000 of the $2200 earned for Team in Training.
SERGEANT TREVINO: How has this training and the running impacted your Air Force career?
CAPTAIN MARCELLA: As an Air Force officer, my job is mostly about leadership. One way of doing that is by example. Air Force senior leadership has deemed it necessary to be physically fit, especially with the contingency environment we work in today. How can I ask someone to be physically fit if I'm not doing the same myself? Leaders can't always do so from the front, but our three year old program has to start somewhere; I challenge my co-workers, peers, subordinates and superiors to keep up!
When you are confident in one aspect of your life, it rolls over into many other areas. I've always wanted to be the sort of person who's looked at in a positive light, not necessarily for my personality, but for my work ethic and what I represent as an Air Force member. Integrity First, Service before Self and Excellence in all we do, those are words to live by.
SERGEANT TREVINO: What advice would you offer wing members who want or need to begin a running program to improve their PFT score?
CAPTAIN MARCELLA: It is for your life, not just the Air Force. You will feel better, treat people better, don't just think about it, do it. Start by walking a mile, then begin running and steadily increase to run at least 3 miles. You want to do more than what is required compared to the 1.5 mile run you are tested on.

Marcella describes the Austin Marathon as the accomplishment of a short term goal. Her long term goal, or dream, is to run in the Boston Marathon. The qualifying time for that famous race is 3:45, a time that she confidently says is "Very achievable, very doable."