TEC wins Fittest Company Challenge...again

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- The I.G. Brown Air National Guard Training and Education Center accepted its second first place award for the Fittest Company Challenge from the Knoxville Chamber during a ceremony in Market Square in downtown Knoxville, May 11.

The competition held April 3, during the Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon, was a friendly contest among area businesses.

It was designed to promote a healthy lifestyle and in turn create healthy employees. It was also a good way to boost company spirit and a fun way to interact outside the office.

Members of the TEC joined in the fun and ran a total of 159.6 miles to win the small company category, which included companies of less than 100 employees.

They were among nearly 1,400 employees in the local area who ran a total of 13,000 miles.

Each staff member finished the full-marathon, half-marathon, 5K, or 4-person relay race.

"The Knoxville area is a really good supporter of the military," said Tech. Sgt. Jeffrey D. Glawe, an enlisted professional military education instructor who coordinated the center's participation in the event. "It was fun to support them by being a part of this."

"It was also a great opportunity to get everyone out and work on our fitness," said Glawe, who ran his first full-marathon during the event.

He completed the challenging 26.2 mile course in four hours and 24 minutes and came in 337th place out of 632 runners who finished race.

Other TEC staff members who participated in the event were:

4-Person Relay: Master Sgt. Keith Cavanaugh; Tech. Sgt. Mona Johnson; and Tech. Sgt. Jeela Matthews; and Tech. Sgt. Derek Westfall.

5K (3.1 miles): Chief Master Sgt. Don Felch and Senior Master Sgt. Andy Traugot.

Half-Marathon (13.2 miles): Master Sgt. Bonnie McGuffin; Master Sgt. Don Pierson; Tech. Sgt. Chris Berry; Tech. Sgt. Brad Evans; Tech. Sgt. Paul Evans; Tech. Sgt. Kurt Hayes; and Gerry Barnes.

Marathon (26.2 miles): Tech. Sgt. Jeff Glawe.