Running: A Family Affair
By John Thompson, USAREC
Running marathons is becoming a family affair for Master Sgt. Christine Mileski; her husband, Master Sgt. Eric Mileski; and their 16-year-old son, Joseph.
Husband and wife have a rack full of medals from three years of competing and their son has completed three half marathons.
By day, Christine ensures the seamless operation between the Houston Recruiting Battalion and the Military Entrance Processing Station.
Eric, an intelligence specialist with the Army Reserve’s 75th Training Command, shoulders the workload at home while he works toward a bachelor’s degree.
Christine’s interest in the long distance running started in Afghanistan. In 2003, she ran part of a marathon – the Bagram Run. During that race on Bagram Air Field, she completed 15 of the 26 miles.
Before that deployment, neither Mileski ran further than a two- or four-mile run on a consistent basis. But after she ran in Afghanistan, a new chapter in fitness opened for Christine and Eric.
“Marathons are exhilarating,” she said. “When you first get started, for five or six miles you sigh to yourself and say, ‘you have another 20 miles to go.’ But after you get over the hump and get past mile 15, and then mile 20, it is then you realize you are almost done.
“It is funny, because always the last two miles of the race, my husband and I say to each other, ‘Less than a PT test to go, less than a PT test left to go.’ It keeps us going until we finish.”
“Running a marathon is exciting,” Eric explains. “You are out there together. We give each other encouragement. I know if I have a moment when I feel like cashing it in, she gives me inspiration to finish. I do the same for her. It is a secure feeling to have your partner running with you.”
When it comes to running, Christine said they do everything together – training, shoe shopping and race apparel so they coordinate. She kids that he is the fashion setter who knows what will look good and perform well on the run.
During the race, two things carry these Soldiers from start to finish. As Soldiers, their higher physical fitness level and living by the Army Values lifts them to a higher plateau. Second, the bond the two share as husband and wife gives them strength and resolve.
Their train-up for a marathon requires the Mileskis to commit to a four-month program prior to the race, which combines running, swimming and workouts on elliptical equipment. Their ultimate goal is building cardiovascular endurance.
What is in the future for the Mileski family? As Eric and Christine have expressed, they enjoy running marathons where they have fun. Plans are now to return to Disney World and tackle an upcoming Disney Marathon Weekend 5K, half marathon, full marathon and Goofy Challenge.
The couple ran the half marathon and full marathon in the past, and part of the fun is posing with the characters and legendary structures that millions have visited throughout the years.
By John Thompson, USAREC
Running marathons is becoming a family affair for Master Sgt. Christine Mileski; her husband, Master Sgt. Eric Mileski; and their 16-year-old son, Joseph.
Husband and wife have a rack full of medals from three years of competing and their son has completed three half marathons.
By day, Christine ensures the seamless operation between the Houston Recruiting Battalion and the Military Entrance Processing Station.
Eric, an intelligence specialist with the Army Reserve’s 75th Training Command, shoulders the workload at home while he works toward a bachelor’s degree.
Christine’s interest in the long distance running started in Afghanistan. In 2003, she ran part of a marathon – the Bagram Run. During that race on Bagram Air Field, she completed 15 of the 26 miles.
Before that deployment, neither Mileski ran further than a two- or four-mile run on a consistent basis. But after she ran in Afghanistan, a new chapter in fitness opened for Christine and Eric.
“Marathons are exhilarating,” she said. “When you first get started, for five or six miles you sigh to yourself and say, ‘you have another 20 miles to go.’ But after you get over the hump and get past mile 15, and then mile 20, it is then you realize you are almost done.
“It is funny, because always the last two miles of the race, my husband and I say to each other, ‘Less than a PT test to go, less than a PT test left to go.’ It keeps us going until we finish.”
“Running a marathon is exciting,” Eric explains. “You are out there together. We give each other encouragement. I know if I have a moment when I feel like cashing it in, she gives me inspiration to finish. I do the same for her. It is a secure feeling to have your partner running with you.”
When it comes to running, Christine said they do everything together – training, shoe shopping and race apparel so they coordinate. She kids that he is the fashion setter who knows what will look good and perform well on the run.
During the race, two things carry these Soldiers from start to finish. As Soldiers, their higher physical fitness level and living by the Army Values lifts them to a higher plateau. Second, the bond the two share as husband and wife gives them strength and resolve.
Their train-up for a marathon requires the Mileskis to commit to a four-month program prior to the race, which combines running, swimming and workouts on elliptical equipment. Their ultimate goal is building cardiovascular endurance.
What is in the future for the Mileski family? As Eric and Christine have expressed, they enjoy running marathons where they have fun. Plans are now to return to Disney World and tackle an upcoming Disney Marathon Weekend 5K, half marathon, full marathon and Goofy Challenge.
The couple ran the half marathon and full marathon in the past, and part of the fun is posing with the characters and legendary structures that millions have visited throughout the years.