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***image1***A 26.2-mile battle in which the mind fights the body and the body fights the elements, is a battle that takes more than physical ability to overcome.
“Every marathon is a challenge, it’s you against all the different parameters that are out there, and your own body is your biggest competitor,” said Capt. Jill Metzger, Air Forces Europe executive officer. “It’s also more than just a physical challenge as you have to overcome mental pain and mental boredom.”
Inspired by her father and commander, she entered her first marathon in September of 1997 at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Dayton, Ohio. This was also the first ever United States Air Force Marathon.
“I was just happy to finish,” said Captain Metzger.
She crossed with a time of 4 hours, 6 minutes.
Sixteen marathons later, including eight USAF marathons and four marathon victories, Captain Metzger has run her way into the record books by being the first person to win the USAF Marathon twice in row.
Sept. 18, she cut her time by one hour, finishing with a time of 3 hours, 6 minutes, 6 seconds, a 7-minute-mile pace.
“After winning the first year it was much harder the second year, there was a lot more pressure on me as the defending champion. I was in the spotlight and setting the tone for the race because of the high expectations,” said Captain Metzger.
However, she said this wasn’t the motivation that pushed her to win.
“I was on mile 24; my muscles started to hurt and I wasn’t focused, then I began to think about all the people who came to me and told me I motivated them or impacted their life just by winning last year’s race. I started to think about the people who I touched just by my physical accomplishments and the feeling knowing that I can impact someone else’s life just by winning a marathon, and that drove me to win. You can take away all the awards or trophies but don’t take that away,” said Captain Metzger.
To accomplish a feat like this does not come without sacrifice.
“I spend most of my free time and weekends ‘pounding the pavement’ while everyone else is out having fun and partying at festivals,” she said.
Training for a marathon is a very large commitment; the runner must stay dedicated no matter what the condition: rain, snow, sleet or hail. A strict training regimen is required.
Captain Metzger said she set goals for the week of how many miles she wants to run and how many miles she wants to cycle or swim. Her job doesn’t give a lot of free time; therefore, she will sometimes run up to 30 miles on weekends to make up for miles missed during the week.
She also has never had a personal trainer.
“All of the hints and secrets I know came from my dad and from personal experience,” said Captain Metzger.
When it comes to training, people from work support her emotionally and mentally, but she says her biggest supporter of all is 1st Lt. Josh Mayo, U.S. Air Forces in Europe’s commanders support staff communications officer. He can’t keep up with her running so he takes his mountain bike out and rides right next to her in any weather.
“No matter if it is rain or shine, he rides all those trails with me for many miles,” said Captain Metzger.
Although Captain Metzger is on a strict training schedule it does not prevent her from traveling in Europe.
“I’m big on multi-tasking so when I travel I can run and sightsee at the same time,” she said. “The beauty of running is you can just grab your shoes and go.”
Since her success in marathons, Captain Metzger has been sought out as a coach. She is constantly being asked for tips on training and running. She said it has even spread to the German community that she lives in, and it’s great to share information with them.
“Even though there is a language barrier there, it is amazing how well people can communicate when you share the same passion for running,” said Captain Metzger.
Captain Metzger said she has yet to test her athletic ability to the fullest extent, but she still has qualifying times for all major marathons, to include the New York and Chicago marathons, and she is usually in the top 5 percent in qualifying times. If she had the time to fully dedicate herself to being a professional runner, she said she would have the potential to compete well.
In Captain Metzger’s next marathon she will be representing the Air Force in the 29th Marine Corps Marathon Oct. 31 in Arlington, Va.
“It’s a big responsibility when you’re representing your service and you’re competing against the Marines, the Army and the Navy,” she said.
Captain Metzger has come a long way in the past eight years of running marathons. She started out “just happy to finish,” now she has won back-to-back Air Force marathons and is gaining respect from everyone around her.
