Ramstein runners pounding the pavement

For many members of the Ramstein Runners club, running is more than just logging miles into a tracker. For some, it’s an outlet to relieve stress; for others, it’s a way to make new friends; for even more, it’s a way to stay committed to fitness goals.

But for many of the members of this women-only fitness group, it is a path toward fitting into the community, which is important to any new military family members, especially overseas.

“It’s not just about running,” said Linda Hitchcock, a native of Rancho Santa Margarita, California and Army spouse, who is also an administrator for the group. “It’s a resource and a social network. Everyone just helps each other — we have a really good group of ladies.”

What started in 2010 as a small group of like-minded fitness enthusiasts from the Ramstein Officers’ Spouses Club, has evolved today into a group of more than 600 women living in the KMC. Active-duty military members, Department of Defense civilians, enlisted and officer military spouses and other interested female running enthusiasts regularly meet to run the countless German trails and races spanning across the entire European region. Runs are coordinated through social networking and events board that are used to post and organize runs throughout Europe.

The group also operates as a platform for members to share running advice, injury prevention tips and support and encouragement for runners of all levels and paces.

“It’s amazing the support and encouragement that goes on among the ladies,” said Amanda Groff, a native of Canada and Air Force spouse. “Whether training for a marathon, a half-marathon, or a 5K, there is always someone to run with. There is always someone to look to when you need training advice — or post-training wine.”

Groff also organizes and hosts pilates, Tabata and high-intensity interval training (HIIT) workouts for the group to supplement the running training. Children are welcome, thus encouraging a greater turnout of moms at the events.

Though the Ramstein Runners began as a fitness-focused running group, it is so much more to many of today’s members.
“Our roots were established in inclusiveness and as a means to support military members, especially those with deployed loved ones,” Hitchcock said. “Some of us do not have a big Army or military support network. We use each other as a resource and for support.”

“It’s kind of like an FRG (Family Readiness Group), but an informal running  FRG,” said Carrie Mccarraher, a Huntsville, Alabama, native and spouse of a civilian engineer at the American Forces Network. “The first event I attended, someone found out I was new, and she was like, ‘OK, you need to get window fans since it gets hot in the summer, and during the day keep your rolladens (German window shades) down, and you might want to sleep in your basement.’ It was learning the little things for living overseas that you don’t always think about. This group made things much easier.”

Adjusting to life as an overseas military family member can be challenging for many, and groups like the Ramstein Runners can impact how well a person adjusts to living far away from traditional support networks of friends and family.

“If I don’t go run with somebody, I may not talk to anyone until my husband gets home, which is all day,” Mccarraher said. “A lot of times I’ll go for a run with somebody even if I don’t feel like it just so I have someone to talk to. It gets me out of the house and keeps me from being lonely.”

While a number of the runners are training for upcoming European races, such as the Paris Marathon in April and the Dreiländer Lauf in May, a 13.1 mile half-marathon traversing Germany, France and Switzerland, members of the Ramstein Runners get together for non-running events also. Weekly cross-training hikes, interval training classes and group yoga help round out the fitness activities, while shopping trips, luncheons and sight-seeing field trips provide opportunities for members to get to know each other and the area as well.

“Fitness always encompasses more than running. We want everyone to feel welcome, whether they’re runners, just starting to run, or simply just looking at a way to belong. We’re very nurturing, which is just nice,” Hitchcock said. “When I get new member requests, they don’t know anything about the area, but they just want to make sure that there’s someone to run with and to show them around. They’re very excited. They see how active we are with local events and runs as well as events throughout Europe, and they want to be a part.”

Friendship, support and inclusiveness are at the core of all that the Ramstein Runners do.

“Everywhere that I’ve ever lived, I’ve always dreamed of having a running club to belong to,” Mccarraher said.

“Now, I never want to leave and I don’t want a real job because I don’t want to not be able to run with the group. Isn’t that terrible?”

Maybe not terrible, but proof that the Ramstein Runners play an essential role in helping women fit into
the KMC.