CHARLESTON AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. –
In an effort to raise money for a cancer charity, a Charleston Airman will be spending a full day on a treadmill.
Capt. Rick Mueller, 437th Mission Support Group executive officer, has set a goal to run at least 70 miles in 24 hours. He'll run from 9 a.m. Saturday to 9 a.m. Sunday at the Fitness and Sports Center here.
"I've done so many races in my life just for the fact that I'm running, but I thought now was a good time to run for someone else and help them out," said Captain Mueller.
Running is not an uncommon or difficult activity for Captain Mueller. He has already completed two 100-mile races. He plans to run in two more within the next couple months. His best time for completing a 100-mile run was about 28 hours. He also tries to run multiple times a day, averaging anywhere from six to 10 miles per day.
His 24-hour run this weekend will be completed on a treadmill. Although he is used to running long races on trails, he has never run on a treadmill for more than two hours.
"I heard it's supposed to be 30 percent more difficult to complete a run of this length on a treadmill than on a trail," said Captain Mueller. "I'm not sure if that will be personally true for me, but I'll find out this weekend."
Captain Mueller will be running or walking the entire 24 hours with the exception of taking time to use the bathroom. He will even eat and drink while on the treadmill.
"I think the biggest challenge of this will not be the running but that there won't really be anything around me except the walls," said Captain Mueller. "I'm just glad that I will always have someone, especially my wife, there with me to make the time more interesting."
There are several people from the base who volunteered to be his Wingman during the run, including commanders from different squadrons. Someone will always be there for moral support or to run beside him, even when the Fitness and Sports Center is closed.
"I don't think this would've been possible without the help of Lt. Col. Richard Sheetz, 437th Services Squadron commander, and Steve Parrish, Fitness and Sports Center director," said Captain Mueller. "I just want to thank them for being so enthusiastic and supportive and especially for letting me use the Fitness and Sports Center."
The cancer society is also being supportive of what Captain Mueller is doing. They even sent him shirts to wear during his run.
Captain Mueller only decided to do this run about a week-and-a-half ago.
He said he was inspired when he read a story about Zachary Moore, 3, son of Capt. Christopher Moore, 437th Airlift Wing chief of public affairs, and found out that the young boy was diagnosed with cancer.
"I just hope to raise as much money as I can for the cancer society," said Captain Mueller. "So far, a lot of people are donating a certain amount each mile and every time someone pledges a little more, it encourages me to run farther."
Anyone interested in making pledges can send them to Captain Mueller at wayward_runner@yahoo.com.