History in the making -- 315th participates in first run over Ravenel Bridge Published May 5, 2006 By Tech. Sgt. Mark Kleber 315th Airlift Wing Public Affairs CHARLESTON AFB, S.C. -- Members of the 315th AW made history by participating in the 29th Annual Cooper Bridge Run, the first race over the new Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge. Almost 50,000 runners and walkers participated in this year’s Cooper River Bridge Run, including many walkers and runners from the 315th, who wanted to be part of this memorable event. “I wanted to be a part of history. I had just celebrated my 50th birthday and wanted to see how well I could do at 50,” said Chief Master Sgt. Karen Chisolm, 315th Mission Support Squadron, who had previous walked the Pearman Bridge three times. The chief wasn’t the only one who wanted to be part of the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.“It was exciting being part of history and being with friends,” said Tech. Sgt. Velma German, 315th MSS, who also walked the Pearman twice. The race, which covered 10,000 meters or 6.2 miles, wrapped through parts of Mt. Pleasant and downtown Charleston, as well as the challenging uphill bridge. Master Sgt. Chris Mong, 315th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, credits the Air Force Fitness Program with helping him train for the bridge run. “I run about three to four times a week here on the Air Force base, either around McCombs Way or Bash Fitness Trail,” said the first time bridge run participant. Sergeant German, who walks approximately six miles a week, said she didn’t make any special training to get ready for tackling the new bridge.Some participants also used the race as a test to see if they had it in them to complete the challenge. “The view from the bridge was spectacular. It seemed to make the long distance I had to run seem every shorter,” said Sergeant Mong, who participated because it was first race across the new bridge and he wanted to prove to himself he could run the distance. “My daughter Jazmine and my niece Pasley started with me, and I left them on the bridge dragging and complaining,” said Chief Chisolm, who plans on training for the run next year. “They are 14 and 15. I felt great because at 50 years old I came out ahead of them and proved I still have some play in the game. “The anticipation to get to the end was much greater because it seemed like the end was never going to come.”