BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. -- According to some runners, a runner’s high is the greatest feeling in the world because you feel like you can run forever. Capt. Amy Natalini, 608th Air Operations Center chief of analysis, fusion and correlation, is one of those people.
Three Airmen at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, have been rewarded with the opportunity to represent Air Force Global Strike Command at this year’s Air Force Half Marathon at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio.
Lt. Col. Uriah Orland, AFGSC director of public affairs, Maj. Ryan Natalini, 2nd Security Forces Squadron commander, and Amy Natalini will travel for the Sept. 16 race against competitors from across the U.S. and other countries as well.
Long distance running requires conditioning to compete in these events and can take a long time to train. While Orland began during his years in junior high, Amy Natalini began hers in elementary school with the help of one of her teachers.
“I’ve been running my whole life,” Orland said. “I started running in junior high track and high school and continued while at the U.S. Air Force Academy. I’ve been doing longer runs ever since I got older.”
For the following years, both of them continued running and training so they can compete in races. Both Orland and Amy Natalini run about five times a week to maintain peak physical condition. Additionally, both runners keep a close eye on their diets.
“I typically don’t drink during training season,” Amy Natalini said. “Carbs are your friend, everyone loves pasta.”
Both Orland and Amy Natalini are seasoned veterans when it comes to long-distance running. Amy Natalini has competed in more than 40 half-marathons and 30 full marathons.
“I love to race,” Amy Natalini said. “I run up to 12 races a year.”
Orland has run 40 half marathons, 10 full marathons and 12 ultra-marathons to his credit.
“I’ve always been a passionate runner so this race is an opportunity to represent the command,” Orland said.
All three runners will represent not only AFGSC at the Air Force Marathon but also Team Barksdale.