Sweaty Housewives bring home gold

Brig. Gen. Robert LaBrutta, 502nd Air Base Wing and Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas commander, poses for photo with the Rambler 120 all-female relay team winners: Annie Vandenbussche, Cindy Fischbach, Amy Clark, Tiff Fatur, Dera Lindsey, Carri Walters and Charlotte Kelly at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph Recreation Park at Canyon Lake Sept. 19, 2015. The Rambler 120 features four and eight-person teams competing in events to include a 22-mile bike race, 6-mile run, 2-mile raft race and a mystery event. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Johnny Saldivar)

Sweaty Housewives bring home gold

Team Barksdale spouses participate in the 6-mile run portion of the Rambler 120 at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph Recreation Park at Canyon Lake Sept. 19, 2015. The eight-person team was the first from Barksdale to participate in the competition and earned first place in the all-female relay. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Johnny Saldivar)

Sweaty Housewives bring home gold

Team Barksdale spouses race a 22-mile bike route during the Rambler 120 at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph Recreation Park at Canyon Lake Sept. 19, 2015. The Rambler 120 features four and eight-person teams competing in events to include a 22-mile bike race, 6-mile run, 2-mile raft race and a mystery event. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Alexandria Slade)

Sweaty Housewives bring home gold

Published Oct. 14, 2015
By Senior Airman Jannelle Dickey
2nd Bomb Wing Public Affairs

BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. -- Spouses from across Barksdale took first place in the all-female relay at the 2015 Rambler 120 in Texas Sept. 19.

Dubbed the Sweaty Housewives, the Barksdale team took on the Rambler 120, held at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas, which features four and eight-person teams competing in events to include a 22-mile bike race, 6-mile run, 2-mile raft race and a mystery event.

"Nothing extraordinary happens in your comfort zone, so we jumped in and had a good experience," said Carri Walters, Barksdale Officers' Spouses' Club president. "It exemplifies what it means to be an Air Force spouse and a part of the Air Force family."

Although the team trained for over three weeks, they had to overcome environmental and unplanned circumstances.

"Biking and running hills was the most difficult aspect of the competition, and there were two instances where team members had to switch out unexpectedly," said Dera Lindsey, Barksdale OSC member. "If we didn't have each other to get through the challenges, we wouldn't have made it."

The race culminated with the mystery event, which consisted of a team member being blind-folded while the remaining individuals assisted them in the search for a winning piece engulfed in a tub of golf tees.

"I was expecting it to be a physical challenge, so I was surprised it was more communication based," said Walters. "We finished really quickly and it was a perfect example of great team work."

The spouses were able to achieve seamless team work by practicing a familiar skill taught in the military community.

"We were nervous about traveling, sharing hotel rooms and doing a team event with people we didn't know, but we overcame our fears," she said. "We did similar things we do in our community and everyday lives: we were resilient."

Gold medals weren't the only gained treasures these strong-willed women brought home.

"Over the course of a weekend, I met six wonderful people and made friendships and bonds that will last a lifetime," said Lindsey. "I am thankful Amy Clark got us together and took us out of our comfort zone."

Walters encourages more Team Barksdale members to participate in the next year's Rambler 120.

"All military spouses should get involved, whether it's doing an event like this, within your spouse's unit, or in a spouses' club," she said. "Do something to get connected with your Air Force family because it makes a big difference. This competition is a great example of putting yourself outside of your comfort zone and receiving big dividends."