Members participate in mental, physical challenges for race

  • Published
  • By Airman Nathan Riley
  • 28th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE, S.D. --  Ellsworth members and residents participated in a race and scavenger hunt that was held April 12 at the Bellamy Fitness Center and spanned the entire base. 

The participants ran to different stations around the base and performed in various mental and physical events. 

"When you sign up, you think it is going to be easy, but this is another story," said Senior Airman Maria Pamer, 28th Logistics Readiness Squadron document controller and member of the fourth place team, P-Square. 

At the bowling alley, the contestants were challenged to bowl a strike in five attempts. The mental challenge was to manually score a bowling game. 

The Human Resources Center's physical challenge challenged teams to a human wheel-barrow relay for 30-feet before switching places and returning. The mental challenge had teams naming the 50 states on a blank map. 

The community center had one of the more comical events for watchers of the race. The physical challenge had people boxing it out on a video game system. 

"It's great fun watching people box," said Chad Canaan, 28th Services Squadron community center director. "They really get into it." 

They had to get into it as dueling it out on the system didn't use your normal buttons and joysticks. Participants had to swing their arms due to the systems use of infrared detection controllers. A swing with the right fist swung the boxer's right fist and so on. 

"We should leave the games for the youth," said Master Sgt. Christopher Morgan, 28th Mission Support Squadron first sergeant and member of the second place team MSS Lead, after boxing three rounds on the system. 

The mental challenge had people going around the center, finding hidden numbers and adding them up. They had three chances to add the numbers correctly and move on to the next station. 

Each team was graded on more than just the events though. While they were racing around toward each event, they also had a scavenger hunt for items to boost their points. 

Some of the items included hair ties, apples, honor guard hats and a pedometer.
The event lasted only an hour and thirty minutes, though the overall atmosphere showed the participants enjoyed it. 

It worked the brain and the body, said Maj. Jeff Rosa, 28th Mission Support Squadron military personnel flight commander and Sergeant Morgan's partner. 

The first place team, The Snails, Capt. James Danik, 28th Maintenance Group Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st Century program officer, and Tech. Sgt. James Mitchell, 28th Maintenance Group quality assurance inspector, echoed the first sergeant's words. 

"It was a great experience to get everyone together and have a good time," said Captain Danik. 

The next scheduled event is the Iron Flight Competition April 26 at the Bellamy Fitness Center. For more information, call 385-2266.