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Jan. 15, 2016 SPOTLIGHT Thunderbolt
http://www.luke.af.mil
4 www.aerotechnews.com/lukeafb
Med tech satisfies ‘need for speed’
6WDII6JW$EUDKDP&XULHO Story and photo by that can occur from living an unhealthy 6HQLRU$LUPDQ
Senior Airman lifestyle. With experience, I realized 0HOLVVD)UDQNV
WK/RJLVWLFV5HDGLQHVV6TXDGURQ GRACE LEE how to improve and overcome those WK$HURVSDFH
)6XVWDLQPHQW2I¿FHDVVW1&2LQFKDUJH ‘hard’ runs. The feeling of accomplish- 0HGLFLQH6TXDGURQ
56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs ment that follows from improvement, )OLJKW0HGLFLQH
Hometown: Indio, California or my ‘runner’s high,’ is what keeps me PHGLFDOWHFKQLFLDQ
Years in service: Six She runs the 1.5-mile run in 9:15, and coming back for more.” UXQVRQWKHWUDFN
Family: Wife, Isabel; daughter, Chloe; and son, Enzo she’s placed first in all the 5-kilometer DW/XNH$LU)RUFH
Education: Pursuing a Community College of the runs she’s attended. Like a machine, While the training involved to build %DVH)UDQNVFDQ
Air Force degree in logistics and a bachelor’s degree she zones out and focuses on the task speed varies, what doesn’t change is UXQPLOHVLQ
in management at American Military University at hand — running. running regularly. DQGKDVSODFHG
Previous assignments: Spangdahlem Air Base, ¿UVWLQWKHIHPDOH
Germany “I’ve been running for 15 years,” said “When I finally grasped the concept FDWHJRU\LQDOOWKH
Inspirations: Fictional character, Rocky Balboa, Senior Airman Melissa Franks, 56th of consistency is when I began see- NUXQVVKH¶VSDU-
shows no matter the challenge, anything is possible Aerospace Medicine Squadron flight ing results,” Franks said. “I’m a firm WLFLSDWHGLQDW/XNH
Goals: Commission in the military medicine medical technician. “I started believer in endurance before speed.
Greatest feat: My willingness to overcome anything running as a means to get in shape for My training involves running an aver- Airman Franko Salazar, 56th Medical
— when I was young, I learned a new language, basketball. Believe it or not, I actually age 4.5 miles, four days per week. The Operations Squadron emergency medi-
adapted to a new environment, and succeeded when hated running when I first started, and first few months of running, I run a cal technician. “Senior Airman Franks
others expected me to fail I was terrible at it.” slow conversational pace. Following, a taught me how to pace myself. She also
Famous last words: “Nothing is impossible. It’s typical week consists of one conversa- is the one who got me into running. We
She joined the cross-country team her tional paced run, a tempo run which is ran together three to four times per
just hard.” sophomore year of high school. medium speed, and a sprint workout.” week. She inspires me to push myself
Off-duty interests: Working on my car, and do better. With her help, I scored 100
building model cars and airplanes Franks’ outstanding performance in For one Airman, without Franks’ sup- percent on my last fitness assessment.”
Commander’s comments: “Sergeant cross-country running landed her a two- port and training, scoring 100 percent on
Curiel is an integral member of the F-35 year running scholarship at Yavapai the fitness assessment seemed far away. For those who have a desire to get bet-
sustainment section and the overall Community College in Prescott before ter at running but don’t know where to
joint strike fighter mission here,” she went on to run at Canisius College “I used to run a little bit in the past, start, there is hope, according to Franks.
said Lt. Col. Greg Boschert, in Buffalo, New York. but because of Senior Airman Franks, I
56th LRS commander. “He started running a lot more,” said Senior “Running is half physical and half
brings to work daily an “My first year in college I won all- mental, so it takes practice — lots of
infectious work ethic and American at our national championship practice,” she said. “As any runner can
outstanding customer race, which is the biggest race of the attest, the first few months are often
service. Sergeant Curiel season,” Franks said. “That moment the hardest. Start small, and don’t be
oversees warehouse op- was huge for me. It was then I realized ashamed if you have to walk. Most
erations, which consist of my running potential.” importantly, commit to a routine, stay
more than 6,000 assets. He consistent with your workouts — this
created an autonomic logistics For Franks, running has many re- is key. Endurance before speed, but re-
information system training wards and benefits. member speed and strength workouts
tracker to ensure job proficiency are necessary for improvement as well.”
on 76 tasks for 35 personnel “Yes, running is hard, and like ev-
within the materiel manage- eryone else, half the time I hate it too,” For more information on how to
ment flight.” Franks said. “But it’s a great way to improve run times, call Marlyn Shults,
boost cardiovascular fitness. Working 56th AMDS exercise physiologist, at
in the medical field and having a bach- 623-856-5902.
elor’s in exercise and wellness, I know
the importance of taking care of your
health. I’ve seen firsthand health com-
plications, both mentally and physically,
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