Local Guardsman completes 50K ultra-marathon

By Spc. Sarah E. Lupescu
ngmo.pao@us.army.mil

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - A local Missouri National Guardsmen recently completed the North Face Endurance Challenge road event in Kansas City, Mo.

Lt. Col. Aaron Stover, commander of the 205th Military Police Battalion, recently returned home from a deployment in Afghanistan. At 43-years-old, Stover finished the 50K ultra-marathon in less than seven hours.

"I do races for the sense of accomplishment," Stover said. "I've had a goal to run an ultra marathon for awhile, so it's kind of like a plaque on my wall."

Stover explained that he didn't train prior to the marathon. The farthest he ran this summer was a 10K in the Show-Me State Games in July.

The Kansas City event started and finished in the Frank A. Theis Park in downtown Kansas City. The route took runners along Brush Creek and just a few blocks from the North Face store in country club plaza.

"The most challenging part of the race was around the 22-mile mark," Stover said. "I had a strain in my calf muscle so I had to slow down my pace. Physically and mentally I was fine, it was just frustrating."

Stover has participated in several biathlons, including the U.S. Biathlon National Championships in 2001, he said. He has also competed in 24-hour cross-country skiing races, mountain bike races, ski marathons, multiple 10Ks, marathons, the Bataan Memorial Death March, and the Missouri River 340 kayak race.

Staying physically active has always been an interest for Stover, he said. But serving in the military has kept him motivated.

"My interest in biathlon's and cross-country skiing began when I was in the Marine Corps.," Stover said.

Stover has stayed involved in different types of races ever since, he said.

"The interest-levels just build on themselves, and that's how I stay active," Stover added.

Instilling an active lifestyle in fellow troops is important to Stover.

"Cardiovascular endurance is important to maintain a healthy mental state when in stressful environments, like overseas deployments," Stover said.

Stover has served a total of 24 years in the military, 21 of those years have been with the Missouri National Guard.

Stover deployed to Iraq in 2005 and Afghanistan in 2010.