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Reservist sets 1.5 mile run record at Luke

  • Published
  • 944th Fighter Wing, Public Affairs
LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  By shaving 14 seconds off the current record for the 1.5 mile run, Staff Sgt. Christian Enriquez ran into the Luke Air Force Base history books March 13.

Running in 8:10, the 944th Fighter Wing F-16 avionics craftsman shattered the old record of 8:24, set at Luke on June 25, 2014.

An avid runner who averages 18 to 20 miles per day, Enriquez said he was tired and hungry but felt great about breaking the record.

"Running is something I love; part of running for me is being the best at something and doing the best that I can." With a smile he added, "I will be one of those 70 or 80-year-olds still out there running."

Enriquez began running 13 years ago as a high school freshman in Chicago and says it has always been something that he is good at.

In 2008, he joined the Air Force to travel and see the world. He spent most of his active duty career in maintenance at Luke AFB but left the Air Force to go to school full time. He made the decision to continue his military career with the Air Force Reserve's 944th FW in 2015. As a full-time student at Arizona State University he is currently studying Kinesiology -- the scientific study of human movement -- with a goal to become a physician's assistant.

"Training to break the record was just part of my regular workout. I run two to three hours a day because one of my goals is to participate in the 'Javelina 100,' a 100-mile race through the desert, set for October 2016."

His personal goal is to run that race in 24 hours or less. Having run one marathon and five half marathons, he believes anyone is capable of running. "You just have to do it, you have to get out the front door. I know that that's the hard part, but by just going out three to five times a week and spending 30 minutes, you can meet your goal."