Illinois National Guard members run the 2014 Abraham Lincoln Presidential half marathon

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SPRINGFIELD, IL (04/08/2014)(readMedia)-- Illinois National Guard members run the 2014 Abraham Lincoln Presidential half marathon SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – How do you celebrate a 50th anniversary? How about getting up early, putting on that special outfit, searching for a parking spot and running 13.1 miles through the streets of Springfield? This is most likely not how most people celebrate the 50th of anything!

Several members of the Illinois National Guard (ILNG) running team celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential half marathon by running with more than 2,000, April 5.

The Abraham Lincoln Presidential half marathon takes place every year on the first Saturday of April. This year debuted a 50th anniversary medal and a new course, which had a record number of runners. The nine members of the ILNG running team who competed this year said they enjoyed the beautiful weather.

This was the fifth time Capt. Kira Crocker of Springfield, Ill., with Joint Force Headquarters in Springfield, Ill., competed in the race.

"The weather was a little cooler this year but overall a beautiful day for a race," said Crocker. "The race tends to be my personal record race despite the hills and I did like the new medal. It was a fitting medal for my fifth year participating and celebrating the 50th anniversary."

The Illinois National Guard running team is always looking for additional runners from the Army and Air National Guard. For more information about races or becoming a member of the Illinois Guard running team, contact Chief Warrant Officer 3 Rachelle Johnson, the team director at, rachelle.s.johnson3.mil@mail.mil.

Several members of the Illinois National Guard (ILNG) running team posed for a photo before they celebrated by running with more than 2,000 people at the 50th Abraham Lincoln Presidential half marathon in Springfield, Ill., April 5. (Left to right, back row) Capt. Mark Traeger of Peoria, Ill., 182d Airlift Wing; Maj. Jessica Daniels of Springfield, Ill., Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment 44th Chemical Battalion; 2nd Lt. Rebecca Davis of Springfield, Ill., 444th Chemical Company; Master Sgt. Robert Force of Chandlerville, Ill., 183rd Fighter Wing; Capt. Kira Crocker of Springfield, Ill., Joint Force Headquarters; Sgt. First Class Greg Hoffman of Athens, Ill., Joint Force Headquarters; (Left to right, front row) Sgt. Alisa Jokisch of Springfield, Ill., Headquarters 65th Troop Command Brigade; Lt. Col. Sheila Perry of Springfield, Ill., Headquarters Air National Guard; Chief Warrant Officer 3 Rachelle Johnson of Taylorville, Ill., Joint Force Headquarters.