Westover Strong: Encouraging Patriot Wing Airmen to reach their goals

  • Published
  • By by SrA. Monica Ricci
  • 439th AW Public Affairs
WESTOVER AIR RESERVE BASE, Mass. - --  Westover Strong “hit the ground running” in 2015 to begin the series’ second year of in¬spiring discussion sessions, this time with a former Team USA trail runner.

Amy Rusiecki, an ultra-runner from Marl¬borough, Mass., spoke with Airmen about setting goals and actually reaching them, a fitting New Year topic.

“Challenge your weaknesses,” Rusiecki said. “It’s how you get stronger.”

Rusiecki, who has run multiple 50 and 100 mile races, said the feeling of wanting to quit is all too familiar, but that the mind and its ability to overcome those feelings is a much greater force.

“The brain is the most powerful muscle, it’s the key to it all,” Rusiecki said. “You have to truly believe that you are capable of achiev¬ing what you are going after, and you will.”

Rusiecki said success can also come when its least expected, which is why it is impor¬tant to plan goals and stay committed to achieving them without always worrying about when.

“Not every day is going to be the day,” Rus¬iecki explained, “Just like not every race will be your personal record.”

Amn. Max Castor, from the 439th Aero¬medical Squadron, was one of 25 who at¬tended the lunch series, and said it inspired him to set more goals.

“What I will take away from this is that hard work is very important,” Amn. Castor said. “And that never thinking about failure is just as important.”

Command CMSgt. Timothy Maguire presented Rusiecki with a wing coin and re¬minded the audience that it’s not always easy.

“They’re interesting, those challenges in your mind,” CMSgt. Maguire said. “But you have to look at it as fun more than anything.”