Sgt. 1st Class Casey Gibbs, a soldier from the 21st Theater Support Squadron, and Air Force Staff Sgt. Sarah Hayden, assigned to the 723rd Air Mobility Squadron, enjoy a fire as they rest their weary bones around 1:30 a.m. Saturday, on the second day of Viking Challenge. (Ben Bloker / S&S)
Sgt. 1st Class Casey Gibbs, a soldier from the 21st Theater Support Squadron, and Air Force Staff Sgt. Sarah Hayden, assigned to the 723rd Air Mobility Squadron, enjoy a fire as they rest their weary bones around 1:30 a.m. Saturday, on the second day of Viking Challenge. (Ben Bloker / S&S)
Senior Airman Nathan Reimers, left, a member of the 1st Combat Communications Squadron “OPFOR” team, walks with Airman 1st Class Victor Storms, a member of the “Ramstein Rampage” team from the 435th Medical Support Squadron, on a rain-drenched track around 2:00 a.m. Saturday, the second day of Viking Challenge. (Ben Bloker / S&S)
Air Force Staff Sgt. Gabe Rodriguez gets a free ride from teammate Staff Sgt. Somchai Rollins, both from the 786th Security Forces Squadron. Fifty-one teams made up of five to 10 people each spent 24 hours walking or running laps in shifts as part of a fund-raiser for the Landstuhl Fisher House. (Ben Bloker / S&S)
Bethany Stephenson, right, of the “Water Walkers” team and Air Force Staff Sgt. Deanna Vazquez of the “Here for Beer” team make the most of the 24 hour Viking Challenge. (Ben Bloker / S&S)
KAISERSLAUTERN, Germany — Out of the cold night air emerged zombie-like figures set on one purpose — to make sure their teams walked 24 hours straight.
Over 500 participants in teams of up to 10 people pulled around-the-clock shifts over the weekend to raise money for the Landstuhl Fisher House.
The 24-hour walk/run, dubbed the “Viking Challenge,” was in its second year and nearly doubled in size, according to event coordinator Air Force Tech. Sgt. Christopher Lawson.
“We had 22 teams last year,” said Lawson who was a participant before. “This year we are up to 51 teams with people from the Air Force, Army and Navy.”
The Kaiserslautern Military Community Club 5/6, a group of enlisted E-5 and E-6s, organized the event.
After trudging through the rain in the middle of the night, mud-streaked walkers headed for dozens of tents surrounding the Vogelweh dirt track for a rest.
Many had fire pits going to keep teammates warm. The atmosphere remained light throughout with diversions such as hot grills, cold beer and a slip-and-slide courtesy of the 786th Security Forces Squadron.
“Even as bad as [the weather] was, it didn’t seem to slow anyone down,” said Lawson. Overall lap counts appeared to be higher than the inaugural year.
Once the clock struck 10 a.m. Saturday, laps were counted and awards were passed out. The 5th Quartermaster “Evil Riggers” prevailed with the most team laps, a total of 2,197, equivalent to 549.25 miles.
Donations were counted and are projected to exceed $15,000, although Lawson said that it was too early to tell the exact amounts raised.
