Elmendorf makes effort in the dark months

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Christopher Gross
  • 3rd Wing Public Affairs
ELMENDORF AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska --  With the long dark Alaska winter days, it may be challenging to spend time in the great outdoors. However, Elmendorf's' cross country team offers its members a chance to get out and enjoy the short lived sunny days during this time, which averages six and a half hours of sunlight between December and February.

Numbers have nearly doubled since last year, going from 20 members in the 2009 season to 38 this season.

Contenders have been racing every Tuesday and Thursday since Jan. 5 and they will continue to do so until they complete 10 races which are scheduled to end Feb. 4. Each race gradually increases in length, going from about a mile to 3.25 miles in the finale.

"It's just a really nice sport to be able to get out in the winter," said Lindsey Viltrakis, a fitness test cell specialist with Elmendorf's Health and Wellness center. "Just like any other sport, it helps increase the endorphins. It's a great stress reliever not to mention it can lower your cholesterol and decrease the risk of heart disease."

Endorphins which are transmitters in the brain are said to have similar qualities to morphine, a pain reliever. While exercising endorphins interact with opiate receptors which in return reduce pain.

"Alaska's winters can seem long if you spend all your time indoors," said Dan Anderson, 3rd Medical Support Squadron, and who's been skiing for seven years. "The winter will go by quicker and will be much more enjoyable if you get out and enjoy this beautiful state, whether it's on skis, snowshoes or a snow machine."

The intramural cross country ski team was open to all base identification card holders and anybody still interested in getting out and giving it a shot can stop by the Eagleglen Golf Course during the weekdays from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. or weekends from 10 a.m.-noon to rent out ski equipment free of charge.

Viltrakis said that even though there's a lot of technique that goes into cross country skiing, such as balance and coordination, it's an easy sport to catch on to.

Anderson also said that quite a few number new skiers have joined the team this year and they have been learning quickly and doing a great job at it.

"It's fun and it's good to support the squadron team," said Anderson.