Ten Kilometers in Boots or Trainers
Szöveg: Szilárd Bleszkán | 2012. október 6. 12:19A host of civilians and more than 300 soldiers and HDF employees ran together at the NATO Run on September 30 in the four kilometer city park running, the 10 kilometer running and the ten kilometer relay events. By tradition, most entrants covered the distance in trainers, but some of them were running the kilometers in a “soldierly” way, wearing boots.
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Starting from Sunday noon, civilians and soldiers sprinting the last few meters were streaming through the finish gate, which was set up in the ‘56s’ Square. Gasping for air, the athletes got their breath back in the ring of their next of kin before they walked round the square, full of spectacles and interested visitors. A curiosity of the arrivals was the detachment of the HDF 5th ‘Bocskai István’ Infantry Brigade whose members completed the distance in boots and BDUs.
Maj.-Gen. László Makk, the chief advisor to the Minister of Defence handed over the prizes to the military sportsmen. The 6th district of Budapest – which has entered the most teams in the Run for years – received a special recognition; the cup for this achievement was presented by Zsolt Rábai, a staff member of the NATO Public Diplomacy Division (Brussels).
The historical relay, a complementary program of the NATO Run announced for educational institutions was held in the morning too. In addition to the teams coming from many primary and secondary schools, the students of the National University of Public Service Faculty of Military Sciences and Officer Training also participated in the race. The women’s team of the Ludovika Battalion came in first, whereas the men’s team came in second. At the victory ceremony, Dr. István Simicskó, the Parliamentary State Secretary of the Ministry of Defence presented the prizes to the Ludovika students.
Besides the victory ceremony, the State Secretary also entered the NATO Run in the ten-kilometer running event, and completed it in 52 minutes. Like others, István Simicskó was also satisfied with his result, although he partly credited it to the encouraging presence of his colleagues.
Further highlights in the program of the NATO Run included the appearance of military bands, the K9 and EOD robot displays of the HDF 1st Honvéd EOD and Warship Regiment, a musical show by the special parade group of the HDF vitéz Szurmay Sándor Budapest Garrison Brigade, and Guinness world record holder Árpád Nick’s stunts.
The weather favored the programs, as the cloudy sky during the Run gave way to warm sunshine by the time of the victory ceremony.
Photo: Gábor Galovtsik
