Feature Story - ATM’s Youngest and Oldest Competitors: It's Never Too Early or Late to Start Running

Youth Served at The Army Ten-Miler

EIGHT-YEAR-OLD IS YOUNGEST TO CROSS VIRTUAL ATM FINISH LINE

Although only a third grader Sophia Compton – the youngest finisher at the 2020 Army Ten-Miler – is already demonstrating Army strong attitude in her everyday life.

Participating in all sorts of physical activities while moving around the country, this pre-teen displays an impressive can-do-attitude. If she can do it all, so can you. Easily adapting to the Army kid lifestyle, she launched her adventures in Virginia, then headed west to Fort Hood in Texas before her family relocated in Hawaii. Aside from running, the eight-year old’s other activities range from golf and horseback riding to t-ball, swimming, and playing the violin. Competing in the virtual Army Ten-Miler was a family affair. Team Compton consisted of her dad, Joseph Compton, a Senior RC Career Counselor attached to the United States Army Pacific, and mom Amy, a former Vice President of USA Discounters turned stay-at-home mom. Sophia and her parents completed their 10-mile run at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam on October 11, posting a time of 2:20:39. Sophia still had enough energy to compete in the ATM Youth Run where she recorded a top-five finish at 1:54.

Organizers of the 36th Annual Army Ten-Miler waived the standard 15-year age minimum this year, which allowed younger runners to compete. Below are excerpts from a pre-race conversation with Sophia:

Q How many races have you participated in so far? A I try to run a race every month. Some of the races are the Healthy Kids Running Series in Texas, that has two to six races per series, the Pearl Harbor

Commemorative 4K that included educational sites to learn, the National Guard Association of the United

States NGAUS 5K, and the We Will Never Forget

September 11th virtual 9.11K.

Q How did your family decide to sign up for the Army

Ten-Miler?

A I saw a picture on my Dad’s phone and said, “Let’s sign up!” At first, my Mom and Dad chuckled but then I asked again. So, we all agreed to run as a family.

Q Do you have a superstition for each race? A Medals have to be earned to wear them; we don’t touch our medals until after we complete our race.

Q How did your Dad learn of the Army Ten-Miler? A He knew of the Army Ten-Miler. However, he got to see the event first-hand when he participated in the AUSA

Association of the U.S. Army] in 2018, a conference that is held three days after the 10 Miler Race.

Q What was your favorite part of living in Virginia, Texas and Hawaii?

A Hawaii is cool - the sunsets and beaches are my favorite. Virginia is being close to family. Texas was the school I attended.

Q What are your favorite subjects in school? A Science and reading, especially non-fiction books.

Q You participate in a lot of activities! What inspired you to get involved in so many? A I just started learning how to play golf. For violin I practice five days a week; I started playing when I was seven years old. My favorite songs to play are Ode to Joy and For Pete’s Sake. And I started running when we were stationed in Texas.

Q What is your favorite activity out of the three that you’re currently doing? A The running. I like to be fast, but you must pace yourself at long distances.

Q How has your family been preparing and training for this year’s ATM Virtual Race? A In December my family ran a 5K together. Since then we’ve been running around our neighborhood a couple times a week in the evening since it’s cooler. We are currently up to seven miles.

Q Any advice or tips for someone who is just getting into distance running?

A Practice! It takes a lot of effort to reach a big mileage.

Build up to the mileage.

Q Sophia, it doesn’t sound like you’re scared for the race! A Naaahhh, I’m not!

Oldest Runner Completes First ATM Run at Age 89

Competing in her very first Army Ten-Miler, Mrs. Hae Sook Choi, 89, of Springfield, Virginia, was the oldest runner in the 2020 field. Her daughter, C. Monika Stoy, and son-in-law, Timothy R. Stoy – both retired Army officers – also ran and supported Choi along the way en route to finishing in 3:22:45. HOOAH!