Eco-Challenge Promotes Competition, Builds Camaraderie

Story by Joel Diller. Public Affairs. Photos by Joel Diller and MC2 Kelly Agee, Public Affairs.

The sun beats down on Crete’s rugged Akrotiri Peninsula as athletes compete in NSA Souda Bay’s Eco-Challenge, a timed team competition consisting of five outdoor sports events: hike a mountain gorge wearing a weighted backpack; run along narrow, asphalt roads; bike through villages and fields; swim in cool, crystal-clear water; and kayak the choppy waves of Souda Bay.

Why? For the spirit of competition, because competition builds camaraderie.

For 18 years, U.S. and Greek athletes have banded together to challenge their bodies and their minds.

The spirit of the event, said Morale, Wellness, and Recreation Fitness Director Byron Gale, is not just about winning, but about bringing people together.

“It’s about the teamwork of five people completing events together, events that maybe they didn't believe they could do before, but their team gives them the encouragement to finish,” said Gale. “And it’s about Team Souda, our host-nation military and our local community working behind the scenes to make it happen, which is special to watch.”

Athletes are not the only participants relying on teamwork for a safe and successful outcome. Since NSA Souda Bay’s fire and security departments can only respond to on-base emergencies, coordination with the Hellenic military units, police, and local community is vital for the athletes’ safety on Crete’s narrow roads and choppy seas.

The teamwork occurring behind the scenes is what makes the Eco-Challenge successful, said Gale. Partner organizations such as the Hellenic Air Force, the Hellenic Navy and NATO Missile Firing Installation provided ambulances, doctors and rescue divers. The Hellenic Police stopped traffic and provided escort vehicles during the bike and run events, while the local Hellenic Navy emergency room had doctors standing by to assist.

The Fitness Center staff took care of the athlete’s health and safety leading up to the event by providing workout routines designed specifically for each event and riding the routes with the participants. During the event, they provided drinks, food and energy gel at each station. Identical backpacks, bicycles and kayaks are also provided, so there are no excuses when event day finally arrives.

7:15 a.m. - 10.4 km Hike

On the morning of September 7 as the sun peaks above the horizon, hikers and runners congregate in the Agia Triada Monastery parking lot for their safety briefing. When Byron Gale yells “Begin!”, hikers wearing backpacks weighing 15 percent of their body weight march the mountain pass toward the Gouverneto Monastery atop the Stavros Mountain range.

At the mountain’s top, the hikers descend a stone path through the Avlaki gorge toward an abandoned monastery where they reach the mid-point, make an about-face, retrace their steps, and finish in the monastery’s parking lot.

7:30 a.m. - 14.5 km Run

In the opposite direction of the hike, runners await another announcement to take off through the Cypress trees lining the monastery’s lane. Hand-painted white arrows on the pavement direct the runners along the roads passing Chania Airport and through Mouzouras Village.

Proceeding along a 3-kilometer down-hill stretch along the Intermodal road, which connects NSA Souda Bay in Mouzouras village with the Marathi NATO Pier Facility located on Souda Bay, the runners complete the event on the lane to Loutraki Beach.

9 a.m. – 38.5 km Bike

Beginning at Loutraki Beach, the “Tour de Akrotiri” bike route takes riders through fields, olive groves and vineyards; by Kalathas, Tersanas and Stavros beaches; and through Mouzouras, Chorafakia and Kampani villages.

Ensuring the riders’ safety, Hellenic Police provide the convoy’s escort vehicles and post officers at village intersections.

Finishing at the Agia Triada Monastery, the bikers complete their journey over the Akrotiri peninsula.

10 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. – 4.3 km Kayak

Split into two waves, each kayaking event begins with five kayakers lined up along the Port Operations boat ramp located on the Marathi NATO Pier Facility. Upon the start, they paddle the calm Minoan Basin water but face larger waves in the open sea.

The kayakers are followed by NSA Souda Bay Port Operations boats carrying rescue divers as they pass around an island in Souda Bay before reaching dry land at Loutraki Beach.

12:30 p.m. - 2,000 meter Swim

At Loutraki Beach, the swimmers tread through the sand and wade out into waist-deep water. When indicated to start, some immediately start their forward crawl stroke, others charge deeper on foot. As the swimmer’s make their way through the open sea, their brightly colored swim caps are spotted as they round the Marathi fishing pier. Upon reaching shallow enough water to stand, the athletes charge out of the water onto Marathi Beach.

1:30 p.m. – Awards Ceremony

When all five events are complete, there is a collective sigh of relief from the hikers, runners, bikers, kayakers, and swimmers that their test of body and mind is over. A luncheon and awards ceremony at the NAMFI Officer’s Club at Marathi Beach is held for the athletes to enjoy American and Greek foods as they join their teams to hear the results announced and cheer for the winners.

Athletic competitions, such as the Eco-Challenge, allow athletes to test their abilities and validate their hard work. It is also a platform to display the larger purpose – the U.S. Navy’s partnership with its NATO and Hellenic military allies. As the host-nation for NSA Souda Bay, it is understandable that U.S. Department of Defense leaders routinely call Greece an important NATO ally due to its strategic location in the Mediterranean and the joint and multinational exercises conducted in the region.

NSA Souda Bay Commanding Officer Capt. Ryan T. Tewell tackled the bike portion of the challenge and said the Eco-Challenge is one of his favorite events of the year. He noted the event is about more than just the competition between the military organizations on Crete.

“It’s a symbol of the cooperation and the coordination that happens every single day here on the Akrotiri Peninsula between the Hellenic Navy, the Hellenic Air Force, two NATO organizations (NAMFI and NMIOTC) and NSA Souda Bay,” said Tewell. “It’s one of my favorite things every year and I am honored to participate.”

Team Results:

The team from the NATO Maritime Interdiction Operational Training Centre is recognized for having the fastest overall combined time. They are wearing olive wreaths, similar to those awarded during the ancient Olympic Games where there were no gold medals, as a symbol ofachievement for those who do not compete for possessions, but for virtue.

First Place: Service members of the NATO Maritime Interdiction Operational Training Centre. Time: 4:47:41

Second Place: Service members of the 115th Combat Wing, Hellenic Air Force. Time: 4:51:52

Third Place: Service members of the Hellenic Naval Base in Souda. Time: 5:05:01

Individual Athlete Awards:

Athletes with the best individual times pose for a group photo with Brigadier General Kleanthis Karatsin, Commander, NATO Missile Firing Installation. (Photo by Fotis Angelidis, MWR)

10.4km Hike: Ioannis Belesis, service member of NMIOTC. Time:1:04:09

14.5km Run: Michael McCarroll (NSA Souda Bay, Team: Souda Striders). Time:1:03:05

38.5km Cycling: Ioannis Zentelis, service member of 115th Combat Wing. Time:1:14:09

4.3km Kayak: Dan Shirley (NSA Souda Bay, Team: Souda Striders). Time:0:28:07

2000m Swim: Konstantinos Tsopanikos (NSA Souda Bay, Team: Fire Department). Time:0:28:21

Outstanding Achievement Award:

Jeremy Lim (NSA Souda Bay, Team: Souda Crab Meat). Times: 14.5km Run: 1:16:52, 2000m Swim: 0:32:29

Capt. Ryan T. Tewell, commanding officer, NSA Souda Bay, congratulates Information Systems Technician 2nd Class Jeremy Lim as the winner of the Outstanding Achievement Award, given to the participant who displays self-sacrifice and team camaraderie. Lim, originally signed up for the swim, filled in for an ill teammate and ran 14.5 kilometers for team Crab Meat. He then competed in the 2,000-meter swim, finishing in third-place.