FORT CARSON, Colo. — Sgt. Ivaylo Benov, an infantryman with 1st Battalion, 38th Infantry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, sits in an ice bath after participating in the Light in the End of the Tunnel Marathon on June 9, 2019, in North Bend, Washington. “My marathon pace now is much faster than what my 2-mile pace was back then,” said Benov. (Photo by Tunnel Marathons photographer)
By Pvt. Samuel Brandon
14th Public Affairs Detachment
FORT CARSON, Colo. — Ultramarathons are a long distance run that exceeds over 26 miles. Ultramarathon athletes train not only their body physically but train their body mentally for the distance runs.
The Bethel Hill Moonlight Boogie Ultramarathon in North Carolina that started at 6 p.m. June 11, 2022, and ended at 2:27 a.m. the following day, spanned 50 miles in length. Featuring an all-rural paved trail, marathon runners would run through a six-mile loop five times, followed by a four mile out-and-back. The first-place winner would be presented with a crescent-moon shaped award.
FORT CARSON, Colo. — Sgt. Ivaylo Benov, an infantryman with 1st Battalion, 38th Infantry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, stands in front of the Company Operations Facility June 22, 2022. “It is amazing what your body can do,” Benov said. “When I compete, I zone out, and I just go. When you’re competing the best, you can do is shut your mind and just go.” (Photo by Pvt. Samuel Brandon)
Sgt. Ivaylo Benov, an infantryman with 1st Battalion, 38th Infantry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, took first place. Benov crossed the finish line with a record-breaking time of four hours and fifty-seven minutes.
“It is amazing what your body can do,” Benov said. “When I compete, I zone out, and I just go. When you’re competing, the best you can do is shut your mind and go.”
Before the Army, Benov wasn’t a runner; he swam and played soccer instead. He went to college to play soccer but switched from soccer to only swimming later down the line.
“Starting in college, I was getting a lot of red cards because of my speed,” Benov said. “People go around you, and you tackle them from behind.”
In 2004, shortly after the beginning of the War on Terror, Benov saw on TV that Pat Tillman, who played for the Arizona Cardinals, died from friendly fire while serving in Afghanistan.
“I thought that was inspiring, that Pat Tillman gave up millions of dollars to play in the NFL to join the Army,” Benov said. “The next day, I went and talked to my recruiter, and eventually, I joined the Army that same year.”
When he joined the Army, Benov began running, determined to max the Army Physical Fitness Test. His first time, he came close to maxing, but was behind by 18 seconds. He believed his technique needed improvement if he wanted to improve.
FORT CARSON, Colo. — Sgt. Ivaylo Benov, an infantryman with 1st Battalion, 38th Infantry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, poses with a fellow runner at the annual Pat’s Run event on April 16, 2022, at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan. This run was created to honor Pat Tillman, an inspirational figure for Benov. (Army photo)
“My first mile, I ran at an 11-minute, 2-mile pace,” Benov said. “I died on the second mile, so after that, I kept working on it. I worked with a physical therapist to make my stride as efficient as possible.”
But his physical readiness wasn’t the only thing attributing to his success. Benov is also mentally tough, both strong-willed and optimistic. This positive attitude hasn’t gone unnoticed by his command. Lt. Col. Daniel Leard from the 1st Bn, 38th Inf. Reg., 1st SBCT, 4th Inf. Div., commented on his steadfast attitude.
“The thing that I appreciate most about him is his drive to do what he does,” Leard said. “He puts his mind to something and then he does it.”
Benov’s physical and mental toughness both contributed to his record-breaking victory in the Bethel Hill Moonlight Boogie. The Army trains and employs Soldiers like Benov, encouraging excellence and greatness whenever possible.