Cadets in MSU’s ROTC program listened to two participants in last year’s Armed Forces Eco-Challenge in Alaska.

Capts. Mary Van Dyke and Stephen Kreis, who represented the American Legion in the race, talked to the cadets about their experiences in the U.S. Army and the race.

The Eco-Challenge is an annual event where several four-person teams race through different locations throughout the world.

Both speakers participated in the ROTC program and served time in the U.S. Army before retiring to Army Reserve duty.

Kreis said they decided to run after seeing the event.

“I started watching Eco-Challenge when it came out on the Discovery Channel,” Kreis said. “I thought, ‘That looks tough, I wonder if I could do that.’”

The pair talked about all aspects of the event from the search for a sponsor to the race itself.

Both agreed that racing the 250 miles, which took them four and a half days to complete, was the easiest portion - but acquiring the finances the hardest.

“There’s our life savings right there,” Van Dyke said, pointing to a picture of their equipment.

But the hardships and lack of sleep - they slept about four and a half hours during the four and a half days - was worth it, Van Dyke said.

“I don’t think any (office) work got done at the national level for the Legion,” Van Dyke said.