You’re well-trained and are prepared for just about anything. You expect to accompany your assigned protectee wherever they go, whether it’s an office building, a basketball game, or dinner at a local restaurant. You are briefed on your assignment: President Kersti Kaljulaid of Estonia will be running in the New York City Marathon on November 4. You will be running with her—up and down hills, across bridges, among more than 50,000 runners and more than 1 million screaming onlookers—for 26 miles. You’ll also be armed and be carrying some small equipment. Ready? If you’re Assistant Special Agent in Charge Mason Brayman or Lieutenant Bill Uher, your answer is “Sure. Let’s do it.” President Kaljulaid is no weekend warrior. She has already run four half marathon’s this year in preparation for New York. Luckily, Uher and Brayman are experienced marathon runners. This race was Brayman’s 56th and Uher’s 28th. But, for them, just running the race wasn’t their only concern. When Brayman and Uher arrived in New York City a day ahead of the race, they were briefed by the Secret Service protection detail assigned to President Kaljulaid about potential threats, plans along the route, and detailed contingency plans. “A lot can go wrong in 26 miles, even without added concerns about protecting a dignitary,” said Brayman. “In any race, there could be medical emergencies or physical breakdown due to being ill prepared.” Preparation and availability were why Brayman and Uher were chosen for the race, though both said they know of many runners in the Secret Service that would be capable. Although they didn’t know for certain they’d be running the marathon until four days before the race, they had been training already. Both are stationed in Washington, D.C. Brayman is an Assistant Special Agent in Charge with the Office of Communication and Media Relations. Lieutenant Uher is with the Uniformed Division’s Emergency Response Team. Uher, winner of the 2012 George Washington Marathon, had some advance notice in July that the race “might” happen. “I said I’d be ready if the Estonian President decided to run the race,” said Uher. “That potential gave me a good excuse to get out there and train.” Brayman was already training for the Philadelphia Marathon on November 18 and had already planned on running 16 miles during the day of the NYC Marathon. “I just added 10 miles to my training day,” said Brayman with a shrug. When they crossed the finish line on Sunday, neither Brayman or Uher were watching the race clock. They crossed the line with a healthy and unharmed Estonian President. Mission accomplished.
-- United States Secret Service