Semper Fit puts on 8-4-6 Race Series

Courtesy Photo | Members of the Endurance team discuss their run times and training tips after the eight-mile segment of the 8-4-6 Race Series, Tuesday. Semper Fit hosts the annual 8-4-6 race series that allows runners from the Combat Center to compete in a friendly environment.  

TWENTYNINE PALMS, CA, UNITED STATES

08.26.2014

Courtesy Story

Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center

By Cpl. Kathryn Seiler
Public Affairs Office

TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. - Runners finished the race with smiles on their faces and arms thrust in the air. The cloudy sky made for a perfect setting for the first race in the Combat Center’s 3rd Annual 8-4-6 Race Series, Tuesday.

The series, which began with the eight-mile race, is open for military and civilian runners who are looking to compete and to improve their run times. The three races, held at Desert Winds Golf Course, total 18 miles. The four- and six-mile races will be held in two-week increments following the eight-mile race.

“I’m a retired corpsman and I started doing this shortly after I retired and love putting on events for Marines,” George Schadegg, sports specialist, Semper Fit, said. “It’s just great to put something on for the Marines.”

The series has been going on for three years and is always improving and growing year after year.

The fastest time was 1:00:39 and was completed by Staff Sgt. Seth Lewis, a Marine reservist in Twentynine Palms, Calif.

The awards for first, second and third place winners include gift cards to various establishments around Twentynine Palms. The categories include the three fastest males, three fastest females, the three fastest teams and the three fastest runners overall.
The Semper Fit team provided tables throughout the route with water cups for the runners. At the end of the race, all the participants cheered for one another as they crossed the finish line.

“The secret to being fast is just training,” Lewis said. “Running for time builds endurance. Sprints and speed workouts help a lot.”

Coming in first has been a goal of his for some time, according to Lewis.

“It feels really good to come in first place for once,” Lewis said. “I hit one hour and 39 seconds, which is good since my training has been slacking, but I have a lot of fast personal records. I’ve been running for 15 years.”

With the close of the race, participants traded training tips with one another to better prepare for the next race.

Registration is available at the East and West gyms or at the starting point the morning of the race.

• Date Taken: 08.26.2014
• Date Posted: 08.26.2014 20:24
• Story ID: 140458
• Location: TWENTYNINE PALMS, CA, US