Photo By Staff Sgt. Jennifer Spradlin | Runners sprint toward the finish line of the JBLM Turkey Trot 5k/10k Run Nov. 22,...... read more read more
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JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. — Turkeys stole the show a few days ahead of Thanksgiving at the annual JBLM Turkey Trot 5k/10k Run Nov. 22.
More than 600 race participants took to the streets to run with their friends, families and neighbors while wearing their finest turkey duds – including some, who sported turkey leg hats.
Bad weather didn’t ruffle any feathers in the Department of Families and Morale, Welfare, and Recreation tent as the runners kept dry, got loose during dance lessons and sipped warm drinks. After the race, DFMWR hosted a raffle and gave away 20 turkeys and two $300 gift cards.
“Doesn’t everybody love to run in the rain?” joked Chief Warrant Officer 2 Brian Ward, an operations warrant officer for 1st Special Forces Group. “Everyone is here to have fun, despite the weather, and the race events [at JBLM] are organized and run very well. It’s an exciting atmosphere.”
Joined by his wife and 10-year-old son, Ward said the event was the perfect place for families to have fun and get into the holiday season. The added bonus: getting to wear his turkey hat in public. The fun didn’t stop there for the Ward family, they ended up taking one of the prize turkeys home with them.
This race, in addition to others operated by the JBLM DFMWR, also serves as a venue for exercise and community building. A strong contingent of Team Red, White and Blue participated in the race. The organization helps connect veterans to each other and local communities through physical fitness.
“It’s about bringing active duty, veterans and civilians together to share their stories and help each other out,” said Maj. Brittany Simmons, operations planning officer for the 508th Military Police Battalion. “We have to share our story and sports is a great conduit to do that.”
Simmons said that the group and other similar organizations build camaraderie and help challenge veterans through difficult physical outlets: triathlons, cycling and trail running. A race or sport might be hard, she said, but it’s a ‘shared hard.’
Simmons will race next week in a half marathon, but this race, she said, was about pushing her son in a stroller with her husband and being active together as a family.
The next DFMWR-sponsored race will be the Polar Skip and Dip at Shoreline Park Dec. 13. To register or learn more, visit www.jblmmwr.com/races.
| Date Taken: | 11.22.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 11.23.2014 16:25 |
| Story ID: | 148589 |
| Location: | JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, WA, US |
| Web Views: | 133 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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