Photo By Staff Sgt. Wayne Edmiston | Maj. Gen. Ronald L. Bailey, commanding general, Marine Corps Recruit Depot and the...... read more read more
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Think of a turkey and many think of a lumbering bird with a large array of feathers. For many San Diegans, the closest dealing with the majestic creature is served warm on their Thanksgiving table. But what many don’t know is the bird has a land speed of roughly 25 mph, nearly twice as fast as the average human.
So, it is more than appropriate to name an annual Thanksgiving run, the “Turkey Trot,” a road race that more than 1,500 servicemembers and civilians participated in aboard Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego Nov. 19.
This year’s 5k run is the final race of an annual three-part race series put together by Marine Corps Community Services.
“It’s for esprit de corps and brings together servicemembers, families, retirees and reservists,” said Kelly Sitar, the deputy director, Semperfit, MCRD San Diego. “It’s so people can come and enjoy each other and run.”
The run has been conducted aboard the depot for more than 20 years. The race itself was divided into two divisions consisting of a military division and an open division.
“It’s a great cause,” explained Maj. Gen. Ronald L. Bailey, the commanding general, Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego and the Western Recruiting Region. “We are all celebrating everything that we have to be thankful for.”
The race kicked off at 1 p.m. and determination could be seen on many faces as they prepared for the race. Turkey Trot participants included Marines, sailors, coastguardsman, uniformed police officers, family members and local runners in the community.
Just like new recruits arriving aboard the depot, many runners signed up just to challenge themselves and one another.
“We had a guy in the office sign us all up to compete against one another,” said Juan Davila, an inspector general with the Border Patrol Department of Homeland Security based out of San Diego. “As part of the Border Patrol, we all like to stay in shape and contribute to a good cause. We know the Marines do their part, so we like to do ours.”
While there were many participants, only a select few came across the finish line in time to be deemed winners.
Joeseph Maier, a local San Diego citizen and avid runner was the overall male winner with a time of 15:15.0. The overall female winner was Bonnie Axman, a Semperfit specialist aboard the depot, who stormed across the finish line at 16:15.7.
Some other notable winners included the second place overall and military winner Staff Sgt. Matthew Hodges, drill instructor, Company M, 3rd Recruit Training Battalion, with a time of 15:19.4, and the second overall female winner 11-year old Isabella Alston, with a run time of 18:07.3.
Although there would only be a select number of placers, the race was enjoyed by many people who were afforded to opportunity to contribute to their unit’s respective scores in the Commanding General’s Athletic Cup.
Staff Sgt. Jonathan R. Mongollon, chief drill instructor with Company B, 1st Battalion, was afforded the opportunity to take time away from training and participate in annual event.
“It really brought our unit together,” Mongollon explained. “It was really motivating to run and then see all the great sponsors and events planned for us following the race.”
After the race, there were a myriad of activities for participants to enjoy including live music, free food, informational booths and a pumpkin pie eating competition. The winner of the pumpkin pie eating competition was Petty Officer 2nd Class Nick Cohen-Meyer, legal intern with MCRD legal services section.
Time is one thing that is used to decide winners in race, but according to Bailey, the amount of time that is spent coordinating the many events enjoyed all year-long is what really counts.
“We have to recognize our outstanding MCCS personnel who not only serve our base but the entire military community,” Bailey said. “It is them that we have to be truly thankful for.”
| Date Taken: | 11.19.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 12.12.2010 22:07 |
| Story ID: | 61834 |
| Location: | US |
| Web Views: | 33 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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