Photo By Sgt. Tashera Pravato | U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Marcus Price, recruiter, South Carolina Army National Guard,...... read more read more
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COLUMBIA, S.C. - His feet hit the pavement one at a time as he runs his 12th mile of the day. Sweat is pouring down his face but he isn’t showing signs of slowing down. In fact, he turns around to encourage a few of the soldiers running behind him.
Sgt. 1st Class Marcus Price, South Carolina National Guard Recruiting and Retention, joins other service members every Friday morning at the University of South Carolina’s Gamecock Park to run. The park recently opened an area within the park for individuals to run or walk.
When Price runs on Fridays, he does so after waking up at 4:30 a.m. and running approximately 10 miles before ever stepping foot on the park’s running track. He runs 10-13 miles every other day. Price runs for many reasons but this intense running schedule is in preparation for the Boston and New York marathons in 2016 and 2017 respectively.
"I run to stay physically and mentally healthy,” Price said. “Training for these marathons is a way to keep me healthy and it would be a major accomplishment for me.”
The next two years will be the first time he has competed in those marathons. However, he does participate in many local marathons.
"I started running in 2012 after I found myself overweight and out of shape,” said Price. “Getting older was no excuse. I was tired of not being up to par.”
Price says that he is proud of the fact that he earned a physical fitness badge for the first time when he was 40 years old and has maintained it since. He feels that he is in the best shape that he has ever been in outside of his days in basic training.
All of the service members who run on Friday mornings are looking to improve their level of physical fitness and support their fellow Soldiers and Airmen. Price enjoys the support aspect of the Friday runs.
“I like running and working with others because I enjoy motivating them and pushing them to their limits. I also like to beat the young guys to prove that you can still be fit at 45 years old,” Price said jokingly.
After running, Price and a couple of other S.C. Guard members go do additional exercises in the gym at the Bluff Road armory. Those individuals follow his lead as he picks exercises to do.
“I’ve been working out with him for a year,” said Staff Sgt. Sabrina Williams, SCNG R&R. “He helps me see my end goal and he motivates me. When I want to stop, he stays with me and pushes me.”
Price and the rest of the group started running with Command Sgt. Maj. Robert Brickley in July after the CSM was inspired by the SCNG’s Fun Run event earlier that month.
The group will continue to meet every Friday at the USC Gamecock Park, previously the farmers market, and the run is open to all South Carolina National Guard members.
| Date Taken: | 08.14.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 08.14.2015 16:18 |
| Story ID: | 173263 |
| Location: | COLUMBIA, SC, US |
| Web Views: | 197 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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