Photo By Lance Cpl. Andrea Cleopatra Dickerson | Cpl. Jordan Freking, a Marine Air Ground Task Force planning specialist with Marine...... read more read more
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CHERRY POINT, N.C. - More than 500 runners, hand-cyclists and spectators gathered at Sunset Park Saturday morning for Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point’s 13th annual half marathon.
This year’s 13.1 mile race drew the largest amount of interest and participation to date, said Berna Crosby, the Semper Fit special events coordinator. Crosby believes the marathon was popular due to lots of publicity and word-of-mouth.
“There is no better way to start your day,” said Crosby. “Who wouldn’t want to wake up and get their day started by running a half marathon here at Cherry Point?”
This event is held to give Marines another way to stay in shape, and it is also a good opportunity to network with members of the community, said Crosby.
“The event was open to the public, affording civilians from surrounding communities the opportunity to come aboard the air station and see what Cherry Point is all about,” she said. “Many community members have never been on base, this gives them an opportunity to see the installations valuable assets.”
The race route guided participants around the base, passing by landmarks such as the headquarters building, officer housing, and various squadrons.
This is the second year this route was chosen for the half-marathon, primarily to accommodate the half-dozen hand-cyclists that participated, Crosby said.
“The route consists of flat roads with no gravel so the hand-cyclists could participate alongside other runners,” she said.
Reasons for running varied among many of the racers.
One stood out in the crowd thanks to his kilt. Daniel Capps runs several marathons a year. “I’m running this race to help me train for the Marine Corps Marathon,” he said.
Capps wears a kilt when he runs because it is something his father started doing while running marathons.
“My family is very proud of our Scotch-Irish heritage,” he said. “The kilt that I’m wearing today is dedicated to my father, a Connecticut State Trooper. When he runs, he wears my squadron patch and lance corporal chevrons on his kilt.”
Capps said he enjoyed participating in the half marathon with fellow service members. Because the course was very flat, people of all ages and athletic ability were able participate, he said.
A spinal cord injury sustained during a Humvee roll-over while deployed to Iraq prevents Lawrence Suthard from running, however, the wounded warrior hand cyclist doesn’t let that stop him from participating in marathons.
“I enjoy using my hand cycle because it allows me to still be able to exercise and work on cardio,” Suthard said.
Lawrence said he thoroughly enjoyed participating in last year’s half marathon.
“Paul Kelly asked me to come out and participate this year. There are a few wounded warriors and supporters who like to participate in marathons together because we all enjoy being active, staying in shape and supporting great causes.”
Wounded warrior supporter and tetraplegic Paul Kelly has participated in approximately 50 marathons in the past five years in an effort to raise money for his charity, 2008 Miles of Hope.
“I started doing marathons in 2008 with a goal of completing 2,008 miles,” said Kelly. “So far I have completed more than half of my goal. By doing this, I hope to raise money and awareness for wounded service members who have sacrificed so much of themselves and given inspiration to myself and to our country.”
Wherever Kelly and his hand-cycle go, he always attaches an American flag to the back of his hand-cycle.
“People always ask me why I carry around that thing,” he said. “I always hear the flag creates aerodynamic drag. But the truth is no matter where I go, the flag is really carrying me.”
| Date Taken: | 03.24.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 03.29.2012 14:51 |
| Story ID: | 85966 |
| Location: | MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, NC, US |
| Hometown: | LE MARS, IA, US |
| Hometown: | STAFFORD, VA, US |
| Web Views: | 103 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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