Photo By Staff Sgt. S.T. Stewart | Chief Warrant Officer 2 John Merritt, an aviation ordnance officer with the Cherry...... read more read more
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MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, N.C. – Why wake up early on a Saturday morning to go running through the woods on Cherry Point? The answer to this question may vary for each person.
More than 30 Marines, family members and residents from the Cherry Point community came aboard the air station July 28 for the 2.5-mile Piranha Pit fun run.
Some came to mix up their normal physical training routine with some adventure, rather than another boring route on the side of the road.
Some came for the challenge, trying to further improve their physical fitness and better themselves. The Piranha Pit running trail incorporates hills, hanging trees, and roots that can sometimes be challenging obstacles.
Others came for the fundraising aspect incorporated with the run. The money earned from the entry fees went to Marine Corps Community Services, an organization that dedicates its resources to helping Marines.
For one Marine and his 7-year-old son, this run was another way to spend time together.
Chief Warrant Officer 2 John Merritt, an aviation ordnance officer with the Cherry Point Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training, and his son, Tristan, finished the run in less than 40 minutes.
“This is our third run together and it’s always fun,” said Merritt. “Spending time with my son is important.”
Tristan, exhausted and thirsty, said he also enjoyed the run.
When he ran through the finish line, flushed and covered in sweat, the other participants cheered him in. Being the youngest runner at the event, he stood as a symbol of dedication and motivation.
Tristan and his proud father sat down at one of the picnic tables by the finish line while Tristan clung to a water bottle worried about only two things: drinking water and the medal he had just received for completing the run.
Among the variety of reasons runners came out, for this father and son duo the race was another great memory they can cherish for years to come.
| Date Taken: | 08.01.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 08.01.2012 17:08 |
| Story ID: | 92514 |
| Location: | CHERRY POINT, NORTH CAROLINA, US |
| Web Views: | 173 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Cherry Point personnel compete in Piranha Pit fun run: Fun run for father and son, by SSgt S.T. Stewart, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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