Marines

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A mother and her sons finish the jogging route during the 80s-themed Family Fun Run hosted by the Tarawa Terrace Community Center aboard the MCB Camp Lejeune housing area recently. The 80s-themed run was the sixth run hosted this year and 150 runners of all ages attended the family occasion.

Photo by Lance Cpl. Nik S. Phongsisattanak

Patrons blast through past at family fun run

16 Jun 2012 | Lance Cpl. Nik S. Phongsisattanak Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune

Some participants arrived with their hairs crunched and fizzy, wearing neon colored leg warmers and tights, and an excessive number of sweat bands for the 80’s-themed event. It was the sixth run hosted this year and 150 runners of all ages attended the family occasion.

 “This event gets everybody out here to get some exercise,” said Berry Simpkens, a retired master sergeant who attended the run with his daughter. “It’s great to have a chance to participate in a running event with my daughter. I can tell she had fun, and she did great.”

There were children as young as 5 who ran with their parents, canines that ran on all fours, and group organizations, such as the Stroller Warriors, who surely left skid marks from smoking wheels after they ran.   

 “The run was great,” said Trisha Keegan, a member of the Stroller Warriors who attended the run. “It gets everybody out here early in the morning to get some exercise before starting our Saturday. We have 13 members of the Stroller Warrior running club out here today.”

In previous years the average number of participants was around 30 people, but dedicated participants helped increase those numbers, said Lorraine Fuller, a recreational specialist with MCCS. The event had 88 returning runners and 62 new registrants.

“Our average number of participants is around 150 now,” said Fuller. “We’ve seen a lot more families come out together. They’re starting routines and running on their own, and it’s inspiring. It’s an opportunity to get out and have a fun morning. We’re always changing our theme to keep it interesting and different from the other runs. There are some florescent colored (outfits) here. It’s great to see how the runners responded to the 80s theme run.”

Music from the 80s blared from the speakers from the start of the event, and played until the last child, dog and stroller passed.

“We hope this event continues to grow in popularity, because exercising is important to keeping a healthy life style,” said Fuller.

The next family fun run will be the Red, White and Blue run on July 21. Families are encouraged to dress up in their best red, white and blue outfits and enjoy the free patriotic run.

For more information on these events, visit http://www.mccslejeune.com/community/TTCC_Fun%20Run%202012.pdf or call 450-1687.