Last modified Wed., October 11, 2006 - 04:23 PM
Originally created Thursday, October 12, 2006

Sailors, DoD civilians run to educate children of those killed, injured in battle

By Miriam S. Gallet, NAS Jax Asst. Public Affairs Officer

Dennis Anthony, left, an employee at NSB Kings Bay, Ga. Morale Welfare and Recreation Department and a retired command master chief, and CMDCM Buck Taylor, command master chief of Submarine Squadrons 16 and 20 at NSB Kings Bay, Ga., share a celebratory hug after crossing the finish line. This was their first marathon. "I'm feeling great. This is fantastic and I am sure we will do it again next year," said a jubilant Taylor, immediately after finishing the half marathon with a time of 2:07:12.

Sailors and DoD civilians from NAS Jacksonville, NS Mayport and NSB Kings Bay, Ga. ran the Marine Corps 1³2 Marathon to raise funds to help put children of service members killed or injured in action through college Saturday. They finished the punishing 13.1-mile course in order to show solidarity with their brothers and sisters in the corps.

In its third year, the Jacksonville Marine Corps Half Marathon and 5K Freedom Run are the fastest growing races in North Florida and Southern Georgia - certainly in terms of the more than 2,000 runners who showed up for the event Saturday morning. The USATF Certified half marathon and 5K courses tested the speed of most runners who enjoyed the cool temperatures and scenic route before crossing the finish line at Metropolitan Park.

Navy Band Southeast entertained the runners and volunteers with patriotic music and the NAS Jacksonville Weapons Department 40mm Saluting Battery fired their guns signaling the start of the race.

Two local runners took first place in the male and female categories. Owen Shott, the son of a retired Marine Corps colonel, placed first in the men's division with a time of 1:11:01. Olympic trials qualifier Kim Pawelek won the women's division with a time of 1:22:38. Through the winding 13.1-mile course, Pawelek kept looking behind her with one goal in mind - winning.

Douglas Bailey of NSB Kings Bay, Ga., registers for the half marathon the morning of the event. "I drove down from ings Bay very early this morning in order to support the Marines and their scholarship fund," he said.

The determined Pawele, who has been fighting a bout of pneumonia said, that today was not a fast day for her. However, she managed to cross the finish line almost seven minutes ahead of last year's winner Kathryn Cavanaugh who finished in 1:29:11.

Laila Capers of Navy Region Southeast, crossed the finish line with a time of 2:28:52 and said, ''I decided to run in this event in preparation for the Disney Half Marathon in January. I did fairly well today. I like this event because is very well organized and a great venue for training for a marathon.''

Another NAS Jax-based runner who crossed the finish line with a time of 2:31:33 was Cmdr. Cheryl Rogers, a surgical nurse at Naval Hospital Jackson-ville. ''This is my first Marine Corps Half Marathon. Last year I ran the 5K, but decided to run the half marathon this year in preparation for the upcoming Disney Half Marathon,'' she explained. Rogers will be participating in the Goofy's Challenge, which consists of a half marathon Jan. 6 and a marathon the next day.

According to Cpl. John Lawson, Marine Corps Re-cruiting Station Jackson-ville public affairs officer, the Marine Corps Half Marathon was created to give North Florida an event that will hopefully evolve into a premier running venue. ''Our goals are to showcase the Marine Corps and raise funds to help put children of service members killed or injured in action through college,'' he remarked.

Sgt. Floyd Celestine of Blount Island Command, presents the 2006 Marine Corps Half Marathon medal to Elisa Jacque, a military spouse from NAS Jacksonville, and to retired Army Master Sgt. Gary Mirth. Both runners attribute their success in this year's half marathon to the NAS Jax Fitness Center. "I go to the fitness center every day. Their state-of-the-art equipment has enabled me to stay in shape and become a faster runner," Mirth remarked.

''The half marathon has proven to be very popular with the Jacksonville military and civilian community while serving a good cause. Hopefully it will reach the caliber of the annual Marine Corps Marathon in Washington D.C. The runners who come out every year are helping us achieve this goal,'' he added.

Retired Marine Corps Col. Chris Rodatz, a 30-year veteran of the corps and event organizer, explained the evolution of the annual race. ''Several years ago a bunch of retired and former Marines got together and brainstormed ways to have an event that would showcase the Marine Corps in Jacksonville. The idea of a half marathon was tossed around and won.''

''Immediately, our spirit de corps took over and we made a presentation to the area commander. And before we knew it, the Jacksonville Marine Corps Half Marathon was born,'' he continued. ''I want people to know that all proceeds from the event go to the Freedom Alliance Scholarship Fund. The fund ensures that children from service members killed or badly injured in action are afforded an opportunity to attend college.''

According to Rodatz, the event is made possible by the unselfish giving of numerous sponsors. ''We have an excellent group of sponsors who believe in this race and in the Freedom Alliance Scholarship Fund and without their generosity we probably would not have the event,'' he explained. ''Particularly, our two major sponsors, Coastline Consulting and Development, who donated $20,000 and the Florida Radiation Oncology Group who donated $5,000. I also want to thank all of our corporate sponsors for their enormous support.''

Theresa Beyrle, a detective at the NAS Jacksonville Security Department, stretches prior to the start of the half marathon.

Rodatz went on to praise 1st Place Sports for their commitment to the Marine Corps Half Marathon. ''They are

indeed a 'first place' organization. From registration to package pick up, to running the electronic timing machine and posting the results. 1st Place Sports has excelled and I attribute our success to them.''

This year's race started at Adams Street in front of the Veteran's Memorial Wall and ran through downtown to Water Street and over the Main and Acosta bridges, taking the runners through historic Riverside along Riverside Avenue. The winding course continued to St. Johns Avenue and through Avondale where runners did a loop around Boone Park and retuned to Riverside Avenue, passing under Interstate 95 and moving on to the Northbank Riverwalk. After running the two-mile path along the St. Johns River they reached Bay Street just east of Liberty Street and crossed the finish line at Metropolitan Park.

After crossing the finish line the exhausted, but jubilant runners were treated to a post race celebration that included live music, free food, refreshments and a massage.

More than 2,000 runners take off at the start of the annual Marine Corps Half Marathon and 5K Freedom Run Saturday in front of Veteran's Memorial Wall in downtown Jacksonville.