thedrifter
07-06-07, 07:06 AM
Annual race will have military feel
Tri Span 10K and 5K race festival will hit the roads Sat.
By Beth Mechum,
Star-News Correspondent
Once every year, downtown Wilmington streets are made to sparkle during a special kind of makeover.
No, it's not new signs or pavement shimmering, it's the reflection from cones and flags outlining the course of the Tri Span, one of Wilmington's oldest races.
The 10- and 5-kilometer race festival, which starts at 8 a.m. Saturday at Riverfront Park, is in its 25th year, making it the second-oldest race in the city.
About 25 visiting Marines expect to make it an anniversary that few will forget.
Sergeant Gunney Castillo of Camp Lejeune signed up a group of student Marines to run the 5k race in cadence.
A group of 75 Marines also ran in cadence two years ago. Castillo said they had such a good time they could not wait to get back.
Cadence is when the Marines run and sing in unison in order to break up the monotony of training as well as build camaraderie.
One Marine runs to the left of the group, while the others form single-file lines. The runner on the left sings the chant while the lines echo his words.
"Picture a highway with a whole bunch of cars on it, each one of them is moving at its own speed and pace, it turns into chaos," Castillo said. "If all those cars were going at the same place at the same time, there would be no confusion; moving individuals are the same way."
Race coordinator Gray Fore said she is thrilled the Marines are coming again.
"Seeing the young men running in formation really brings tears to your eyes," she said.
In 2005, the Marines invited Larry Davis, a former Marine and Wilmington resident, to run with them. Davis believes the race is great for the Marines and for the "patriotic town" of Wilmington.
"I think that watching these young men run knowing they will be in harms' way sometime soon gives the community reason to pause and reflect about what's going on," he said. "I also think it's good for the Marines to feel the respect from the people they are serving."
Castillo said his students are excited to explore Wilmington, as well as show the spectators what they can do.
He also arranged their participation in 2005 and was amazed at their reception.
"The people love seeing what we in the Marine Corps do for our society," he said. "It makes them proud to see what we can do for our country."
After the Marines finish the race, they will stay at the finish line to encourage other runners. Then, Castillo will let them explore a little bit before making the trip back to Jacksonville around noon. Castillo predicts the group will return with renewed motivation and lightened spirits.
Ellie
Tri Span 10K and 5K race festival will hit the roads Sat.
By Beth Mechum,
Star-News Correspondent
Once every year, downtown Wilmington streets are made to sparkle during a special kind of makeover.
No, it's not new signs or pavement shimmering, it's the reflection from cones and flags outlining the course of the Tri Span, one of Wilmington's oldest races.
The 10- and 5-kilometer race festival, which starts at 8 a.m. Saturday at Riverfront Park, is in its 25th year, making it the second-oldest race in the city.
About 25 visiting Marines expect to make it an anniversary that few will forget.
Sergeant Gunney Castillo of Camp Lejeune signed up a group of student Marines to run the 5k race in cadence.
A group of 75 Marines also ran in cadence two years ago. Castillo said they had such a good time they could not wait to get back.
Cadence is when the Marines run and sing in unison in order to break up the monotony of training as well as build camaraderie.
One Marine runs to the left of the group, while the others form single-file lines. The runner on the left sings the chant while the lines echo his words.
"Picture a highway with a whole bunch of cars on it, each one of them is moving at its own speed and pace, it turns into chaos," Castillo said. "If all those cars were going at the same place at the same time, there would be no confusion; moving individuals are the same way."
Race coordinator Gray Fore said she is thrilled the Marines are coming again.
"Seeing the young men running in formation really brings tears to your eyes," she said.
In 2005, the Marines invited Larry Davis, a former Marine and Wilmington resident, to run with them. Davis believes the race is great for the Marines and for the "patriotic town" of Wilmington.
"I think that watching these young men run knowing they will be in harms' way sometime soon gives the community reason to pause and reflect about what's going on," he said. "I also think it's good for the Marines to feel the respect from the people they are serving."
Castillo said his students are excited to explore Wilmington, as well as show the spectators what they can do.
He also arranged their participation in 2005 and was amazed at their reception.
"The people love seeing what we in the Marine Corps do for our society," he said. "It makes them proud to see what we can do for our country."
After the Marines finish the race, they will stay at the finish line to encourage other runners. Then, Castillo will let them explore a little bit before making the trip back to Jacksonville around noon. Castillo predicts the group will return with renewed motivation and lightened spirits.
Ellie