500 Mile Club blazes its own trail with service members

Running 500 miles is equivalent to journeying from Camp Pendleton to San Francisco; a massive accomplishment for any avid runner.

Base fitness centers offer a program that encourages service members to challenge their ability and achieve a demanding feat of running that distance.

The 500 Mile Club is a program offered by Marine Corps Community Services’ Semper Fit division for service members interested in improving their run time and adding an edge to their physical fitness level.

The club has over 1,000 members, and is open to all active duty military, their families, retirees and Department of Defense civilian employees. The program is offered at fitness centers throughout base and is designed to motivate participants to stay in shape.

“I wasn’t really an avid runner before I started this program,” said Pfc. Jesse A. Cabral, administrative clerk, Headquarters and Support Battalion, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, and participant in the 500 mile club. “The program helped me get the motivation I needed to run more.”

Each fitness center offer prizes when a member reaches the 100, 250 and 500 mile marks. At the first mark, the participant receives a certificate of completion. The 250 mark, the participant receives a 500 Mile Club towel, and at the well anticipated 500 mark, they receive a T-shirt to represent their achievement.

“I just reached the 250 mile mark, and I already feel more accomplished as a runner than ever,” said Lance Cpl. Kenneth Petersen, Semper Fit specialist, Paige Fieldhouse.

To keep track of the miles ran, each member receives a log-sheet from their local fitness center and documents their miles weekly. A fitness specialist from the center then signs off on the tracked miles.

“Running has become a daily routine for me now,” Petersen said. “I can’t wait to be able to wear the T-shirt that represents how hard I’ve worked.”

The program is ongoing, and participants can start at anytime. For more information, visit any base fitness center or call (760) 763-0657.

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