NMCB 5 Seabee Goes the Distance in Fourth Hawaiian Ultra Run

OAHU, Hawaii (NNS) -- A Seabee attached to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 5 is participating in the annual Hawaiin Ultra Running Team (HURT) 100-mile trail race in Oahu Jan. 16-17.

"This will be my fourth time with HURT," said Utilitiesman 1st Class (SCWS) Mauricio Puerto. "[This is] my sixth 100 miler," he said.

Puerto participated in the Boney Mountain trail run Jan. 9, in Newbury Park, Calif. as part of preparation for HURT. This half marathon race was part of the Xterra California Trail Run Series.

"[The first time I ran HURT] I got injured, fractures in my feet and learned what sleep deprivation is," said Puerto. "I didn't know the whole concept of working yourself up to it, so [HURT] was a real eye-opener. I started training harder, doing more ultras, 50 milers and 100k's," said Puerto.

"The HURT 100 is a 20-mile loop in some of the roughest terrain out there," said Puerto. "There's no level ground, it's not easy to run and it's horrible. [HURT is] considered the hardest 100-mile race that exists," he said.

"Last year I ran a 29:15," said Puerto. "To run under 30 hours is pretty difficult. [The race is] non-stop, [HURT] starts at six in the morning Saturday, and you have until six in the evening Sunday," he said.

Puerto has been in the military for 18 years and didn't start running long distances until he was stationed in Sardenia, Italy.

"I was trying to find a way to raise money for our Seabee Ball fund," said Puerto. "[Myself and fellow Seabees] came up with this crazy idea, let's run across the island of Sardenia and raise money. I've never ran a marathon at that point, I said I can do it. So we started at the southern end of Sardenia and ran completely across," he said.

Over the course of three days, Puerto ran across the island.

"That was the first time that I've ever ran back to back marathons every single day," said Puerto. "I wasn't super tired and I thought distance [running] was probably my thing," he said.

Puerto said he enjoys helping service members stay fit and healthy.

"I've been the command fitness leader (CFL) at my last three commands," said Puerto. "I enjoy watching people shaving minutes and shaving pounds off, that's a thrill for me. That's one more person helped out that probably wouldn't have done it, if they didn't have the push," he said.

"He was our CFL in Sardenia," said Engineering Aid 2nd Class (SCWS) David Miller. "He and I have ran at least 2 triathlons together and he's the reason why I love running," he said.

"He's one of the guys who helped me get back in shape when I was going through a rough patch in my life," said Miller.

Puerto's family is also engaged in stay fit and healthy.

"Luckily, my wife is pretty active and we do tons of races together," said Puerto. "[We're] always pushing strollers and my daughter runs too, it's pretty rewarding watching your family run down the road or trail," he said.

"For him to run 100 miles really isn't that big of a deal," said Miller.

For more news from Naval Mobile Construction battalion 5, visit www.navy.mil/local/nmcb5/.