USS Theodore Roosevelt Run Club Competes in Half Marathon

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (NNS) -- Sailors from USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) run club competed in the Rock n' Roll Half Marathon in Virginia Beach, Va., Sept. 2.

The 13.1-mile run is an annual event which not only provides the challenge of running a half marathon, but also includes free concerts by rock musicians. This year's lineup included Train and Cheap Trick.

The idea for having TR Sailors participate in the event and all the coordination came from a member of the club, Interior Communications Electrician 3rd Class Laura Auer.

"The run club has been involved in about eight races this year-both participating in the races and volunteering at races," Auer said. "Our participation has grown throughout the year."

The race started at approximately 7 a.m., so many of the runners had to leave their houses very early in the morning to beat traffic and make it to the starting line on time.

"I woke up really early, and I'm a little bit tired," Marley Oldham, TR's fit boss, said on the morning of the race. "Now that we're here with the music going, I'm very excited. I'm ready to have a good time."

The Rock'n'Roll Half Marathon was one of many events TR's run club has participated in, according to Oldham.
"We've done several runs," she said. "This is one of our bigger runs that we've been planning for a while-probably the run with the most participation. This is our first big race."

The race was led by Olympic athletes from around the world, guiding the thousands of runners on a winding route through downtown Virginia Beach and along the city's boardwalk.

After the race, Auer said that she felt exhausted, but happy with her time.

"I was satisfied with my performance for how it was," she said. "It was very humid."

Auer was instrumental in putting the word out to TR Sailors that they could run in the half marathon through TR's run club.

"We sent out several emails inviting members of the run club and members of the command to join us for the race," she said.

Auer said she has a passion for running. After having participated in track and cross country in middle school and high school, she gave it up in college - only to pick it back up again after joining the Navy.

"I was looking for a positive, recreational way to release stress, and I decided to try running again and really fell in love with it," she said.

Now Auer wants to share her love for running through TR's run club, which she coordinates with the help of Oldham.

"We want to show that running can be fun and social and still be a great workout," Auer said.

Sailors interested in participating in future runs through TR's run club can contact Auer or Oldham.
"I'm looking forward to future races," Auer said.

For more information, visit www.navy.mil, www.facebook.com/usnavy, or www.twitter.com/usnavy.

For more news from USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71), visit www.navy.mil/local/cvn71/.