Many families’ New Year’s resolutions include goals to be more physically active this year. Perhaps this includes trying a new sport or placing greater focus on overall fitness. The key to keeping a resolution is a close support network, and what could be better than family?
Running remains a popular get-fit endeavor for all ages. Completing a fitness challenge as a family is a positive experience that brings everyone together in a fun and focused way. And running is a great equalizer. Everyone covers the same distance at a personally-comfortable pace.
Families can mix fitness with sightseeing during the Marine Corps Historic Half Weekend in Fredericksburg, VA. Families can compete in the kid-friendly Semper Fred 5K on May 17, or for those looking for an even greater distance challenge, the Historic 10K, both set amidst the scenery and sites that make Fredericksburg a terrific weekend getaway spot.
Participants of any Marine Corps Historic Half running event receive a stunning medal, commemorative t-shirt (who doesn’t love a family that dresses alike!), and perhaps most important, a sense of shared accomplishment.
Looking for a family-fitness goal more reflective of the times? Try an adventure or obstacle run such as Run Amuck, held aboard Marine Corps Base Quantico in June. This messy, muddy event features a bevy of obstacles over four-mile or two-mile course options. Both distances begin with an inflatable obstacle course before heading into gloppy mud pits, crawling through tunnels and bounding through water blasts. More than 20 obstacles await rowdy runners and adventurous athletes alike. To register for the Semper Fred 5K or Run Amuck, go to www.marinemarathon.com.
The local area is also home to many National Parks, which are filled with hiking and biking trails set in stunning landscapes. From the seashore escape of Assateague Island featuring sandy beaches, salt marshes, maritime forests, and coastal bays to the fragrant woods and trickling streams of Prince William Forest, the National Park Service has family outdoor activities sure to please any interest. Visit www.nps.gov to find a park near your family.
Whatever your family’s fitness plan, the local area is brimming with exciting opportunities to stay active and healthy. Be sure to try something new today.
Sandra Osborn-Peters is the MCM Communications Coordinator. Parents can register their kids individually for the Semper Fred 5K, Run Amuck, MCM Kids Run or Turkey Trot via the MCM website. Schools can register groups of students for the MCM Kids Run by contacting Sandra at [email protected]. For sponsor information, or to participate in Camp Miles, please contact MCM Sponsorship Coordinator, Kristina Morris, at [email protected]. Articles in the Healthy Kids Series are presented by the MCM Kids Run. No federal or Marine Corps endorsement implied.
