MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -- Station residents ran around the entire station competing for the best time during the annual Amazing Race here May 20.
Team members dripped with sweat as they crossed the finish line after running all over the station to complete 14 stops and activities.
The winning team, Station Steve’s Band Club finished all stops and placed first at the 2011 Amazing Race for the second time.
Station Steve’s Band Club each received a $100 gift certificate for taking first place with a time of 1 hour, 22 seconds.
Second place and $75 gift certificates were given to each member of the team called Better with Beer with a time of 1 hour, 8 minutes, 32 seconds.
Finally, third place and $50 gift certificates were given to each member of the team called 171 with a score of 1 hour,10 minutes, 17 seconds.
“This event is to give station residents a good time and test their knowledge in all areas,” said Darci Kruse, Semper Fit assistant director.
The participants answered questions about Marine Corps Family Team Building, Marine Corps, movies, and general knowledge.
Each of the 14 stops around the station had a different activity to test how well the members of each team worked together.
At the parade deck station, team members had to run with a ball between their legs, leapfrog over each other and run in flippers.
The Marine Lounge proved to be a challenging task for many. Each member had to build a house out of a deck of cards.
At the laundry mat, pictures of knots were provided and each team member needed to tie and untie a knot before being able to continue to the Sakura Theater stop.
At the theater stop, movie trivia also proved to be challenging and time consuming for many teams.
Once done at the theater, teams ran to Yujo Hall where they chose a question about Marine Corps Family Team Building and needed to answer it before being able to continue.
Next, participants ran to the Hornet’s Nest where two members of the team worked together to build a LEGO structure. The team members were back-to-back, one had a completed LEGO structure while the other had Lego pieces. The team member with the completed structure had to explain to the other team member how to build the structure to match the one in their hands.
“I think the LEGOs are what messed us up,” said Vonace Creswellmcdermett,Beast Mode team member.
From there, basketball was the next task at the northside basketball court, and then onto the golf course for some golf.
“The golfing was easy,” Creswellmcdermett said. “We got a time bonus on that event.”
Next, teams headed to Building 411 where their knowledge was put to the test in the library and education office.
At the paintball range, team members dizzied themselves with drunk goggles.
From there teams went to the obstacle course where one team member shot water balloons from a slingshot while another tried to catch them in a bucket.
Afterward, obstacle course participants ran to Penny Lake, carrying sandbags from one cone to another.
Once done at Penny Lake, the teams went to IronWorks Gym and proved their knowledge of the human body.
Finally, teams went to the field in front of Barracks 314, where they looked at pictures and figured out what the differences between the two similar scenes in front of them.
Once all stops were completed, the teams ran back to the parade deck to cross the finish line and receive their time.
After all the teams were finished, times were totaled and time bonuses earned throughout the course added and awards were given out.
The team members of Station Steve’s Band Club enjoyed participating in the Amazing Race event.
“It is a good experience,” said Michael J. Pritchard, team member of Station Steve’s Band Club. “It lets us spend time with station residents and see each team having fun.”
While everyone at this event had a great time, teams completed the event in less than the three hours provided.
“This was the second time I have won the Amazing Race, and I am hoping that the next time I can make it a third win,” said Pritchard.
The teams showed up early and after the event was over stayed at the finish line and talked about how well they all did.