MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -- Station residents competed in the fifth annual Amazing Race, which started on the parade deck here June 22, 2012.
The race, sponsored by Marine Corps Community Services, provided Marines, sailors and civilians the opportunity to spend a few hours in a trek around the station, hunting for events and trying to earn the best time.
“This is a good event to get the community members out here, and have some good competition and a lot of fun and laughs,” said Alma Dickinson, MCCS health promotions director. “Overall, we just want people to have a good time on a Friday afternoon.”
10 teams of four people each competed in the race.
“I love being a part of this event,” said Dickinson. “It’s even fun after the event when you see all the teams sit down and talk about which events they thought were hard, which ones they had the most fun with, just things like that.”
With a total of 14 locations racers had to visit, events for the race included a game of keeping a volleyball in the air for a certain number of hits, digging through whipped cream face first for tic-tacs, trying to play a matching game while doing jumping jacks and more.
“This was a pretty good experience,” said Bill Slack, Amazing Race participant. “There were lots of different activities that had us running all over the base. There was some good competition out there and some challenging events, even a few that were a little silly, but it was all very good and very well organized.”
Some of the events also provided the opportunity to earn bonus time by performing extra tasks or by completing the challenge exceptionally well.
“I think this brings together the Marines, sailors and civilians,” said Slack. “It’s a great thing to do on a Friday afternoon with great weather.”
While all 10 teams battled their hardest for victory, it was Super Support Squadron 171 who emerged the victors, with a final time of 1:45:26, barely three minutes ahead of the Four Lost Ones, the second place team, who were the first to cross the finish line, but didn’t accumulate as many bonus points.
“I feel great getting to come out here and represent the squadron I’ve been attached to for quite some time,” said Joseph Zwierzynski, Amazing Race participant and SSS-171 team member. “I really appreciate the camaraderie from my teammates. If I were out here a little longer, I would definitely do it again next year.”
After everyone returned to the parade deck, times of the top three teams were read off and prizes were given to each team member.
Teams also earned unit points toward the coveted Commander's Cup competition for competing in the Amazing Race.