Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan

Runners prepare before the Hagi Castle Race that took place in Hagi, Dec. 8, 2013. The race consisted of three running distances, to include a half marathon, 10-kilometer and 5-kilometer competition. - Runners prepare before the Hagi Castle Race that took place in Hagi, Dec. 8, 2013. The race consisted of three running distances, to include a half marathon, 10-kilometer and 5-kilometer competition.

Racers take off from the starting line after setting their watches to help pace themselves for the 45th annual Kintai Marathon around Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni April 15, 2012. Racers began clumped together, but the pack quickly thinned as many racers sped past or dropped behind the rest of the pack. The race isn’t about winning for some competitors; some just love the thought of completing the race. The ability for all of these racers to complete the 26-mile race takes training and keeps these runners fit and healthy. - Racers take off from the starting line after setting their watches to help pace themselves for the 45th annual Kintai Marathon around Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni April 15, 2012. Racers began clumped together, but the pack quickly thinned as many racers sped past or dropped behind the rest of the pack. The race isn’t about winning for some competitors; some just love the thought of completing the race. The ability for all of these racers to complete the 26-mile race takes training and keeps these runners fit and healthy.

Station members begin the first Couples and Lonely Hearts Race hosted by the Iwakuni Roadrunners by beginning the first leg of the race at the start of the seawall behind the IronWorks Gym here Feb. 12. Club members got a free Couples and Lonely Hearts Race t-shirt and were able to run the race for free, along with any of the other races held by the club while other running enthusiasts had to pay a small fee to participate . - Station members begin the first Couples and Lonely Hearts Race hosted by the Iwakuni Roadrunners by beginning the first leg of the race at the start of the seawall behind the IronWorks Gym here Feb. 12. Club members got a free Couples and Lonely Hearts Race t-shirt and were able to run the race for free, along with any of the other races held by the club while other running enthusiasts had to pay a small fee to participate .

Marine Wing Support Squadron 171 Marines place Sgt. Zeb Martin, a MWSS-171 Motor Transportation platoon sergeant, into a red ball before rolling him around a course during the 2011 Gladiator Challenge, part of the 2011 Commanders Cup at Penny Lake Fields here Oct. 21. - Marine Wing Support Squadron 171 Marines place Sgt. Zeb Martin, a MWSS-171 Motor Transportation platoon sergeant, into a red ball before rolling him around a course during the 2011 Gladiator Challenge, part of the 2011 Commanders Cup at Penny Lake Fields here Oct. 21.

Local community kayakers practice rowing skills before getting into the water for a friendly kayak competition at Nakayama Lake in support of a national-level kayak competition Oct. 2. Three local Marines also participated in the friendly competition in support of the 66th National Sports Festival being hosted throughout Yamaguchi Prefecture Oct. 1 – 11. For several community members participating in the friendly kayak competition, it was their first time kayaking. The National Sports Festival is hosted every year in a different prefecture of Japan. This is the second time in 66 years Yamaguchi Prefecture has hosted the festival. - Local community kayakers practice rowing skills before getting into the water for a friendly kayak competition at Nakayama Lake in support of a national-level kayak competition Oct. 2. Three local Marines also participated in the friendly competition in support of the 66th National Sports Festival being hosted throughout Yamaguchi Prefecture Oct. 1 – 11. For several community members participating in the friendly kayak competition, it was their first time kayaking. The National Sports Festival is hosted every year in a different prefecture of Japan. This is the second time in 66 years Yamaguchi Prefecture has hosted the festival.

Competitors begin the Marine Corps Community Services Iwakuni Modified Triathlon with a one kilometer swim here Sunday.The swimming portion consisted of two laps out to a buoy and back. The buoy was placed 250 meters away, but with the current and the turn-around point forcing competitors to slow down. 200 participants came out to fight their way through a 1 kilometer swim, a 32k bike ride, and two 4k runs. Many of the participants came from off the station in order to compete in something unique. Many different athletic events occur off base as well as on base giving people an opportunity to compete in teams or relays. - Competitors begin the Marine Corps Community Services Iwakuni Modified Triathlon with a one kilometer swim here Sunday.The swimming portion consisted of two laps out to a buoy and back. The buoy was placed 250 meters away, but with the current and the turn-around point forcing competitors to slow down. 200 participants came out to fight their way through a 1 kilometer swim, a 32k bike ride, and two 4k runs. Many of the participants came from off the station in order to compete in something unique. Many different athletic events occur off base as well as on base giving people an opportunity to compete in teams or relays.

Competition observers watch over Lance Cpl. Kyle Vander Molen, a station operations competitor, 2nd Lt. Katherine Kleese, a Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron competitor and Sgt. Michael Knight, a Marine Wing Support Squadron 171 competitor, during the two-mile triathlon portion of the 2010 Commander’s Cup Indoor-Triathlon at the IronWorks Gym here May 14. Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 12 took first place with a time of 27 min. 18 sec., while the Robert M. Casey Medical and Dental Clinic claimed second with a time of 28 min. 20 sec and MWSS-171 won third with a time of 28 min. 21 sec. - Competition observers watch over Lance Cpl. Kyle Vander Molen, a station operations competitor, 2nd Lt. Katherine Kleese, a Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron competitor and Sgt. Michael Knight, a Marine Wing Support Squadron 171 competitor, during the two-mile triathlon portion of the 2010 Commander’s Cup Indoor-Triathlon at the IronWorks Gym here May 14. Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 12 took first place with a time of 27 min. 18 sec., while the Robert M. Casey Medical and Dental Clinic claimed second with a time of 28 min. 20 sec and MWSS-171 won third with a time of 28 min. 21 sec.