Four staff member of Naval Branch Health Clinic Everett were amongst the more than 1,000 runners who successfully completed the North Olympic Discovery Marathon and Half Marathon, June 7.

The active duty trio of Lt. Jaime Sherry, Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Stephanie Reider, and Hospitalman Brooke Farris completed the half marathon and crossed the finish line together with a time of two hours and 39 minutes. Everett’s Heather James, who also participated, came in at three hours. 

“It was great to run with a group that set the goal to train for this run and then accomplished it,” said Sherry, a 34-year old Bremerton native who works in the NBHC Everett Primary Care Clinic. “We started together and finished together and had an excellent time.”

Reider said the event gave her the opportunity to not only visit the area for the first time, but test her physical resolve to finish the distance of 13.1 miles. “I had never been to the Olympic Peninsula before and have always wanted to go,” the 31-year old Selah, Wash. native explained. “This particular marathon was described as one of the most scenic in the nation. They were right. It was absolutely beautiful!”

According to Reider, the trio started out the run together, but after a few necessary bathroom breaks they got separated. At mile eight, Sherry, Reider and Farris met back up and paced each other all the way to the finish line.

“We all sprinted in for a strong finish,” she said.” It was such a great feeling!”

HN Brooke Farris has been running with Reider for approximately a year when they decided that they needed a challenge to their regular routine. “I can’t believe we finished,” said the Audubon, Iowa native. “Finishing a half marathon is truly one of the best feelings and accomplishments for a person.”

Heather James, NBHC Everett health technician, decided to participate because Farris and Reider were doing it and it sounded like it would be fun.

It was also a family affair for her as she was joined by husband, Chief Aviation Ordnance Joe James who serves in the weapons department on board USS Abraham Lincoln.

Reider recommends that anyone can do a half marathon with the proper preparation.

“Running distance is a lot different than running for the PRT,” she said. “You have to change up your pace completely. A lot of any run is physical, but it’s your mind that keeps you going when you think that you are too tired to finish.”

Farris emphasized that anyone thinking about signing on for such a long run needs to realize that it’s a process that requires adequate training.

“For some it’s easy, but others have to work very hard,” said Farris. “As corny as it may sound, if a person believes in themselves they can do it.”