By
CPL Simone Liebelt
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PTI CPL Damon Currie encourages personnel participating
in the weekly RAAF Base East Sale run.
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Photo
by PO Tracy Casteleijn
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PERSONNEL
are running rings around RAAF Base East Sale in their new base
fun run on Fridays.
Base PTI Corporal Damon Currie introduced the weekly event after
borrowing the idea from a colleague who used it successfully at
another base.
With the help of fellow PTI Sergeant Andy Miller, CPL Currie manages
the early morning session, which is now becoming a popular weekly
ritual.
He said it was a great way to encourage fitness because it was
treated as a casual event, not a competition. “People have the
option to run or walk the track, and there’s no pressure, so it’s
nice and relaxing for them,” CPL Currie said.
“It also provides really good control for us as we’re not running
around barking at people, it’s just a simple way to help people
get fit, and anything helps people get fit, they just need the
option.”
More than 30 participants, including about 10 regulars, take to
the 5km track each Friday, and can complete the course however
they like. Some participants pass and kick footballs to each other,
while others (and only a select few) go the distance in full combat
dress.
CPL
Currie said they use five different courses around the base, and
try to make it extra challenging by marking out the track with
cones so people can vary their speeds and styles of running.
He manages the event by riding his bike alongside to monitor safety
and communicate to participants. SGT Miller joins in by completing
the track, after which he runs back through to encourage others
to finish.
“I think it’s a good win on our part that people are coming because
they know exactly what to expect during the race. We just try
to give them some variation,” CPL Currie said.
“We’re also toying with the idea of introducing a theme, maybe
once or twice a year, to keep people’s interest up, like wearing
a wig or something.”
He said while numbers were growing, the test would be when sub-zero
temperatures hit in winter.
“I’m already thinking about alternatives, possibly for everybody
to go to the heated pool instead. We don’t want to take that regular
fitness session away from people...”
