Registration deadline extended for half-marathon

The deadline to register for the Sept. 15 Wounded Warrior Half-Marathon at Naval Base Ventura County (NBVC) Point Mugu has been extended to Friday, Sept. 7.

Registration is through active.com.

Already, more than 700 people have registered for the 13.1-mile run, which begins at 7:30 a.m. at the Point Mugu Picnic Pavilion, just down the street from the Point Mugu Gym.

“We are expecting more than 1,000 runners, and we’re pleased to reach this milestone after just three years of holding the event,” said Fred Morgan of Morale, Welfare and Recreation, which organizes the half-marathon. “Great team effort and input from leadership has helped to shape this event.”

Also taking place that morning will be a 5K run and the Military Mile.

Cost for the half-marathon is $50 for civilians and $35 for members of the military.

The 5K is $25 for civilians and $15 for the military, and the mile is $15 for civilians and $10 for the military.

The half-marathon course will close at noon, which allows competitors 4.5 hours to complete the event. Walkers and participants with strollers are welcome, provided they can complete the distance within the allotted time. All participants will receive a T-shirt and free barbecue lunch after the race. Half-marathon participants will also receive a finisher’s medal.

Twelve wounded warriors from the Navy and Coast Guard who are attending a Wounded Warrior Training Camp being held that same weekend at NBVC Port Hueneme plan to participate.

“This should be a great way to inspire people and kick off the race,” said Morgan.

Among them will be Joe Derbak, a retired hospital corpsman 2nd class who sustained a traumatic brain injury six years ago in combat operations. He has Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and lower mobility issues.

Derbak, 33, competed in track and field and hand cycling at the 2012 Warrior Games in Colorado Springs. He lives in Jacksonville, N.C.

Derbak will be kicking off the event, along with Capt. Larry Vasquez, commanding officer of NBVC.

The Wounded Warrior Half-Marathon has grown each year since its inception in 2010. Proceeds support not only the Wounded Warrior training camps held at NBVC, but also adaptive sports equipment on base, including a beach bike that allows people with disabilities to get to the ocean, an adaptive golf cart and a pool lift at the NBVC Port Hueneme Aquatics Center.