With the MRC's mission in mind, our goal is to create an open minded, non-mandated for members to be required to make a certain number of runs. Founded by Justin “J.D.” Weakland with one simple belief in mind: to motivate people of all fitness levels to start running more. With cancer, heart problems, and other diseases running in his family tree history, he became very motivated from a life chang
ing event in 2010. In 2011 he ran his first full marathon (and only marathon up to that point), the Marine Corp Marathon and helped raise $1,478 for the Cancer Research Institute in the process. But it wasn’t until later on when he figured out he may have a knack for motivating others to run. First while deployed with the US Navy to Japan in 2014, he motivated three Sailors to run an on base 13K with him – this being the farthest any have run. Then later while at a Navy school in Dam Neck, VA in 2015 he motivated six classmates into running not just one race, but three – a 5K, 8K, and Half Marathon in a span of 48 hours. It really didn't hit him until when one of the young Sailors, with tears welling up in her eyes upon crossing the final finish line - and giving him a heart felt thank you for motivating her and proving to her she was capable of more than she knew - is when the lightbulb moment happened that would lead to an idea...
With the help of a friend (Debbie T) who also shares the same love for running, the MRC was formed. The Club first started small, first starting within a single command on Naval Station Mayport to eventually growing to Mayport wide.
