New Camp Pendleton Naval Replacement Hospital Construction Teams Stomp Competition at World Famous 10K Mud Run

SAN DIEGO, Calif. — Just as the Clark/McCarthy joint venture design-build team is out ahead of construction on the new 500,000-square-foot Camp Pendleton Naval Replacement Hospital, so were its members and associates ahead of the pack during the World Famous Mud Run on June 15 on the Camp Pendleton Marine Corps Base north of Oceanside, Calif.

A total of 183 participants — including McCarthy Building Companies, Inc., and Clark Construction Group, LLC, employees, subcontractor partners, owners" representatives and friends and family members — comprised 36 separate teams that endured the grueling and muddy course and raised a combined $8,100 (not including the $10,000 sponsorship and race fees) to benefit the Camp Pendleton Armed Services YMCA.

The World Famous 10K Mud Run was held at the military base over three consecutive weekends (June 1, 2, 8, 9 and 15), with the last race benefitting the ASYMCA.   In the Male Division, the Clark/McCarthy team captured four of the top 20 spots, led by a seventh place finish by Kaiser South Bay Team “Mud End of the Stick” Team Captain Josh Finely. In the Female Division, Maya Douglas and her “Fab 5” took first place by over eight minutes with a time of 1:17.   In the Coed Division — by far the most competitive, with over 180 teams — the Clark/McCarthy team pushed through with a top 20 finish by “The Mighty Mustangs,” led by Keaton Taylor.
     
Last year, the 155-member Clark/McCarthy team raised $10,000 and placed fourth out of 293 teams in the Mixed Division, 14th out of 70 teams in the Female Division and took three of the top five spots in the Corporate Division.

“This year, it seemed fitting that all parties involved in the Naval Replacement Hospital construction project be represented at the Mud Run,” said McCarthy Senior Project Engineer Michael "Fritz" Oettinger, who again served as event coordinator on behalf of the project teams.   “It's taken an incredible amount of collaboration on everyone's part to pull off the new hospital being six months ahead of schedule while remaining on budget — an accomplishment we"re all extremely proud of.”

The Clark/McCarthy joint venture design-build team began construction for the new $456-million, multi-level Naval Replacement Hospital Project at Camp Pendleton in December 2010. It is the largest project to be awarded by the Navy under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the economic stimulus program enacted in 2009 during the recession.  

Construction of the new Naval Replacement Hospital initially was scheduled for completion in early 2014. Thanks to leadership and teamwork, it's now expected to be completed later this month. Camp Pendleton hospital staff will begin moving into their new facility and seeing patients in mid-December. The hospital will serve all active duty military, reservists, retirees and family members.

“The efforts of a world-class team enabled the early finish, with amazing quality and a record-setting safety program,” said Cmdr. Dude Underwood, Naval Facilities Engineering Command Southwest resident officer-in-charge of construction for the replacement hospital.

Dubbed the “world's dirtiest party,” the Mud Run was held along a challenging 10K course that presented runners with rolling hills, river crossings, two five-foot walls, three massive mud pits, tunnels, a slippery hill and a cargo climb. All team members had to cross the finish line together for the team to qualify for awards.   This year's race presented even more challenging obstacles than last year's.

Held from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m., all five races featured a “Filthy Fun Fest” staged at the start/finish line, with live music, vendors with giveaways, beverages, beer, Marine Corps displays and merchandise from the Mud Run Store.   In all, approximately 28,000 military members and civilians participated in the races and festivities.

“The post-race activities proved to be an appropriate way for the joint venture team members and partners to celebrate their highly successful collaboration and to conclude our work together on a high note,” said Oettinger.   “We"re all looking forward to working with one another again on a future project.”