Nov 17, 2003 By Christine Haines 3 min read

CALIFORNIA – Normally, Dr. Tim Marks doesn’t teach or take physical education classes in his role as superintendent in the California Area School District, but he made an exception. Marks joined a high school gym class to participate in a U.S. Marine Corps circuit fitness training program along with Coach Tom Webb, who went from being a teacher to being a student for the session.

Webb said he made the connection with the U.S. Marine Corps about 10 years ago.

“We do this twice a year. The kids seem to be enhanced through the cardiovascular part of it and they’re hearing from someone other than us trying to promote fitness,” Webb said.

Webb said fitness training is a significant part of his life.

“I exercise on a daily basis. My goal in life is to “run around the world” which is 25,000 odd miles at the equator. I’m now at 19,500 so the cardio exercise doesn’t bother me,” Webb said.

Marks is also involved in a regular workout program, though Thursday’s event was a bit different from what he’s used to doing.

“That’s harder than it looks,” Marks said. “I just wanted to have fun with the kids and make it through to the end. I was glad that was the last exercise.”

Sgt. Mike Wiener, along with Staff Sgt. Michael Armstrong and three recent Ringgold and Bethlehem-Center high schools’ graduates on the delayed entry program, put the class through a rigorous routine that started with seven warm-up exercises including a series of push-ups, jumping jacks and stretches.

“The purpose behind it is to give the kids a change of pace and an introduction to the Marine Corps and to get them involved in fitness,” Armstrong said. “We’ve had kids come back two or three times when they had study halls. It was a point of pride for them. Those are the ones we’re looking for to start with.”

Following the warm-up exercises, the class ran from corner to corner of the gymnasium where a Marine or Marine recruit was stationed to put them through another round of exercises.

The circuit training was followed by a session at the punching bags to work off steam and further followed by “suicides,” a series of wind sprints.

The cool down period involved another series of exercises called the 12 Point Body Builders, with yet more push-ups and calisthenics.

“We tell them to make sure to eat extra at lunch to replenish the energy they’ve burned off and to drink plenty of fluids,” Armstrong said.

Armstrong said most of the teens aren’t used to the high level of activity involved in the Marine workout session and don’t realize the toll it can take on your body from loss of fluids and expended energy.

The Marines take the circuit training program around to school districts throughout southwestern Pennsylvania, going to each school twice a year.

“Wherever Marines are, we like to be part of the community, whether it’s doing park cleanups, going to schools and reading to kids or conducting gym classes. We like to be involved,” Wiener said.