Pennsylvania Couple Runs to Save World

Kim and Bob Yarnall plan to conquer the Quantico 12K course in the spirit of fun, fitness and for a good cause. The Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania couple trains for the 7.46-mile event hosted at Officer Candidates School (OCS) aboard Marine Corps Base Quantico.

They’ve challenged themselves in their careers and personal lives, with Kim being a chiropractic doctor for 20 years and Bob, now retired from the Marine Corps as a Master Gunnery Sergeant with 25 years of service.

Kim’s care is hands-on and personal. In 2013, her medical knowledge led to the discovery of stage four lymphoma in her closest friend. Kim felt called to fight and to care for her friend by getting involved with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Since then her fundraising efforts and breakthroughs in treatments have helped save her friend’s life. From her spirited efforts, Kim successfully raised $103,000 for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society in 2018, ultimately being crowned the foundation’s Woman of the Year.

Both Kim and Bob are so dedicated to helping others that they asked for charitable donations in place of wedding gifts when they tied the knot. They love to run with each other and their blended family of eight. Their interest in going for a #RunWithTheMarines started as way to connect with Bob’s military service.

The Yarnall’s three reasons to #RunWithTheMarines:

• FUN

Kim loves to run with her husband, children, community and friends. Her first instinct is to help others, so she had to follow that path with running as well. Kim started a blog as a way to connect women runners and share their journeys. The motto she shares is to “Empower women to save themselves so together we can save the world.” She enlightens, “Be grateful for all you have. Work hard for all you want. Help as many people along the way as you can.”

• FITNESS

Kim and Bob plan to take on the Quantico 12K, but that is just the tip of the iceberg. Their search for excellence is fueled by gaining all the medals and title of a Distinguished Participant, meaning they’ve finished the Historic Half and multiple MCM Event Series runs this year. Together, the couple has travelled from Pennsylvania to Virginia for the Marine Corps 17.75K, Marine Corps Historic Half, Belleau Wood 8K. Next on their to-do list is the 12K in August then Marine Corps Marathon in October before the Turkey Trot in November.

“They say you should set a goal that both scares and excites you,” shares Kim. “Signing up for a marathon is probably one of the scariest and exciting things I have ever done. Envisioning the finish line of that final race, the collection of accomplishments, memories and medals is what excites me.”

• A GOOD CAUSE

Matching Kim’s charitable excitement is Bob’s dedication to the Semper Fi Fund. Bob’s career as a Marine is extremely impressive, serving in multiple capacities and learning valuable lessons to help lead others. Bob uses the Quantico 12K as a training run for the MCM, his first marathon. He plans to run to raise awareness and help provide support to our nation’s wounded heroes.

“The last Marine I met with was a Corporal at Bethesda. He was a double amputee and the left side of his head was at a forty-five degree angle, yet all he could talk about was how he wasn’t with his Marines in Iraq,” Bob shares. “His goal was to get out of the hospital, go to seminary school and come back as a Chaplain to continue serving his Marines. The Semper Fi Fund was helping him with his adaptations so he would be able to do just that.”

This inspiring first-hand story is one of many, leading Bob to a life where he can continue to support his fellow service members. He continues to search for hope and run to honor. “When you met with enough of these Marines and see what they’re doing, the motivation they have, they’re ‘I’m-not-going-to-quit’ attitude – I have to go out there and do something.”

The Yarnalls push themselves in order to make the world a better place, fueling fundraising campaigns and running with purpose and pride.

Each runner has a reason that carries them to run the distance. Kim and Bob Yarnall found theirs, have you? Join the Yarnalls at the Quantico 12K on August 24. The summer day also has two other events: a fun-filled one-mile run and the challenging Quantico Tri. All events are at Officer Candidates School (OCS) and have Marines on-course motivating every athlete. Registrations are available online now.

Thanks for visiting this archived blog. The content and details are specific only for the event year highlighted in this article. For current information, please visit the event page within the MCM website.