Going the Distance in Iraq

The Washington Post ^ | 11/27/08 | Giles Clarke

[Amelia]

BAGHDAD -- A sandstorm was forming out in the desert, and the temperature was only in the 80s as we gathered in the pre-dawn darkness earlier this fall, assembling at the starting line of the Akron Half Marathon here. On Sept. 14, two weeks before the Akron Marathon was run in Ohio, its organizers coordinated the staging of a shadow race here at the Camp Victory complex. This Thanksgiving, I'm grateful that I was able to run a half-marathon in Baghdad. I am grateful not just for the joy of completing the race, but for what the ability to hold such a race here implied.

This is my third deployment to Iraq. Before that morning, I realized, I never would have believed I would see the day when over 200 service members would line up in nothing more than workout clothing and running shoes. There were no weapons, gas masks, flak jackets or ammunition among us. The hardiest defensive gear we runners carried was our mandatory reflective belts.

[Amelia]

Good read.

[AZamericonnie]

Thank’s for the post Amelia & much apprecitaion to Captain Giles Clarke for his service!