371st SB organizes and runs Akron Marathon Shadow Run

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Kimberly Hill | Spc. Brian Soucie, an intelligence analyst with the 371st Sustainment Brigade and a Cleveland, Ohio, native, stands ready to run at the start line of the Akron Marathon shadow run at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, Sept. 28, 2013.  

CAMP ARIFJAN, KUWAIT

10.01.2013

Story by Staff Sgt. Kimberly Hill 

371st Sustainment Brigade

CAMP ARIFJAN, Kuwait - Soldiers of the 371st Sustainment Brigade currently deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, organized and ran a shadow marathon of the Akron Marathon, Sept. 28, 2013 at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait.

“I was really proud to be a part of the Akron Marathon. I had the opportunity to carry the American flag for the duration of the event, and truthfully that is what got me through,” said Spc. Brian Soucie, an intelligence analyst with the 371st SB and a Cleveland, Ohio, native.

“Every time I wanted to quit I had to think of setting down the flag and what that means to me, it was just unacceptable, so I kept moving,” he said.

More than 300 service members and civilians came out to run the event with 191 runners finishing either the half-marathon, full marathon or relay race, said 1st Lt. Kevin Mcgee, the race coordinator for the shadow run.

“This is the first half marathon of the fall running season, we haven’t had one all summer, but now the weather’s cooling down,” said McGee.

Mcgee, the Kuwaiti National Guard liaison officer in support operations officer with the 371st SB was in charge of organizing the event, which included coordinating with the Akron Marathon organizers mapping 5K, half-marathon and full marathon routes, he said.

“They sent us medals, a starting banner, really making us feel like we’re right back at home in Ohio,” Mcgee said.

While the event was open to all military service members and civilians at Camp Arifjan, the event allowed soldiers from the 371st SB, an Ohio Army National Guard unit based out of Springfield, Ohio, to show support for the state most of them call home.

“All who ran yesterday showed that the desert, the night, the confined training environment, the austere deployment, none of these are enough to defeat our spirit. I sincerely thank each one of you for your participation in this physically challenging event,” said McGee.

• Date Taken: 10.01.2013
• Date Posted: 10.01.2013 03:41
• Story ID: 114521
• Location: CAMP ARIFJAN, KW
• Hometown: CLEVELAND, OH, US
• Hometown: SPRINGFIELD, OH, US