Couple train for Honolulu Marathon in Iraq

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Whitney Houston | Capt. Soraya Turner, native of Santa Rosa, Calif., and medical officer for Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division – Baghdad, trains for the Hawaii Marathon in the early hours of the morning on Camp Taji, northwest of Baghdad, Aug. 31, 2008.  

TAJI, IRAQ

10.20.2008

Story by Sgt. Whitney Houston 

2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division

By Sgt. Whitney C. Houston
2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division

CAMP TAJI, Iraq – Training for a marathon takes grit, spirit and, most importantly, support. There is no better support than a spouse.

Every Sunday morning, Maj. John Turner and his wife, Capt. Soraya Turner rise early and join a group of habitual runners on Camp Taji, northwest of Baghdad, to train for the Honolulu Marathon at Camp Taji, scheduled for Dec. 14, 2008.

Together, they train for the marathon, which helps them pass the time in Iraq, and draw them closer through a common goal despite differences in ability.

"He's been a runner almost his whole life, he ran for West Point, and is far better at it than I will ever be," said Soraya, a native of Santa Rosa, Calif., and medical planning officer for Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division – Baghdad. "But I love it more, so it makes for a pretty good balance ... having your better half there with you early in the morning brings you closer to them."

Her better half agreed.

"I'm probably the more natural runner," said John, a native of Okarche Okla., and logistics officer with HHC, 225th Brigade Support Battalion, "Mongoose," 2nd SBCT, 25th Inf. Div. "I ran in college, but I haven't been motivated to run. Soraya has been very motivated, and I'm the one dragging in the morning, she pushes me though, and it's nice to do stuff with her."

The Turners have been married for three years, and met working together during a military training exercise.

"I worked with her for two weeks at a war fighter exercise at Fort Lewis, Wash.," John said. "I hounded her until she gave me her phone number and told me that I could call. So I kept stalking her until she finally decided to go out with me, and the rest is history."

Training for a marathon has its challenges on a small military base in the middle of a desert war zone, but serves as an escape and stress relief for the couple.

"I really enjoy it, it's a stress outlet for me," Soraya said. "but it's kind of a challenge because number one you're not well rested here, number two you have to force yourself to get up at 5:30 a.m. because of the 120 degree days, whereas back home you could run at whatever time of the day. You also have to figure out the roads here on Camp Taji which can be confusing."

Because of time difference the marathon at Camp Taji, can't be ran simultaneously as the race in Honolulu, however, an awards ceremony is scheduled at the same time to recognize those who participate, said event organizer 1st Lt. Clayton Cole, native of Denver, serving with the 2nd Battalion, 11th Field Artillery Regiment, "On time," 2nd SBCT, 25th Inf. Div. MND-B.

Cole further explained that organizing a marathon on Camp Taji is to bring a little bit of Hawaii to the Soldiers, and to give them a meaningful goal.

"Clubs back home know that we're doing it," John said, "and it's motivating in many ways, but more so, it gives us a sense of accomplishment, because of the difficulty for us to run it here."

This piece of Hawaii gives a worthy goal to the Turners and many others to work toward. Training together will make for good memories in the future to look back upon during their long tour in Iraq.

• Date Taken: 10.20.2008
• Date Posted: 10.20.2008 12:08
• Story ID: 25264
• Location: TAJI, IQ