Boston Marathon run on Camp Taji

Courtesy Photo | Tech. Sgt. Chad Scholl, a non-destructive inspection craftsman with Coalition Air Force Training Team, rounds the corner during the "Battle-Rattle Ramble," a side event held during the CAFTT Boston Marathon on Camp Taji, Iraq, April 13. He finished the 1.33-mile course in first place while wearing helmet, 9mm pistol and body armor with protective plates. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Nicholas Conner, 15th SB, PAO)  

04.17.2007

Courtesy Story

Multi-National Corps Iraq Public Affairs

Sgt. 1st Class Nicholas Conner
15th SUS BDE, PAO

Camp Taji, Iraq – Before the sun ever squeezed over the horizon, the runners stretched and joked in the early morning cool. They waited for final instructions and the start of the Coalition Air Force Training Team's Boston Marathon.

The 26.3-mile run was the idea of Air Force Senior Master Sgt. Sean Marchal, senior air traffic controller with CAFTT. His plan was to run the famous race in Boston this year, but deployment orders to Iraq cancelled his chance. Instead, he organized his own marathon on the Iraqi air force controlled side of Camp Taji.

"I ran the Boston Marathon last year, said Marchal. "I couldn't get to Tallil for the satellite Boston Marathon, so I decided to put this [race] on."

Chaplain (Capt.) Troy Morken, an avid marathon runner from the 15th Brigade Troops Battalion, 15th Sustainment Brigade, was unable to make it to the Tallil race as well. The CAFTT marathon would be his sixth race in two years and his first international one.

True to his calling, Morken said he tries to meet each grueling mile with a positive attitude; encouraging other runners along side him that they can make it.

"Usually the last couple of miles I'm not as upbeat," he grinned. "[When I finish] I feel terrible; then I ask when is the next one."

As race organizer, Marchal outlined the cramped route and unique obstacles runners' would face. He joked that the course would be a mind-numbing 1.33-mile loop for 20 turns. Hazards included water, mud, gravel, Iraqi sheep and Sasha - an amicable but highly protective stray dog that claimed the CAFTT compound as her home.

The upside is, he said, that unlike the course in Tallil, held on the coalition forces' side, the CAFTT marathon is the first one run on Iraqi controlled turf.

In addition to the full marathon, Marchal planned a half marathon, an almost four mile race and the Battle Rattle Ramble which was one lap in helmet, body armor with protective plates and weapon.

Senior Airman Michael Schweers, a maintenance production scheduler with CAFTT, wanted to challenge himself and put his new fitness level in perspective.

"I just lost 25 pounds, so I put the 25 pounds of battle-rattle back on to see how it felt," he said. He couldn't believe he had been running with that much weight in the past.

Marchal ran the course with a yellow, "Servin' for Irven" banner attached to the back of his shirt. It was his tribute to life long friend and mentor, Army Sgt. Irven Murphy, who passed away last St. Patrick's Day.

Marchal worked for Murphy, a retired World War II veteran, at the parks department in his hometown of Greenville, Ohio, prior to joining the Air Force.

With the chest-thumping drone of Apache and Black Hawk helicopters from the neighboring flight line, runners ticked off the miles using colored rubber bands around their wrists. At the start, each marathon runner was given 20 rubber bands, one for each lap. When the bands were gone, the 26.3-mile ordeal was over.

Chaplain (Capt.) Troy Morken finished first, in 3 hours, 4 minutes and 38 seconds. Senior Master Sgt. Marchal completed the course in 3 hours, 25 minutes and 44 seconds.

Both say they're looking forward to the next marathon, be it in Boston next year or not.

• Date Taken: 04.17.2007
• Date Posted: 04.17.2007 09:23
• Story ID: 9966