Deployed service members, civilians compete in Army Ten-Miler ‘Shadow Run’

Photo By Lt. Col. Michelle Lunato | Evans, Ga., resident Army Sgt. Maj. Mary Howard-Edwards, supply and logistic sergeant major, 359th Theater Tactical Signal Brigade, competes in the Oct. 17 Army 10-Miler’s "Shadow Run" in Bagram, Afghanistan.  

BAGRAM AIR FIELD, AFGHANISTAN

10.17.2010

Story by Capt. Michelle Lunato 

359th Theater Tactical Signal Brigade

BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan – Over 500 deployed service members and civilians participated in a Shadow Run of the Army Ten-Miler here Oct. 17. The event, hosted by the Vermont National Guard’s 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team here, was one of six official shadow runs held in Afghanistan.

The official Army Ten-Miler is the largest annual 10-mile race, and held along the scenic streets of Washington, D.C. Runners in Bagram’s Shadow Run had to trade in views of the Pentagon and the Washington Monument for tactical vehicles and perimeter fences. However, the change in scenery did not change the motivation for running, said many participants.

“I love competition ... not necessarily against everyone else, but I suppose it's the challenge of training and working hard to set personal records and then being able to look back and see how I've improved,” said Atlanta resident, Army 1st Lt. Emile Hawkins, JR., fusion cell project officer, 359th Theater Tactical Signal Brigade.

Outside of supporting fitness goals, the Army Ten-Miler has another mission: to build esprit de corps. In the coalition environment of Bagram, unified teamwork is critical, and the Shadow Run is one way to show the true meaning of teamwork, said Columbia, S.C., resident Army Chief Warrant Officer 2 Cynthia Thomas, enterprise system administrator, Joint NetOps Control Center –Afghanistan, 359th TTSB. “Teamwork is the fuel that allows common people to attain uncommon results, and without teamwork we cannot succeed here.”

Being able to run with people you work with rather than random strangers was definitely a bonus, said the Shadow Run’s first place male runner, Auburn, Calif., resident Army Spc. Michael Burham, military intelligence system maintainer, 1st Military Intelligence Battalion. “It helps immensely with the morale. It also helps break the monotony here.”

As the Ten-Miler was a way to break up the repetitiveness of deployment for some, it was a way to bring a sense of home to others.

“Despite being in a combat zone, we still go out and do what we have do, just like we are at home,” said Greenville, S.C., resident Army Sgt. 1st Class John Hembree, battle noncommissioned officer in charge, Joint NetOps Control Center – Afghanistan, 359th TTSB.

The Army Ten-Miler has become a staple event for many people throughout the years. The inaugural run featured 1,600 registered runners, including 105 teams in 1985. By 2009, the Ten-Miler had grown to 21,524 race finishers, including 759 teams. The race has traditional included people from several nations as well. Some of the top winners over the years have been from Brazil, Ethiopia and Africa.

The multi-national nature of the event was not lost at the Bagram Shadow Run either. Runners from Bosnia, Pakistan, Russia and Korea could be seen along-side of the deployed soldiers, Marines, Coast Guardsmen, Sailors, Airmen, Department of Defense civilians and contractors.
And for being deployed for your country, the coalition presence was meaningful said Jacksonville, Fla., resident Army Sgt. 1st Class Joshua Friedbauer, parachute rigger, Combined Joint Special Forces Operation Task Force – Afghanistan. “In the states you are running for yourself. Here, you are running for your country.”

Although the run had to be re-routed due to force protection measures at the last minute, runners ran just over eight miles. The winners are Michael Burham from Task Force Condor with 50 minutes, 19 seconds and Capt. Ronnee Farrell of Task Force Workhorse with 57:52.

• Date Taken: 10.17.2010
• Date Posted: 10.19.2010 08:39
• Story ID: 58409
• Location: BAGRAM AIR FIELD, AF