BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan – For Senior Airman Tyler Boschma, the odds were stacked against him: he had never run a full marathon before, had only found out about the race in February and the altitude in Bagram, Afghanistan is thousands of feet higher than what he is accustomed to. But, on the other side of the world he had a running buddy that was counting on him.
“My mom is running a half marathon in Boise, Idaho today,” said Boschma, a generator mechanic for Special Operations Task Force – East. “We’re running the same day, 8,000 miles apart. She’s pretty stoked about that.”
On April 16, Boschma joined more than 20 other soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines from Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force – Afghanistan in running the first-ever Boston Marathon satellite race in Afghanistan.
Hours before dawn, the quiet night sky around Bagram Air Field exploded with the sound of a controlled detonation, signaling the beginning of the race and nearly 400 participants in all began their three loops around the large airfield.
The race, sponsored by the Boston Athletic Association and the oldest annual city marathon in the world, in previous years has been run in Iraq and was a unique opportunity for long-distance runners on Bagram.
“I did better than I expected,” said the 23-year-old Boise-native, who finished the race in 3 hours, 41 minutes.
Boschma says his mother, who got him into the sport after he finished high school, is his inspiration and has plans to run a half marathon with her when he gets home in May.
“Since I’ve been in the Air Force, we really haven’t had a chance [to run together],” said Boschma. “But, I call her every day and talk about our training or times.”
The 26.2-mile race made another member of CJSOTF-A think of family. It was the fifth for Chief Warrant Officer 4 James Korenoski, who says he runs at least one race a year with his youngest son back in the states, but didn’t want to pass up the opportunity to run such a prestigious race.
“The opportunity to run the Boston Marathon probably wouldn’t present itself again,” said Korenoski, plans officer for SOTF – East, who only had two weeks to train.
Finishing in 4 hours, 2 minutes, Korenoski said his time for the Boston Marathon fell in the middle of his times from past races.
“I would absolutely do it again,” he said, but hopes to have more notice to train.
“I also turned 42 [years old] this month,” he said with a grin. “And still finished before some guys half my age.”
Though the course posed unique challenges for the runners – dusty, thin air, heavy traffic and the always present possibility of incoming mortar rounds – as the sun rose, the majority crossed the finish line with smiles on their faces.
“I feel good,” said Boschma the next day. “My mother did really well in her race and I’m glad I got to do mine.”
| Date Taken: |
04.16.2011 |
| Date Posted: |
04.18.2011 02:42 |
| Story ID: |
68895 |
| Location: |
BAGRAM AIR FIELD, AF |
| Web Views: |
710 |
| Downloads: |
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