Photo By Staff Sgt. Cory Thatcher | Runners await the start of a Boston Marathon sanctioned shadow run on Bagram Air...... read more read more
BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan - The 10th Sustainment Brigade, Task Force Muleskinner, held a Boston Athletic Club sanctioned Boston Marathon “shadow” run on Bagram, Air Field April 14.
The marathon was open to anyone military or civilian serving in the Afghan area of operations and while most of the participants were already on Bagram some traveled to the event from as far away as Kandahar.
Under the din of fighter jets screaming over head more than 400 participants massed on the north end of Bagram at 3 a.m. for the start of the marathon. The course required three complete laps of Bagram with a few yards added on to make a full 26.2 miles.
Prior to the start of the race Chaplain (Capt.) Gerald A. Sherbourne offered a prayer for those that had trained for the marathon and then called on Chaplain (Maj.) Stanton D. Trotter, one of those that had trained for the run, to pray for those, like Sherbourne, that had not trained.
At the start of the run, Army Sgt. Aaron Catlin, assigned to 595th MP Company, Fort Lewis, Wash., streaked to a commanding lead and never looked back. Catlin finished first with a time of 2:44:35 followed by French army Sgt. Jerome Le Jale with a time of 2:55:00 and Army Capt. Anthony Colingo at 2:55:21 rounding out the top three. The first female to finish was Army Capt. Maraline Cronauer at 3:30:00 followed by Air Force Capt. Andrea Hunwick at 3:36:01 and Navy Lt. Tara Smallidge at 3:42:12.
“Having the chance to compete in a marathon while deployed is a great experience, “said Catlin.“This opportunity allowed me to get in a nice training run, with great support and of course to enjoy the camaraderie of other service members,” he said. “I would like to thank all the leadership within my company for their continued support and encouragement during the deployment and in garrison”
This marathon is Catlin’s second, having run in the Olympia Marathon in Washington. He will be competing in the Dick's Sporting Goods Marathon in Pittsburgh while on leave in May. Col. Kurt Ryan, 10th SBDE commander, wanted to add some cachet to the event so he envisioned a partnership.
“The Boston Marathon is the longest continuously held marathon in the world, and the most prestigious. When you hear the word marathon, you immediately think Boston. It's like peanut butter and jelly, they are perfect together,” he said.
Event coordinator Capt. Joshua Meador, 10th SBDE plans office, worked closely with Pam Girouard of the Boston Athletic Association, the host organization of the Boston Marathon, to execute the run.
“Pam was awesome, her assistance ensured the event was highly professional and successful,“ said Meador.
The BAA donated t-shirts, pins, medals, trophies and certificates for all the marathon runners and banners for the venue.
Meador also praised the volunteers that manned the water points, aid stations and finish line.
“We had tremendous support from Scott Wilhite of the USO, Lisa Castleberry of Morale, Welfare and Recreation, Mark Hooper and the rest of the staff at the Red Cross, Fluor Contracting, Task Force Med East, Combined Joint Task Force-1, the 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade and the Navy chiefs mess on Bagram,” he said.
“I am extraordinarily pleased with how well the event came off; we had no safety or serious health issues and so many people came to me after the event to express their gratitude and tell me how much they enjoyed the run.”
This was the 116th running of the Boston Marathon and the second time Afghanistan has been a satellite location.
“With the phenomenal participation and feedback from this event we look forward to partnering again for the 117th Boston Marathon and beyond,” said Ryan.
| Date Taken: | 04.14.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 04.19.2012 07:03 |
| Story ID: | 86957 |
| Location: | BAGRAM AIR FIELD, AF |
| Web Views: | 599 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Muleskinners, BAA partner for marathon, by SSG Cory Thatcher, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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