Deployed troops hold Army Ten-Miler events

TF Pegasus
82nd CAB PAO

photo by Pfc. Jared Gehmann/3rd BCT, 82nd Abn. Div., MND-B PAO Runners turn the corner during the first mile during the Army Ten-Miler “FOB Hammer Shadow Run” Sunday at Forward Operating Base Hammer, Iraq, located in the Ma’dain region outside eastern Bagdad. Paratroopers assigned to the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, participated in the run in order to commemorate the 25th Anniversary of the Army’s Ten-Miler in Washington D.C. More than 300 runners participated in the event.

KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan — Hours before sunrise more than 900 participants gathered in support of the U.S. Army Ten-Miler “shadow” run held Sunday.

Representatives from 15 different nations arrived in running gear and pace counters to test their abilities.
The 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade, currently deployed as the U.S. Army rotary wing aviation asset in Regional Command-South, hosted the race as a “shadow run” to the actual Army Ten-Miler held in Washington D.C. each year.

“I am very thankful to the Army Ten-Miler organization for sponsoring this run and allowing the 82nd CAB to bring this prestigious race to Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan,” said Capt. Abraham Osborn, operations officer and event coordinator, 82nd CAB.
Once the race kicked off, an OH-58 Kiowa Warrior helicopter from the aviation brigade was on site providing aerial surveillance over the route and according to a number of runners, visual stimulation and motivation.

“The race was exhilarating … between the energy from the other runners, and the Kiowa circling over head — it was pretty motivating,” said Virginia Bagby.

Bagby, like many other runners participating in the race, trains for various host nation fitness events held for deployed Coalition forces on KAF.

The day before the race, Sgt. James Patterson, after posting a message to his Family online, received multiple motivational and encouraging replies from friends and Family in the states.
“During the race I experienced the same encouragement along the route from onlookers and other runners as I did from Family and friends back home,” said Patterson, command group for 82nd CAB and participant in the race. “The encouragement and the run itself gave me time to reflect on what we are all here for.”

With the Afghan dust clouding the route across the six to eight mile marker, runners returned across the finish line with powdered eyebrows and hair, but smiles and energy were anything but absent.

After the majority of runners crossed the finish line, the top three men and women runners were recognized and presented a plaque from Brig. Gen. Ben Hodges, deputy commander for Regional Command-South.

The winner of the race overall was Joseph Boland, a Canadian servicemember finishing the ten mile race in 58 minutes and 55 seconds.

A similar event was held in Iraq, in which more than 300 runners participated in the Forward Operating Base Hammer Shadow Run. According to officials, the event was held to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Army Ten-Miler, which took place Sunday at the Pentagon in Arlington, Va.