Photo By Capt. Peter Shinn | U.S. Army Spc. Timothy Sly Jr., of Chariton, Iowa, a military policeman with the Iowa...... read more read more
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KUNAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan - Long before light, 35 U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force members assigned to Forward Operating Base Wright in eastern Afghanistan prepared to march or run in their version of the storied Army Ten-Miler. The FOB Wright event, a shadow 10-mile run, took place on a particularly challenging course, a third of which was sharply uphill.
Yet the difficult terrain did not deter the event’s organizer, U.S. Army Master Sgt. Steven Holding, of Janesville, Iowa, a hydrologist for the Iowa National Guard’s 734th Agribusiness Development Team. Though FOB Wright could hardly be mistaken for Washington, D.C., where the original Army Ten-Miler takes place, the shadow event still transported Holding to his memories of the race in the nation’s capital.
“When we started this morning, I could see the thousands of runners lining up in the street, and I could hear the cannons going off to start the race,” Holding said. “It was just like I was there.”
Some participants at FOB Wright ran the 10-mile course, while others marched with packs, weapons and their improved outer tactical vests. U.S. Army Sgt. John Lowe of Altoona, Iowa, squad leader for the ADT’s security forces section, marched the route.
“We wear this gear for hours at a time when we go on missions,” Lowe said. “It was good to actually have a little fun with all this stuff on, though I did end up with a blister about the size of a quarter on my heel.”
Holding said he wanted to improve unit morale and esprit de corps by holding the shadow Army Ten-Miler. U.S. Army Sgt. Maj. Robert Reedy, of Ankeny, Iowa, the ADT’s senior enlisted member, confirmed Holding had achieved his goal, even if the early start time had caused some initial grousing.
“There was a little grumbling when we got to the starting line in the dark before five in the morning,” Reedy said, “but once we got going, everyone had a good time. And everyone had a real sense of accomplishment when they finished.”
According to the Army Ten-Miler website, the U.S. Army Military District of Washington produces the event, which has taken place in Washington, D.C., annually since 1985. Proceeds from the event support Army Morale, Welfare and Recreation. A number of other deployed locations in Iraq and Afghanistan also held shadow events this year.
| Date Taken: | 10.22.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 10.23.2010 13:01 |
| Story ID: | 58678 |
| Location: | KUNAR PROVINCE, AF |
| Web Views: | 380 |
| Downloads: | 4 |
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