We received this testimonial a couple weeks ago. This has got to be the scariest half marathon on the planet.
Thanks for your note Mike, and for serving our country!
At 5 am on 9/20, about 900 strong gathered to run the Air Force Mini here at Joint Base Balad, Iraq. The day started with the National Anthem followed by a safety briefing that addressed the condition of the terrain the course was set on.
“Remain vigilant for the possibility of unexploded ordinance (UXO’s) in the pathway of the run. Also, if the red alarm sounds…cease the run and assume the take cover posture until the all clear is given. Discount the lapse against your finish time.”
A side note: at the height of the insurgency here, this base became known as “MORTARITAVILLE.” Hence the briefing.
Then we set off. Mile 1 brought us past a section of a dozen or so well-ripened porta-potty’s. The smell I’m
sure rivaled a Calcutta slum. The threat of sniper fire was not a likely occurrence; however a wall of runners along the fence line seemed an unnecessary risk. So mile 2 routed us on to the flightline. This was a place going on with its daily business despite our intrusion. The runners went under the wing of a large airplane (which seemed appropriate for an Air Force sponsored run). Then onto a vehicle access road close to a taxi way. Running on the access road we were slowly passed by a taxiing UAV, followed by a couple of fighter jets.
It dawned on me that these encounters aren’t typical of most 13.1′s.
Being reintroduced to the pavement finally brought us right into a gauntlet of auto traffic. So all-in-all this was a rather intrepid little run ending at 1hr: 50min. I finished to collect my runner’s medal, which was anticlimactic when contrasted to what has just transpired. Another personal goal achieved, though.
I had my children each write their names on my pair of Newtons before they forwarded them to me here. They are very light, breathable, comfortable and durable shoes. The laces stay tied without double knots. Like the prototype MWRAP vehicles and other combat related that equipment manufacturers send to this place as a proving ground, these Newton make the grade.
Mike Sheehy
