...No, not that one. This is one that I doubt too many people will ever join (or want to?). While not earth-shattering, it was a significant step for me. I had done two marathons already, finishing both, neither with stellar times. So when I found out there was going to be one here at Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan, I had to sign up.
Well I am no Kenyan, and I had not really prepared like I should have (especially for this altitude), but then again, I didn't for my 1st one either, so what the heck.
Reporters from San Diego (where the 'real' version was held) even contacted some of us runners for interviews. They quoted me in this story.
Here is how it went: just like the actual course in San Diego (which this was meant to simulate), we attempted to run 26.2 miles. Except here, there were no bands, there was no big corporate sponsor presence, nor were there any of the typically thousands of people to cheer you along the way. Instead, there were 20+ mph dust-filled headwinds, the thin mountain air of 4895' elevation (hence the almost mile high club), and the joy of being passed by at least 100 diesel fume spewing trucks along the sometimes flooded route, usually bordered by mine fields.
I will keep this one short: I finished. While not the time I wanted; I was the last person to finish at 6:43:13, but I am glad to say I have run a marathon in a combat zone. Oh and that I finished vertically at that. And yes, the third time is a charm...my times do not seem to improve, so I think this was my final full marathon. Now it is time to stick to half marathons, and 10Ks, etc...just not at this altitude.
72 hours later, I feel great. Legs are still slightly sore, but that is expected. The guy who 'won' the version here, completed it in 3:10 or so. What a nut job...that is insane! All of this goes to show I don't run for fun, I do it because it is the little exercise I get here.
As far as the feeling of when I crossed the finish line, you can ask several of my friends who waited around (*forever* lol) for me, or you can just look at the pictures below. And if it looks like I had a tear in my eye, yeah I might have been proud, but rest assured, it was just all the dust in those killer winds!!
Joint Task Force Paladin before the run (approx 0430L)
The entire group of runners.
"Medic!!" haha!
Getting food from a Navy Corpsman.
Myself and Lance, the token Canadien, eh!
He did great, with a time of 5 hours even!
Me along the course...notice the Blackhawks and the barbed wire along the mine fields, right at the edge of the road. One girl running tripped and cut her leg on it, ouch!
