Camp Taji holds Army Ten-Miler for Deployed Servicemembers

By Sgt. 1st Class Brent Hunt

CAB PAO, 4th Inf. Div.

Pfc. Stephen Baker, infantryman, 1st Battalion, 14th Inf. Regiment, 2nd Stryker Brigade, 25th Inf. Division, Multi-National Division - Baghdad from Dixon, Ill., finishes in first place with a time of 59:07 at the Army Ten-Miler on Camp Taji. More than 100 deployed servicemembers competed in the event which is held annually in Washington.

CAMP TAJI, Iraq - More than 100 service members stationed at Camp Taji ran the Shadow Run - the camp north of Baghdad's version of the Army Ten-Miler.

The Army Ten-Miler, held annually for the past 24 years in Washington, is America's largest 10-mile running event with normally more than 26,000 runners from around the world competing in the road race.

Camp Taji's Shadow Run was held so service members could also get their chance to compete in the event while they are deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

This year, Pfc. Stephen Baker, infantryman, 1st Battalion, 14th Inf. Regiment, 2nd Stryker Brigade, 25th Inf. Division, Multi-National Division - Baghdad from Dixon, Ill., placed first in the race with a time of 59:07.

More than 100 servicemembers stationed at Camp Taji began the Army Ten-Miler on Camp Taji. The event, held annually in Washington, was held for deployed Soldiers on the camp north of Baghdad who also wanted to run the race.

"I love fitness, and I love to compete," said Baker, who averaged less than six minutes a mile blazing through the race on the rocky roads of Camp Taji. "I try to race as much as I can. Today, I just ran until I got to the finish line. I am going to keep running until I make the All-Army Running Team."

Although winning the race was a great accomplishment and making the All-Army Running Team would also be an even great accomplishment, some Soldiers just wanted to improve their running times while they are deployed.

"I beat my personal best by three minutes," said Sgt. 1st Class Tim Rake, frequency manager, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, Combat Aviation Bde., 4th Inf. Div., MND-B from Danville, Pa., who ran the race in 72:40. "I have been training for this event for about three weeks. For the train-up, I just increased the time I ran every day."

Capt. Lucas McMillen, lawyer, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, Combat Aviation Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division - Baghdad from Columbia, Mo., runs the Army Ten-Miler on Camp Taji. More than 100 servicemembers deployed north of Baghdad competed in the annual event.

Running every day is the key for many Soldiers who are stationed on Camp Taji. For a few Soldiers with the CAB, the ten-miler was just a portion of the milestone they have in mind for the deployment.

"I am trying to run 1,000 miles before the end of this deployment," said Capt. Kelsy Williams, brigade executive assistant, HHC, CAB from Pulaski, N.Y. "This is the second month I am going for my goal of 100 miles. I ran 100 miles last month and today makes 20 miles for October.

From left, Col. Patrick Tierney, commander; Capt. Seth Desilets, ADAM cell officer-in-charge; and Capt. David Garrison, assistant brigade intelligence officer, all from the Combat Aviation Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division - Baghdad, ran the Army Ten-Miler on Camp Taji. Servicemembers deployed to the camp north of Baghdad were given the opportunity to run the race which is held annually in Washington.

"My brother in (Las) Vegas and my best friend in New York are doing the 1,000 miles goal as well," she said. "I'm lucky to be motivated by the (CAB) command group, because they are the ones that started this goal. I need to run 90 more ten-milers..."

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