Runners in the 10-miler and marathon at Contingency Operating Base Basra start out shortly after 5 a.m. Nov. 28. The runners were led out by a gun truck from the 305th Psychological Operations Company blasting the Beatles’ “Come Together.”
Staff Sgt. Caroline Keller, brigade chaplain’s assistant, 17th Fires Brigade crosses the 10-miler finish line at Contingency Operating Base Basra, Nov. 28. “This is me versus me, not me versus 300 other runners,” Keller said. “This is me getting out here and trying to do something positive with my time while I’m here.”
Marathon winner Isiah Mamai, a security guard with Saber international, comes into the finish line at three hours, 14 minutes, 23 seconds at Contingency Operating Base Basra, Nov. 28. Though he has run long distances before in his home country of Kenya, Mamai said this was his first marathon.
Lt. Col. Luke Charpentier, 34th Infantry Division, chief organizer of the Contingency Operating Base Basra Marathon crosses the finish line, Nov. 28.
Maj. Kevin Schooler, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 34th Infantry Division, sprints past a parked up-armored humvee to the marathon finish at Contingency Operating Base Basra, Nov. 28. Younger finished the marathon in three hours, 47 minutes.
With a final time just over four hours, Pfc. Terrance Jackson, supply specialist, Headquarters Support Company, 34th Infantry Division finishes running a marathon plus a few extra miles at Operating Base Basra Nov. 28. Due to a miscommunication, Jackson, who has never before run more than 10 miles, ran almost 30 miles. “I had to finish it,” he said. “I promised my wife that I’d finish a marathon while I was here.”
Maj. Robert Younger, Key Leader Engagement Team, 34th Infantry Division, accepts congratulatory high-fives at the marathon finish line at Contingency Operating Base Basra,Nov. 28.
Along a particularly lonely stretch of perimeter road, Contingency operating Base Basra Marathon winner Isiah Mamai pushes through the last few miles Nov. 28. Mamai finished a full 10 minutes ahead of the next runner, and would have spent the majority of the marathon without another human being in site.
