Saturday, December 13, 2008
AP - 2 29 DALLAS - Thousands of miles away in Iraq, more than 160 soldiers from Fort Hood will participate in Sunday's White Rock Marathon in Dallas.
It all started this summer when Army Capt. Jeremy Jackson contacted marathon organizers from his post in Mosul, KTVT-TV in Dallas reported Friday.
'He just said, 'We are thinking about running a marathon here in Iraq and we were wondering if there was anyway we could affiliate with your race.' We thought it was a wonderful idea,' said Phil Baker, White Rock Marathon vice president.
Capt. Jackson signed up 160 fellow soldiers, from the 3rd Armored Cavalry Division. They will have to run the race within the confines of their post. They will circle around the post several times, going through dirt, over rocks and around massive tanks.
'We overlook the sacrifices they have to make. For them to participate considering where they are, I think it's phenomenal,' said John Paul West, a White Rock runner.
Sixty-one soldiers will run the full 26.2 miles, and the rest will compete in a 10K. The Mosul marathoners will have race officials, mile markers and aid stations. They are also eligible to win since they are officially registered for the race.
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