BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan -Task Force Muleskinner hosted the Army 10-Miler Shadow Run for U.S., coalition service members and civilians deployed to Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan, Sept. 26.
The Army 10-Miler Shadow Run mirrors the actual Army 10-Miler, which is held in Washington, D.C. each year. The shadow run was designed for runners to participate in the race while deployed.
Thanks to the coordination and efforts of the wedded couple from Lincoln, New Hampshire, Capt. Nate Miller, current operations officer and Capt. Jak Miller, petroleum and water officer in charge, both assigned to the 10th SBDE, more than 900 service members and civilians gathered at 5 a.m. to participate in the last Army 10-Miler Shadow Run held during Operation Enduring Freedom.
The Millers, which is what they are warmly referred to by friends and colleagues throughout the Muleskinner brigade, are avid runners and said they found it rewarding to be offered the opportunity to organize the event.
The race kicked off with a prayer followed by a few motivational words from Col. Willie Rios III, commander of the 10th SBDE and Maj. Gen. Stephen Townsend, Regional Command-East commander.
The grueling 10-mile race started at 5:30 a.m., just as the sunlight started crawling over the tops of the mountains surrounding the airfield.
With Nate booming through a bullhorn, he started counting down from 10, while Jak was already waiting at the start line. Some runners, eager to get started, joined in turning a simple countdown into a roar of excitement. After reaching "one," he shouted, "go," then tossed the bullhorn to an awaiting volunteer before taking off on the run himself.
For the Millers, running together in events like the Army 10-Miler Shadow Run is nothing new. They have always had a very active lifestyle, even before they started dating 10 years ago when they were both ROTC cadets.
He wasn't always a runner and until Jak signed him up for a half marathon while they were in college, five miles was the furthest he had ever ran, and as they are deployed together, Jak continues to motivate Nate.
"We're married and we work in the same building and we can't do the normal things a married couple does together," said Nate. "So every morning she is getting me out of bed to go for a run."
The Millers said, running together has strengthened their bond.
"Having your running partner here with you is pretty awesome," said Jak. "We have most of our more serious conversations when we run."
Running is something they have always enjoyed doing together. Now it's not just something they get to do together, it has become a part of their journey.
"We travel to places we've never seen before to run," said Jak.
Back at Fort Drum, New York, the Millers spend some of their time off driving to a race or event in surrounding states.
As with all things there are the good and the bad and the Millers said they always look for the good.
"When we were training for Boston, we were running as the sun came up," said Nate. "There are rare moments of beauty in Afghanistan. The sun was rising and there was still snow on the mountains; it was just stunning."
They said it's hard to see those moments without getting out and running.
"I get that with my wife: my support system," said Nate.
Being deployed may be difficult for the married couple, but the Millers do whatever they can to make the best of it with events like the Army 10-Miler Shadow Run. They have been hosting events since college like championship races and half marathons.
They said they expected the planning process to be painstaking and time consuming, which was not the case at all.
"It was surprisingly easy," said Nate.
They needed to provide a mailing address and an estimated number of participants and that was it.
Although the Millers coordinated the event, they received some help.
"All of the support we received was just amazing," said Jak. "But at times it was like herding cats."
They planned everything, from location, start time, registration, advertising the event around Bagram and the course route.
Nate said they chose a more scenic route around Bagram to give the runners something to look at, like old Russian bunkers and things like that. He said it's better than running and only having T-walls to look at.
Jak said the turnout blew them away considering the distance of the race.
"Ten miles is a tough nut to crack," said Jak.
In the end, the Millers said they were happy to have been afforded the opportunity to brand the last Army 10-Miler Shadow Run to be held in Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom with the Muleskinner name.
Capt. Lukasz Willenberg, chaplain assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, 10th Mountain Division (LI), was the first person to cross the finish line with a time of 1 hour, 1 minute, 14 seconds. First Lt. Justina Sisler, logistics officer assigned to the 17th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, was the first female to finish the race with a time of 1:13:03.
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