Muleskinners host Boston Marathon shadow run

BAGRAM, Afghanistan -- The 10th Sustainment Brigade, Task Force Muleskinner held a Boston Athletic Club-sanctioned Boston Marathon "shadow" run April 14 on Bagram Airfield.

The marathon was open to anyone military or civilian serving in the Afghan area of operations. While most of the participants were already on Bagram, some traveled to the event from as far away as Kandahar.

Under the din of fighter jets screaming over head, more than 400 participants massed on the north end of Bagram at 3 a.m. for the start of the marathon. The course required three complete laps of Bagram with a few yards added on to make a full 26.2 miles.

Before the race, Chaplain (Capt.) Gerald A. Sherbourne offered a prayer for those who had trained for the marathon. He then called on Chaplain (Maj.) Stanton D. Trotter, one of those who had trained for the run, to pray for those, like Sherbourne, who had not trained.

At the start of the run, Army Sgt. Aaron Catlin, assigned to 595th Military Police Company, Fort Lewis, Wash., streaked to a commanding lead and never looked back. Catlin finished first with a time of 2:44:35, followed by French army Sgt. Jerome Le Jale with a time of 2:55:00 and Army Capt. Anthony Colingo at 2:55:21 rounding out the top three.

The first female runner to finish was Army Capt. Maraline Cro-nauer at 3:30:00, followed by Air Force Capt. Andrea Hunwick at 3:36:01 and Navy Lt. Tara Smallidge at 3:42:12.

"Having the chance to compete in a marathon while deployed is a great experience," Catlin said. "This opportunity allowed me to get in a nice training run, with great support and of course to enjoy the camaraderie of other service members.

"I would like to thank all the leadership within my company for their continued support and encouragement during the deployment and in garrison," he added.

This was Catlin's second mara-thon, having run in the Olympia Marathon in Washington.

Col. Kurt Ryan, 10th Sustainment Brigade commander, wan-ted to add some cachet to the event so he envisioned a partnership.

"The Boston Marathon is the longest continuously held marathon in the world and the most prestigious. When you hear the word 'marathon,' you immediately think 'Boston.' It's like peanut butter and jelly; they are perfect together," he said.

Event coordinator Capt. Joshua Meador, 10th Sustainment Brigade Plans Office, worked closely with Pam Girouard of the Boston Athletic Association, host organization of the Boston Marathon, to execute the run.

"Pam was awesome; her assistance ensured the event was highly professional and successful," Meador said.

The BAA donated T-shirts, pins, medals, trophies and certificates for all the marathon runners and banners for the venue.

Meador praised the volunteers who manned the water points, aid stations and finish line.

"We had tremendous support from Scott Wilhite of the USO; Lisa Castleberry of Morale, Welfare and Recreation; Mark Hooper and the rest of the staff at the Red Cross; Fluor contracting; Task Force Med East; Combined Joint Task Force-1; the 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade and the Navy Chiefs Mess on Bagram," he said.

"I am extraordinarily pleased with how well the event came off," Meador added. "We had no safety or serious health issues, and so many people came to me after the event to express their gratitude and tell me how much they enjoyed the run."

This was the 116th running of the Boston Marathon and the second time Afghanistan has been a satellite location.

"With the phenomenal participation and feedback from this event, we look forward to partnering again for the 117th Boston Marathon and beyond," Ryan explained.

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