2014 Kuwait Peachtree shadow run

CAMP ARIFJAN, Kuwait - Approximately 600 runners participated in the 2014 Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Peachtree Road Race 10K shadow run July 4.

More than 3,000 people at six overseas military bases participated in a shadow run in conjunction with the AJC Peachtree Road Race in Atlanta.

The first-place male runner was Spc. Elkanah Kibet, B Company, 82nd Financial Management Unit, financial specialist, from Benton, Illinois. He completed the 10K road race in 31 minutes and 49 seconds.

Kibet said he was preparing for the annual Atlanta-based road race before he found out he was deploying to Kuwait. He has participated in the Peachtree Road Race every year since 2009. He began participating in the race after he started attending college at Auburn University where he ran track and field and studied economics, Kibet explained.

"I was surprised they had the Peachtree [road race] here," he said. "So I was very excited to run in it this year. Who could believe that you can run it in Kuwait?"

Kibet ran behind the leading vehicle the entire race. The police car leading the race was in place to ensure the runners' safety.

"I was running by myself and running as if someone was coming after me," said Kibet. "I watched the car in front of me, and told myself 'I am in second place and the car is in first.' I just kept chasing the car."

Kibet trains every day, running at least ten-miles per day. He said that every September he starts running twice a day to condition his body for this race.

While the temperature in Kuwait was 86 degrees when the race began at 5 a.m., Kibert said the weather did not bother him. He explained that the lack of humidity made it easy for him to run.

The second-place male runner, Capt. Michael Fanelli, assigned to the 1st Battalion, 44th Air Defense Artillery Brigade, from Fort Hood, Texas, finished the race in 38 minutes and 58 seconds. The third place male runner, 1st Lt. Eric Simonson, assigned to the U.S. Army Central Command, and originally from Hayden, Iowa, finished the race in 40 minutes and 54 seconds.

The first place female runner was U.S. Army Spc. Maggie Murphy, assigned to the 108th Sustainment Brigade, and a native of Chicago, finishing the race in 45 minutes and 50 seconds.

"This was a great way to celebrate my favorite holiday," said Murphy.

She said it felt good to come in first because she wasn't expecting it. She has run six marathons before, and did not train for this race like she would a marathon.

The climate here does hinder her running abilities, Murphy said. It is more difficult for her here than back home because of the extreme heat and dirt in the air, she added.

"The shadow runs that are being held in the states and around the world help us feel connected to people back home," said Murphy. "It's a great morale booster. We feel isolated here and the shadow runs are great for solidarity."

Murphy said seeing pictures of people participating in the same race that she ran here makes her feel more connected.

The second-place female runner, Maj. Camala Lepak, assigned to the 751st Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, a South Carolina National Guard unit, finished in 46 minutes and 38 seconds. Lepak is a native of Westby, Wisconsin.

The third place female runner, 1st Lt. Rachel Mercier, assigned to the 595th Transportation Brigade, finished in 47 minutes and 17 seconds.

This year's Independence Day shadow run continues an annual tradition of partnership with troops stationed here and participants of the AJC Peachtree Road Race in Atlanta.