JOINT BASE BALAD, Iraq - Roughly 1,200 runners participated in the Army Ten-Miler, Oct. 10 at Holt Stadium at Joint Base Balad, Iraq.
Capt. Charles Allen, commander of the 102nd Quartermaster Company, said this was the race's seventh year here at JBB, held in conjunction with the Army Ten-Miler in Washington.
"Our predecessor and sister unit, the 20th (Quartermaster Battalion) from the 101st Airborne Division out of Fort Campbell, Ky., hosted last year's run," said Allen. "During the transfer of authority between our units, the 20th QM suggested that we carry the torch and host this year's event as a representative of the 101st Airborne Division again and we obliged."
According to the race's official Web site, the mission of the Army Ten-Miler is for the military district of Washington to safely conduct the Army's annual 10-mile race to promote the Army, build esprit de corps, support fitness goals and enhance community relations.
The Army Ten-Miler is the biggest 10-mile race in the nation and is designed to enhance the lives of Soldiers and their Families, according to the Web site.
The men's winner at JBB was Adolf Kalyegira, a Ugandan Army Soldier, with a time of 57 minutes, 43 seconds.
Sgt. Berenice Macias, the chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear sergeant with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 163rd Military Intelligence Battalion out of Fort Hood, Texas, and a Dallas native, won the event for the women with a time of 1 hour, 10 minutes.
"This was a great event," said Macias. "I usually run 5K's; this is the first 10-miler I have ever run. I really didn't do any formal training for this; I just like running, period."
Second Lt. Theresa Fouda, adjutant for the 80th Ordnance Battalion out of Fort Lewis, Wash., and a Seattle native, said it meant a lot to compete in the race.
"Just the fact that we could do this as a team made it worth it for me," said Fouda. "I ran it in about 1 hour, 24 minutes and I look forward to doing it again when I re-deploy."
Allen said he trained himself for the race, completed it and enjoyed the entire process.
"I certainly felt I needed to participate in an event our unit hosted and coordinated," said Allen. "The event required lots of external support from Soldiers within and outside of our unit."
The race did not happen without the support of many, such as the Army and Air Force Exchange Service who volunteered their time and donations such as trophies and prizes, said Allen.
"Overall, the event appeared to be highly successful," he said. "Everyone who volunteered and supported this event did so with the utmost professionalism."
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