Deployed Long Knives run shadow Ten-Miler

By . Angel Washington, 4th AAB PAO, 1st Cav. Div.October 27, 2010

CONTINGENCY OPERATING SITE MAREZ, Iraq - Soldiers assigned to the 4th Advise and Assist Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, Department of Defense employees  and civilians begin  running the Army Ten-Miler, here, Oct. 24.  Soldiers in the Long Knife brigad...
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CONTINGENCY OPERATING SITE MAREZ, Iraq - Troopers of the 4th Advise and Assist Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, hosted a shadow run of the 2010 Army Ten-Miler, held in Washington, D.C., Oct. 24.

Before the sun came up, Soldiers and civilians stretched their muscles and warmed up to prepare for the route ahead.

Lt. Col. Chris Dziubek, the civil affairs planning team chief, attached to the 4th AAB, 1st Cav. Div., coordinated the event, giving Soldiers and civilians a chance to be a part of the Army's traditional run.

"I've run the big Army Ten-Miler four times in D.C., and the last four years I've been deployed," said Dziubek, a native of Tilito, Ohio. "I wanted the opportunity to participate from a far in the event I love."

Seventy three people ran in the COS Marez Army Ten- Miler, Soldiers built morale and everyone encouraged each other to ensure all those who started would finish.

With the support and encouragement, Dziubek wanted to bring the runners a link from the states.

Andrew Towne, a Department of Defense employee from Grand Forks, N.D., came around the last corner, just past an hour, pushing harder as people cheered him on. Finishing in a time of 1:06:34, Towne crossed the line first, 10 miles down, but his spirit up.

"I wanted to take part in one of the Army's great traditions," Towne said. "It's great being in northern Iraq this sunny morning realizing our mission, just like this race, involves hard work and endurance."

Each runner took their own pace. Occasionally, an arm would reach out for water and a flushed face would highlight their efforts. But as each lap passed, runners continued on.

"I like running," said Spc. Rachelle Halaska, a medic with 27th Brigade Support Battalion, 4th AAB, 1st Cav. Div. "It (the Army Ten-Miler) gave me the opportunity to run a long distance with a group of people which is a little more motivating."

"I ran because I wanted to see if I could do it," said Staff Sgt. Sean Coyle, platoon sergeant for the brigade's personal security detail. "My body hurts, but I feel good," said the San Jose, Calif. native.

While deployed in support of Operation New Dawn, the race, a personal challenge for some, allowed everyone to come together to be a part of something bigger than themselves.