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Apr 28, 2009 9:42 pm US/Eastern
Reservists Run In Iraq-Pittsburgh Marathon
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) ―
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This past weekend, about 40 local reservists from the 171st Refueling Wing joined by about 60 other members of the Air Force trudged through the 90-degree heat around Sadr Air Force Base in Baghdad for the Iraq-Pittsburgh Marathon.
KDKA
While runners prepare for the Dick's Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon this weekend, some local servicemen and servicewomen in Iraq couldn't wait that long.
This past weekend, about 40 local reservists from the 171st Refueling Wing joined by about 60 other members of the Air Force trudged through the 90-degree heat around Sadr Air Force Base in Baghdad for the Iraq-Pittsburgh Marathon.
"Just a good feeling. It's nice to have something from home like the Pittsburgh Marathon to keep in touch – a connection to the folks back home," Sgt. Dutch Perz said.
The runners each ran what they could – 2.6 miles or the full 26.2.
"It's a 26.2 run, but whether it's 26 feet or 2.62 miles, the fact that they were participating in a Pittsburgh event really hit home and made it more meaningful to the folks over there," Lt. Col. Don Accamando said.
Serenaded by a brass band, the runners looped the course time and again, each wearing the official bibs and numbers supplied by organizers of the Dick's Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon.
The marathon stepped up when some of the servicemen and women said they wouldn't be able to attend the Pittsburgh running this year.
"The Pittsburgh Marathon folks embraced us wholeheartedly. They sent over medals, bib numbers, the entire nine yards to make it possible," Accamando said.
And the event featured different races, including Air Force servicemen who ran in full gear.
Sgt. George Neville of Robins Air Force Base in Georgia completed the whole 26.2 miles in three hours, 19 minutes and 45 seconds – fast enough to qualify for the Boston Marathon next year when he returns home the proud winner of the first Iraq-Pittsburgh Marathon.
The Pittsburgh Marathon has invited all the families of the servicemen and women to the David L. Lawrence Convention Center on Saturday for the Marathon Expo.
There they will be showing a complete version of the Iraq-Pittsburgh Marathon – a great event for all involved.
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