3rd Marine Aircraft Wing

AL ASAD, Iraq -- Service members and civilians across the base participated in a half marathon July 23, in Al Asad.

1st Lt. Kaleb J. Harkema, signals intelligence officer, Marine Wing Headquarters Squadron 3, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing the idea of, inspired the half marathon. It was a way for his unit to celebrate reaching the halfway point in their yearlong deployment.

"Reaching the halfway point is a milestone, and I thought we should celebrate it," said Harkema, a native of San Diego. "We do cookouts at most holidays and other special events, but a half marathon is not something people do everyday. It is a big-enough thing to get people excited and keep their minds off the daily grind."

Once businesses in the United States heard about the planned run, they quickly supported the effort, according to Harkema.

"The run was sponsored by half a dozen companies from Runner's World to City Furniture," said Harkema. "All of the companies donated either money or products for raffle prizes. Runner's World also gave us the race numbers."

"Having the support of the companies from the States was great," said Capt. Joshua J. Rogers, support company commander, Marine Wing Support Squadron 374, Marine Wing Support Group 37 (Reinforced), 3rd MAW. "It is a great way to help bring some of the amenities from back home out here."

The turnout for the run was more than could be excepted, as more than 200 people participated in the long-distance race, according to Harkema.

"Any race or unit function performed here is a way to foster unit cohesion, competition and keep the warrior spirit alive in the Marines aboard the base," said Rogers, a Crystal City, Mo., native and first place finisher in the half marathon, with a time of 1:23:10. "The run itself is a great way to do this, because anyone can run. You can have unit teams or individuals competing against each other or for personal achievement."

The run is also a way to show the people back home that even while deployed to a combat zone, service members try to maintain a sense of normalcy, according to Harkema.

"I think our profession detaches us from a lot of people in society," Harkema concluded. "When they get to see us doing things like a silly race, it helps them realize that while we have chosen a difficult and often misunderstood lifestyle, we are ordinary people that are simply working in extraordinary circumstances."