NEWS RELEASE
International Security Assistance Force – Afghanistan
Committed to the security, reconstruction and extension of governance in Afghanistan
Press Center: 0799-063-013
BagramMediaCenter@afghan.swa.army.mil
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
2011-05-RCE-M-077
Sailor brings Boston Marathon to Afghanistan
By U.S. Army Capt. Jason Beck
210th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
PARWAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan – “One percent of the base is awake and
ready to go; we’re about to wake up the other 99 percent!” said U.S. Army
Col. Benjamin J. Corell, commander, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 34th
Infantry Division, Task Force Red Bulls.
Seconds later a controlled detonation of explosives signaled the beginning of
the Boston Marathon on Bagram Airfield for 363 service members and civilians,
April 16.
For 170 of the participating runners, this was their first marathon. For U.S.
Navy Lt. Kris J. Pomplun, aide-de-camp for the senior civilian representative
for Regional Command - East, it was more than just a marathon. Pomplun said
it was an experience of a lifetime – it was a “bucket list” item.
The “Boston,” as it is affectionately referred to by fans, is more than just a
26.2-mile run.
“It’s like the Super Bowl, the World Series and the Indy 500 all rolled up into
one,” said Pomplun.
The run is an annual marathon hosted by the city of Boston, on Patriots' Day,
the third Monday in April. The Boston first began in 1897 and is the world’s
oldest annual marathon and one of the most popular road races.
Pomplun, who worked closely with the Boston Athletic Association to bring the
signature marathon to BAF, said he got the idea while doing what he loves.
“I was working out on the treadmill and kind of thinking about how I will miss
another Boston,” said Pomplun. “Well, maybe I will try and a make a phone
call and bring the Boston here to Bagram.”
Pomplun said for the past six years the B.A.A. sponsored a shadow race of the
Boston Marathon in Iraq. But, since the association had not heard from anyone
in Iraq interested in holding it there, they agreed to sponsor a shadow race
here in Afghanistan.
"As long as you find yourselves serving abroad to defend our country, it
will be our privilege to support your efforts to host the Boston Marathon in
Afghanistan,” said Thomas S. Grilk, executive director for BAA.
Initially, Pomplun thought this was a great idea, but said he quietly wondered
if it would all come together. Once he realized it would happen, Pomplun
quickly reached out to another colleague, Chief Warrant Officer 3 Lisa Bryan,
who works with TF Red Bulls Joint Visitor’s Bureau.
Bryan immediately got to work laying out the racecourse and verifying that it
was, indeed, 26.2 miles. At first, she and her team used a measuring wheel
and walked the nearly eight-mile airfield perimeter. Pomplun had a race map
of the base, which was previously used in another marathon several years
earlier. But, as is only the case in a combat zone, the map was classified. And,
Bagram had grown quite a bit over the several years since the last race.
Eventually, Pomplun, Bryan and the others reached out to Army civil engineers
who developed detailed computer-aided design drawings.
Once verified, Pomplun sent an e-mail to the BAA and confirmed the course
met the race standard.
The association responded by donating everything the 400 racers would
receive if they were running the actual Boston Marathon in the States; they
sent 400 finisher’s medals, T-shirts and race numbers.
To the organizer’s surprise, the race filled up in less than three days.
Once word got out the Boston was coming to Bagram, a group of Soldiers from
Tarin Kowt in Southern Afghanistan reached out and expressed their own
desire to run. Pomplun said he wanted to share this amazing experience with
as many people as possible and granted them 37 race slots.
While running the racecourse, Pomplun said he would occasionally hear
runners talking about how they may not have ever gotten the chance to run
the Boston and how much it meant to them.
Pomplun said there were many special moments throughout the race.
However, the one that stands out the most occurred just before the controlled
detonation.
Usually, someone is designated to sing the National Anthem before a race, but
they hadn’t planned for it in Bagram.
Pomplun said somewhere amidst the crowd of almost 400 people, one voice,
unaccompanied, started singing and was soon joined by all of the others. Each
of the 363 participants finished the race.
"While we keep busy each spring with the planning and execution of the
annual Boston Marathon, we know that our Armed Services are always busy,
always on guard, and always working to keep us safe,” said Grilk. “With such
devotion to our country and dedication to the defense of the freedoms we
enjoy, it has been an honor to support the fine men and women at Bagram
Airfield in Afghanistan as they competed in 'The Boston Marathon in
Afghanistan.’”
Pomplun said he appreciated all the efforts of the BAA and thanked them for
their generosity.
“For that one day [the BAA] gave 400 of us here in Afghanistan an amazing
experience – thank you for that gift,” said Pomplun.
Grilk agreed, "This year on Patriots' Day at the Boston Marathon we saw many
examples of strength and of the determination required to overcome adversity.
Adding the efforts of everyone at Bagram to the efforts of those with us here in
Boston makes for an even richer story as we look back on the 2011 Boston
Marathon."
CUTLINES:
110415-A-IP900-647:
BAGRAM, Afghanistan – A volunteer assists service members and civilians
register on April 15 for the Boston Marathon shadow race held on Bagram
Airfield. (Photo by U.S. Army 1st Sgt. Tyrone Walker, 210th Mobile Public
Affairs Detachment)
110416-A-9553W-035:
BAGRAM, Afghanistan – U.S. Army Col. Benjamin J. Corell, commander, 2nd
Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division, Task Force Red Bulls,
announces the beginning of the Boston Marathon shadow race held on Bagram
Airfield April 16, just before setting off a controlled explosives detonation.
(Photo by U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class JR Williams, 10th Combat Aviation Brigade
Public Affairs)
110416-A-9580M-163:
BAGRAM, Afghanistan – Service members and civilians begin the 26.2-mile
racecourse of the Boston Marathon shadow race held on Bagram Airfield, April
16. A controlled detonation signaled runners to officially begin. (Photo by U.S.
Army Sgt. 1st Class Pete Mayes, 101st Sustainment Brigade Public Affairs)
110416-A-9553W-300:
BAGRAM, Afghanistan – U.S. Navy Lt. Kris Pomplun completes the Boston
Marathon shadow race on Bagram Airfield, April 16. Pomplun worked closely
with the Boston Athletic Association to bring the world-famous race to
Afghanistan. (Photo by U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class JR Williams, 10th Combat
Aviation Brigade Public Affairs)
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