Not sure if   'The Helmand Marathon '   features in RunnersWorld Events page yet......here y'go....

SOURCE

28 Oct 09

Two British soldiers have emerged victorious from the first ever Helmand Marathon, held on the desert roads of Camps Leatherneck and Bastion, after beating off tough competition from personnel from the United States, Denmark and Estonia.

Lance Corporal Jon Rogers from 7 Signal Regiment, attached to 1st (UK) Armoured Division and Signal Regiment, completed the race just one minute after Capt Lockett and was first in the 18-22 age category.

The pair beat 300 fellow competitors who were representing the military forces based in Helmand as part of the International Security Assistant Force for southern Afghanistan.

Soldiers from the Afghan National Army, based in Camp Shorabak, adjacent to Camps Leatherneck and Bastion, also competed in the race.

The marathon was organised by the United States Marine Corps who have around 4,200 personnel based in the tented encampment of Leatherneck, next to the British base of Camp Bastion where 4,000 personnel are currently deployed.

Unbelievably, Capt Lockett has never attempted a marathon before and only began training one month ago.

"I have run the Plymouth Half Marathon three times but never attempted a full 26 miles before. We all trained together by running around Camp Bastion most days when we could fit it around our flying programme."

Despite the lack of a serious training regime, Capt Lockett still managed to smash his goal time of 3 hours 30 minutes:

"I had no idea what the competition would be like and certainly didn't expect to win," he said. "I realised at the 20-mile point that I was in the lead, felt strong, and just went for the finish. I was relieved to cross the line but it felt good to know I was the first."

LCpl Rogers was taking part in his second marathon but admitted the only training he had done to prepare himself for the gruelling challenge was his usual physical training sessions.

He said:

"I decided four weeks ago to take part and just did my usual phys around Camp Bastion a couple of times a week.

"The marathon was hard work, especially the second lap around the airfield, so I was pretty surprised to find myself in second place. I think just finishing a marathon is an achievement, so to do so well is a real bonus."

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well done guys.......Sub THREE to come !

( commiserations to Uncle Sam's Misguided Children    - Semper Fi !   )

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Quality thread!!

I know your gonna be pretty fit to be in the forces in the 1st place but 3:15!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Stick it to the yanks lads!!

Well done those guys, top show!

I'm presuming they used a hooter and not a gun for starter's orders.