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Hundreds of runners take off during the Boston Marathon Shadow Run at Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan on Friday. More than 500 service members and civilians deployed to Afghanistan competed in the only sanctioned Boston Marathon overseas.
((U.S. Army photo by U.S. Army Master Sgt. Kap Kim, Combined Joint Task Force-10 Public Affairs) )
BAGRAM AIR FIELD, AFGHANISTAN -- A Department of State staffer was the top finisher in the Boston Marathon Shadow Run held in east Afghanistan during the early morning hours today. The event was hosted by the Watertown- based, 10th Mountain Division.
More than 500 service members and civilians deployed to Afghanistan competed in this year's event. Josh Peterson covered the 26.2 mile course in 2 hours, 39 minutes. His hometown was not available.
Josh Peterson, the overall men's finisher, sprints in the last 100 feet before the finish line during the Boston Marathon Shadow Run at Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan.More than 500 service members and civilians deployed to Afghanistan competed in the only sanctioned Boston Marathon overseas.
The best female finisher was Captain Daniella Mestyanek, of Houston. Mestyanek, a member of the Task Force Lift, ran 3 hours, 12 minutes.
The race started at 3 a.m. Competitors were given six hours to complete the marathon to receive a Boston Marathon medal at the finish line.
The Easter Bunny was there to help finishers make the last few feet to the finish line.
For security reasons, military officials were reluctant to release the start time beforehand.
"The temperature was 58 degrees when we started, with very little wind," said Major Josh Jacques, a military spokesman. "It increased to around 63 degrees and we had gusts of wind up to 23 mph on the course."
Since 2005, thousands of U.S. armed forces personnel stationed overseas have participated in "shadow" versions of the Boston Marathon, running the marathon distance on, or near Patriots Day. The races have taken place in Iraq, Afghanistan, or on a ship at sea, according to the Boston Athletic Association website.
Combined Joint Task Force-10 Commander Maj. Gen. Stephen Townsend (left) and Senior Enlisted Leader Command Sgt. Maj. Ray Lewis (right) pose with the Boston Marathon Shadow Run top finishers at Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan.
The Boston Athletic Association has assisted the shadow marathons by providing Boston Marathon start and finish banners, bibs, T-shirts, medals, and finisher certificates for participants.
The 10th Mountain Division is currently in charge of the Regional Command-East in Afghanistan. This is the last Boston Marathon Shadow Run affiliated with Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan, Jacques said.
A total of 600 soldiers from Fort Drum arrived at the base in January and will pull out at the end of the year.