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DEL.ICIO.USPeachtree Road Race — Baghdad style
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Camp Liberty, Iraq - The temperature at dawn Sunday in Baghdad was 85 degrees, but I got inspired and decided to run the Peachtree Road Race at Camp Liberty with about 600 other runners, most of them members of the armed forces. (Photos)
The circular route went around a man-made lake where one of Saddam’s former palaces is located, along with a half-dozen majestic marble homes. The palace was intact - but most of the other buildings in the compound had one or two massive holes in the roof or walls from American bombs.
“We really (messed) that place up!” said Capt. Josie Hobbs, 39, of Rex, admiring the precision devastation after the race.
I couldn’t help wondering what Saddam would think of the spectacle.
Imprisoned at Camp Cropper, a high-security facility along the 10K route, he might have been able to watch flag-draped American soldiers running around celebrating the July 4 holiday, albeit a day early. On other days, he might see off-duty soldiers fishing in his lake. (They sell rods and reels for that purpose in the Liberty PX.) That’s got to hurt the old hit man.
Unlike the real Peachtree Road Race, the Baghdad 10K course is pancake flat. There’s no shade, but there’s no “Heartbreak Hill” either. The few spectators don’t flash runners, and no one plays music on the sidewalk, drinks beer or acts foolish. And there aren’t 55,000 pairs of running shoes beating the pavement.
In fact, with most of the younger and faster soldiers running way out ahead of me, the Baghdad run was a largely solitary affair.
Organizers had expected about 200 runners, but three times that many showed up. Some, like 1st Sgt. Barry Smallwood of Griffin, were running their first Peachtree. Others were veterans like Col. Dan Kornacki of Peachtree City who ran his 13th consecutive road race, but his first in Baghdad.
This is the second running of the Baghdad race and organizers promised an even bigger and better event next year. That’s a worthy goal, but personally I hope they have a much smaller pool of Americans here to draw from - like, say, none.
Organizers didn’t have enough T-shirts for everyone this year, but they took down the names and e-mail addresses of all participants and promised to mail them to all who ran.
I’ve already got a pair of road race T-shirts in my dresser at home. But I know this year’s model with “Baghdad Division” on the sleeve will be my most prized.
From the Absurdity File
I ran afoul of Army intelligence officials when I mentioned in a blog two weeks ago that Saddam Hussein is being held at Camp Cropper, a walled prison at Baghdad International Airport. Apparently, Army security experts are unaware, or don’t care, that Google turns up 9,350 items listing the former dictator’s whereabouts. With this posting, that number should rise to 9,351.
The Army’s 3rd Infantry Division summoned photographer Curtis Compton and me to Baghdad to pick up a vitally important media credential that would allow us to get on and off Army bases in Iraq. Never mind that we’ve been doing exactly that for many weeks without the vitally important media credential. After scheduling, then canceling, multiple appointments to pick up the credential, Army bureaucrats apparently lost interest and we returned to the field. Now, however, they tell us we may not be able to leave the country without the mysterious piece of paper that supposedly proves we were here.
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Comments
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By Karen Armsby
July 3, 2005 08:20 PM | Link to this
God Bless America on the 4th of July,our nation’s birthday! And God Bless all of our troops around the world who are defending freedom for US at home. And God Bless the Peachtree Road Race runners in Baghdad who have no hills, but plenty of heartbreaks. We miss y’all and hope to see you running down our roads soon.
By Susie Hillman
July 3, 2005 10:25 PM | Link to this
Well, it’s ashame that the military has “lost” your papers.I remember weeks ago reading a blog from a mom about what we were to do to get daily info on our loved ones once you left in July.Maybe this is our answered Pray.Maybe your papers will reappear in 10 1/2 months when it’s time for all of you to come home. Till then you could fill your time with keeping us informed on what all of you are doing over there.My son is with 1 /121st charlie CBT and we haven’t heard anything on them from you yet.Maybe your job isn’t finished yet,maybe you’re suppose to stay the whole tour.Remember,”Ours is not to wonder why…..” PFC Eric Creager your family loves you and misses you. Mommy PS ,Your brother called from Japan today and is doing fine.
By Jodie Baker
July 4, 2005 12:33 AM | Link to this
Happy 4th to my brave and amazing husband Richard Baker 26 of woodstock he’s part of the 48th 2/121 in iraq. we love u and miss you .isaiah says hello daddy see you in november for my 3rd birthday. I love you and god is watching over. Jodie
By Judi Goforth
July 4, 2005 07:38 AM | Link to this
I hope that my Hubby, Spc Douglas J Goforth, was one of the guys that gets a chance to go fishing. I miss him a lot but I am proud of what he is doing. Happy 4th of July Honey…You are the others are always in our thoughts and prayers. I love you: then, now and always.
By E. Atkinson
July 4, 2005 08:30 AM | Link to this
Happy Fourth of July to all our “guys” of the 48th,(Both men and women). Many of us are praying for you all and support you. Please know we care. My son Nat is in the 2/121. I miss him a lot. God bless you all. E. Atkinson
By Alexandra Maisonet
July 4, 2005 08:50 AM | Link to this
I would like to wish my husband Sgt. Maisonet a happy 4th of July, You are always in our prayers, I am very proud of what you are doing for us. We miss you very much. Siempre en mi mente, alma y corazon. God bless you and every one that shares the same goal as you. BE SAFE always. Love you and our little girl Jillian loves you very much!
By Lee Oxford
July 4, 2005 09:33 AM | Link to this
I thoroughly enjoyed your report on the Baghdad division of the Peachtree Road Race. I would hope that the Atlanta Track Club would offer free T-shirts to all your participants this year! As for the press credential snafu, it is so typical military. Things haven’t changed much in that way in the 35 years since I was in the Army. I want to wish a special 4th of July wish to my son, Spc. Josh Oxford, Trp E/108th Cav of the 48th. He is recovering today from some minor injuries from a carbomb ied. Thanks to him and all our military for their sacrifice that others might taste freedom. God Bless them all and God Bless America!!!!
By Patrick Martin
July 4, 2005 01:15 PM | Link to this
Happy 4th of July to all our men and women in harms way, keep up the great work. Also a special shout out to Curtis Compton for his fine work and great pictures from the front. Soldier on and stay safe.
Patrick Martin Atlanta-GA
By Shelli Canfield
July 4, 2005 11:07 PM | Link to this
Happy 4th to all of our soldiers around the world…Thank you for a job well done..our thoughts and prayers are with you all, for a safe and speedy return…God speed to the 48th and all my love to my son SPC Joshua Callahan MP, Iraq….
By 1SG MICHAEL SHEFFIELD
July 5, 2005 02:31 AM | Link to this
thanks for your support
By 1SG MICHAEL SHEFFIELD
July 5, 2005 02:34 AM | Link to this
To my family back in Smiths,AL congrats to my daughter Jasmine on her three records setting event at the AL State track and field (400m,4x400m,4x800m and first place in the 800m Thanks 1SG SHEFFIELD 248TH MICO/48TH BCT
By 1SG MICHAEL SHEFFIELD
July 5, 2005 02:47 AM | Link to this
To the family members of the soldiers with the 248th MICO, I would like to say they all are well and in good spirits just keep us in your prayers 1SG SHEFFIELD
By Trevor
July 5, 2005 12:16 PM | Link to this
If anything, the mindless bureaucracy that comes with military life is one of the biggest sacrifices our soldiers have to put up with.
By Robert Hobbs
July 5, 2005 06:03 PM | Link to this
Great story on the Peachtree Road Race in Baghdad! Was especially pleased to see my wife, Captain Josie Hobbs of Rex, appear in the AJC column with her hard won Peachtree Road Race t-shirt. Hope that everyone in the 248th MICO and the 48th Brigade as whole had an equally good 4th of July celebration. All I can say is “God Bless the USA”! As for the stories from the “Absurdity Files”, keep them coming, we can all use the comic relief they provide (ha-ha). Major Hobbs
By Kelly/Kim
July 5, 2005 07:13 PM | Link to this
Good Job!Keep up the good work! AJC-you are the only one keeping us in touch!We appreciate all of the good coverage!God bless our loved ones serving our the good ol’ USA.