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Aussies run wild
By FLGOFF Jaimee Maika
Volume 49, No. 16, September 06, 2007 |
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ROCKY ROAD: FLGOFF Jaimee Maika (left) and LACW Kat Liston endured the arduous conditions in southern Afghanistan to compete in the desert version of the City2Surf fun run.
Photo by SSGT Stacie McKee (USAF) |
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HOORAY: Air Force competitors from the Control and Reporting Centre rejoice after completing the 14km City2Sand fun run in southern Afghanistan.
Photo by FLTLT Zak Sherwood |
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If you found the Sun Herald City2Surf 14km run a challenge, spare a thought for the ADF personnel who participated in the City2Sand in the heat of southern Afghanistan recently.
More than 30 Australian personnel based at Kandahar Airfield participated in the inaugural Sun Herald City2Surf, fondly dubbed the ‘City2Sand’, on August 12, accompanied by many coalition defence force personnel from countries such as Canada, the USA, Netherlands and UK.
SQNLDR Dan Wilson won the men’s division in 1hr 2mins with LACW Kat Liston close behind in the women’s division with 1hr 4mins.
Organising the event with the support of the Sun Herald was PTI, SGT George Scamakas. SGT Scamakas had the idea to do a City2Surf as a means to keep troops focused on something fun with an obvious fitness benefit. Preparations were completed successfully, considering the harsh conditions the runners faced.
“We recently had sand storms, 50 plus degree days, and most surprisingly, floods, which had wiped out the roads for a couple of days. As part of the stringent safety precautions to ensure our wellbeing and safety, the flooded roads were blocked to check for dislodged mines. Fortunately there was nothing to worry about and we were all back on the roads running,” SGT Scamakas said.
The dusty haze that had settled on Kandahar Airfield overnight created an eerie atmosphere which added to the starkness of the 14km route that snaked past an aeroplane graveyard and along the runway where coalition aircraft continued with daily operations.
Women’s winner LACW Kat Liston had looked forward to the opportunity of competing in one of Australia’s largest community events.
“I had never run in the City2Surf as I am originally from Melbourne. I think it’s amusingly ironic that my first City2Surf was in Kandahar – there is no city and there is definitely no surf,” she said.
“The running conditions in Afghanistan were the hardest I’ve ever experienced. It’s dry, dusty, rocky and incredibly hot. Combined with the altitude [of 3000ft above mean sea level], I found it a challenge. I also found I’m going through numerous running shoes.”
Most of the Australian personnel participating in the City2Sand were Air Force members responsible for the establishment of the control and reporting centre (CRC).
SGT Mark Syme enjoyed the run immensely, commenting on the value of the race.
“It was the next best thing to the real City2Surf. It was a good distraction from deployed life in general. It also provided a great opportunity for all of us to do something with people that you don’t usually work with. There was a real sense of common achievement,” he said.
While many who ran the City2Surf might treat themselves to a day of recovery and relaxation after the event, there was little time for the runners of the City2Sand to catch their breath as operational life continued as usual. FSGT Shaun Hull, the CRC maintenance manager, summed up the general feeling of most runners with: “I’m knackered.” |
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