Last September I made a trip to the Middle East for a very special race. The event was not filled with grueling mountain climbs nor one that traveled picturesque single track trails for a hundred miles, but it was just as meaningful and memorable as any event I have run in my career.

Major Davy Godfrey contacted me in June 2010 to participate in an event he was organizing to commemorate September 11th and Wounded Warriors. At the time, I was disappointed that it wasn’t going to fit in with my travel and racing schedule already planned in Europe. It only took me a day to realize that I needed to make this fit into my schedule no matter what.

I wanted to show support for all the men and women who had spent years on deployment in the Middle East and the sacrifices they had made. I also knew of the many wounded and fallen soldiers and the incredible loss endured by family and friends.

I found myself on a plane headed to Kuwait City and Camp Arifjan on a USO tour. Each day I visited two to three camps, some in remote areas near the Iraq border and others on the coast where the Kuwait Naval base was located.

Signing autographs at Camp Burien

Giving a slideshow at Camp Arifjan

Sharing pictures of training and racing at Kuwait Naval Base

Sharing and listening to stories from the soldiers at Camp Virginia

This gear makes UTMB and Badwater seem like cakewalks!

Behind the wheel of a transporter vehicle that is used to haul equipment out of Iraq

Colonel Donnie Walker gives a pre-race memorial address

5:00am race start, over 1,600 strong including high ranking generals such as Gen Dowd

Sunrise finish line sprint on the Camp Arifjan track

MSG Herron and CPT Olson race to the finish

Running in with the final finisher as the sun gets ready to crank the temp up to 120 degrees by afternoon!

Top finishers of the 9.11K. Check out the prizes they won. Better than the awards at ultras!

Signing the 9/11 Memorial Poster

I would like to send a big thank you to Maj. Davy Godfrey, Maj. Larry Seward, Col. Donnie Walker, USO, commanders of the First Sustainment Brigade, and all those that made my USO Tour an unforgettable experience. A special thanks to all those soldiers who shared some time with me or ran a few footsteps.

Maj. Davey Godfrey put on a memorable event. Thank you to for your efforts and to all the amazing volunteers!

Major Davey Godfrey and I on a farewell Kuwait run. At 7:00am it was already 100 degrees!

Maj. Larry Seward an avid ultramarathoner, played a major role in making the 9-11 Run happen.

I’ve raced all over the world and these were some of the toughest runners I have met. For all those stationed overseas or in the States, thank you for your service. Keep running and walking those miles safely wherever you might be. I look forward to seeing you back home on the trails and roads soon!

To read more about the event and my experience see articles in Army Times and Running Times.

Photo Credits: 1st Sustainment Brigade, Maj. Larry Seward