After nearly 18 years in the United States Army and three overseas tours, I was happily relieved that my request for an East Coast assignment had been granted. I had done plenty of running and racing prior to going overseas. However, once I was in Germany, I just never felt connected to the running scene. I received orders to report to Arlington, VA, for duty in August of 2003. I was so excited! Arlington, Virginia, adjacent to the venues of the Marine Corps Marathon, Army Ten-Miler, Capital Running Company Veterans Day 10K, and a gazillion other famous road races in the area. Wow! I was going to reside and work in the national running Mecca, namely, Washington, DC!

I slowly eased myself into the running scene. Long training runs on the W&OD Trail, Four Mile Run, around the Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, and the like, gleefully dodging pedestrians and traffic. Fifteen months later, I had a masters running renaissance, notching a certified 35:08 10K and a 27:52 8K within six days of each other. While not blazingly fast times, they were reasonably respectable and competitive for a 44- year-old runner.

Then, suddenly, one gloomy Friday afternoon in mid-December, I received orders to deploy to Iraq in January 2005. My running plans and joys of competition were about to be put on hold. No Boston Marathon 2005 for me. As I packed and re-packed my duffle bags, trying to be as light and mobile as possible, I kept wondering, should I bring more than one pair of running shoes? How about a pair of racing flats? What the heck. I omitted a few novels and viola; I could fit two pairs of trainers and my flats in the bottom of my duffle bag. Next, I wondered if I would ever be able to use them. No need to pack any "civilian" running shorts and racing tops; the uniform policy at Camp Victory permits only the Desert Camouflage Uniform or Army Physical Fitness Uniform.

I flew into Baghdad International Airport in late January 2005. I stepped off the plane with my rucksack and duffle bags, complete level-four body armor, Kevlar helmet, and, of course, two fully loaded weapons. Combat zone, here I am. Everywhere I looked there were large fortified barriers, check points, and military personnel prepared to use deadly force, whenever necessary.

During a bumpy, dusty, 25-minute ride in an Army HMMWV, I felt the vehicle roll over the rigid scars left behind by rocket and mortar attacks. Occasionally, we heard a "boom" and assumed that is "outgoing," never "incoming." Next, I went to my new office. Except for being a little cramped for space and covered with sandbags, no problem. After a tour of the area, it was time for lunch. Sometimes we are so busy, lunch is a Meal Ready to Eat or "MRE." When there is time to eat, the Camp Victory Dining Facility meets, and often exceeds, the needs of the Multi- National Forces and civilians. Yes, the dining facility is fortified with large barriers, multiple armed guards and other Force Protection measures. Another reminder that this is a combat zone.

While we do work long hours, seven days a week, there are opportunities to stay fit. Welcome to the Camp Victory Fitness Center, the best armed fitness center in the world. Yes, everywhere a soldier goes in a combat zone, a weapon and ammunition are always readily available. The fitness center has five treadmills and is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. I jumped on one of the treadmills for a light 30 minute run. Tomorrow morning, I am going to hit the roads.

The roads on Camp Victory are not particularly runner-friendly. There is a heavy mixture of traffic from a variety of vehicles. Also, the surface is a very hard, cement hybrid, not good for my old knees. The streets are exceptionally dusty when it is dry, and goopy, messy, and muddy, when it rains. Consequently, the best option is to run in a circular motion on a section of dirt across the street from the gym or hit the treadmill and simulate that it is a 400-meter track. As if the roads are not dangerous enough with "friendly" hazards, one always has to be alert and cognizant of possible evening rocket and mortar attacks. There is even a running route on Camp Victory, appropriately dubbed, "Sniper Alley."

On my first visit to the gym, I noticed a sign, "Camp Victory 10K, 19 Feb 05, 0700," Super! As an added bonus, no entry fee, as is the case with all running events at Camp Victory.

At 0630, runners started filtering in to the registration site. No formal registration, just sign your name on a sheet of paper. The race director requested us to yell out our name as we crossed the finish line and he would then check our names off the registration sheet. Not overly official, but a race is a race. Game on! A race official herded us to a room where we could store our weapons. At 0700, the gun went off, actually not the starter's gun; we could hear small arms fire in the distance. Everyone looked around at each other, the race director shrugged his shoulders and a siren was activated. That was our command to "Go" and off we went.

The course was very scenic. Coalition Force helicopters constantly buzzed and scanned the course. There were two water stops on the course and directional signs. I was not in race shape, but managed to squeak out a second place overall out of more than 150 runners, clocking a 36:40 on the uncertified course. The winner was an Italian Air Force Captain. All races at Camp Victory have an international flavor due to the Multi- National Forces-Iraq being headquartered here. No chip timing. No frills. No age group awards. No scrumptious Chesapeake bagels. However, running and racing is reward enough, especially in a Combat Zone. There were some post-race refreshments of fruit and "Hoohah" Energy bars. A few digital cameras appeared and then it was back to work. There are no weekends in a Combat Zone, no distinction between a Monday and a Saturday.

The Morale, Welfare and Recreation division at Camp Victory sponsors a race once a month. While the race amenities are not quite up to stateside standards, the spirited competitors and participants flock to each race as an opportunity to compete and a brief escape from the dangers of a deployed setting.

Yes, Virginia, Maryland, and Washington DC, there is selected running and racing in a Combat Zone. Who knows, maybe I will extend my tour here, long enough to run the 2007 (?) version of the Camp Victory Marathon!

To my friends, fellow competitors, and runners back in the states: Thanks for your outstanding support and prayers. God willing, I hope to see you all soon.

(Editor's Note: Brendan Vasher worked for Capital Running Company on weekends while stationed in Arlington, often laying out and marking the courses, and sometimes running them, too. We miss him and pray for his safe return.)