Track bashing and running in dust clouds!

The next installment from 5 Rifles and how they are getting on in Iraq;

This week the squad has been properly brought together for the first time. It stands at 15 hardy souls from all areas of the battalion. Some soldiers are new to the army and on their first tour, other have been here to Iraq three or even four times before.

We are training as a group, which means reining in some of the ‘racing snakes’ for the benefit of the plodders amongst us. The plan will see us doing two runs each week, of increasing length, until we complete a marathon distance in early May. This may, of course, prove to be too little, too late – I’m still learning about this ultra-running stuff!

Most of the squad will also burn many additional calories in the various gyms that are dotted around the sprawling Contingency Operating Base (COB). Others will spend a few hours in the increasingly hot sun ‘track bashing’, repairing armoured vehicles and keeping these heavy beasts in fighting condition.

The camp is filling up each day with more and more Americans - tents will soon be full to bursting. Our early morning starts are a pleasure by comparison; cool mornings albeit with the ever present clouds of dust and lumbering troop vehicles to contend with. We have been lucky to be able to fit in our training in amongst our patrols and duties, we are making the most of it whilst we can. Also, no injuries to the squad yet, touch wood, and everyone is now busy writing to their families back home to fight the sponsorship battle!

The photos below show some of our earlier runs within the battalion, team top runner Geordie Geoff and some of the guys in their day jobs

Have fun, and look forward to meeting you all!

Captain Mark Shercliff, 5 RIFLES
Team Captain, Project65