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

Goodmorning, Basra City!!

Capt Mark Shercliff, 5 RIFLES, currently on operations in Iraq, tells about training in the desert for the Run to Pegasus.

The Iraqi days are really warming up so this week has been our first of early starts for our training runs. The Project 65 squad has yet to train together at once, as we are all on different duties across the province of Basra, but we still have a hardy bunch of 5 – 10. Some have run a marathon before, but most have yet to venture beyond an hour-long trot, less the obligatory long days and nights of marching with military equipment that we usually carry out in the Army!

Our running route takes us around the large British camp on the outskirts of Basra. We have found an increasing American presence as the days go by. Huge armoured vehicles lumber past us as we trot through the dust and still morning air.

Despite our choice of running routes being sorely limited (it is in fact, only one route - a 4 mile lap!) there is plenty to observe for those of us not too busy feeling the aches and pains from the last session. Military helicopters buzz purposefully overhead and every so often the sound of gunfire (just the testing of weapons and crews!) from the other end of the camp. Everywhere is a hive of activity – new buildings going up, old and weary camp compounds being demolished and flattened.

After the run the squad disappear within the many compounds to go to their duties for the day – some to patrol on foot or in vehicles, other to a helicopter, and others to prepare equipment and plans for forthcoming operations and activities. Lucky ones head to the airhead for their ‘R&R’ (rest and recuperation) - two weeks back home with their families. As captain of the team, I'm sure most will struggle to keep up the training miles with all the distractions of home, but they will be expected to keep up on the day!!

Some of the runners have succumbed to the gym, spending far too long preening and pumping iron – there will be no substitute for decent training mileage come 4th Jun. Otherwise some of the squad have been able to keep up their little of their fitness with dusty games of football and the occasional bit of touch rugby.

The arrival of the American ‘PX’ has brought with it a shimmering array of shiny and cheap trainers for the kit-addicts to get their hands on – some of us have worn out the pair we bought over at the start of the tour! Our next hurdle as a squad will be a group ½ marathon, probably in 10 days or so, starting at 0500 to catch the coolest part of the day so watch this space!

Captain Mark Shercliff, 5 RIFLES
Team Captain, Project65