Training in Iraq for London Marathon

With one eye scanning for suitable cover in the event of a rocket attack, the officer ran around a sprawling British military base outside the Iraqi city of Basra as part of a training programme for the upcoming London Marathon.
Captain John Gilbody and four colleagues, who are also deployed in southern Iraq, will fly back to Britain to take part in the annual event on April 13 to raise money for Sense, a charity for children and adults who are deaf and blind.
In preparation for the big day, the 29-year-old from Derbyshire also intends to run a ‘Basra marathon’ around the dusty airport camp next Sunday.
“My theory is that if you can run one mile then you can run 26,” Captain Gilbody said, after completing three laps of the base, or some 12 miles, on Thursday in a respectable 1 hour and 40 minutes. “I think it is a massive challenge, but I feel good. I am really proud to be doing this.”
Running a marathon is hard enough, but try throwing in the added risk of rocket fire, insecticide fumes and the heat of Iraq’s fast-approaching summer.
The Basra camp comes under near daily attack from rockets fired by Shia militiamen who want the British forces to leave Iraq. Hitting the deck fast, preferably under some hard cover, is the best course of action, but Captain Gilbody does not let the hazard get in the way of his outdoor training.
“It’s a threat, but the drill is the same,” said the officer from the Duke of Lancaster’s battle group. “Whenever I run I have always got one eye on where I would go if something happens.”

Security concerns mean that joggers must go out in groups of no less than two – another restriction on training because everyone on the base also has their regular military jobs to do so timings often clash.
Then there is the potential of running through unpleasant fumes emitted by contractors spraying insecticide to ward off bugs, while the two-way traffic on the roads that ring the base adds another element of danger.
“It’s quite monotonous when you run and there is also the heat to bear in mind,” said Captain Gilbody, sporting a rather sweaty T-shirt and pair of shorts.
The temperature in Basra is already about 34 degrees Celsius and climbing higher by the day.
Fellow runners taking part in the London Marathon are: Second Lieutenant Maria Noble, a 27-year-old from East Lothian; Warrant Officer Class 2, Company Sergeant Major Stephen Tickle, 37 from Bolton, Warrant Officer Class 2, Company Sergeant Major Alan Mossman, also 37 from  Blackpool; and 28-year-old Corporal Damian Byrne from Bolton.
All five will be heading back to London on a three-day round trip, but Captain Gilbody was not sure whether everyone would be able to take part in his Basra marathon because of time constraints.
If anyone would like to sponsor the team please click on this link: www.justgiving.com/1lancs

[Picture 1: Captain John Gilbody (left) and a training partner run around the military base;
Picture 2: Captain Gilbody catching his breath after running 12 miles.]