Oregon soldier runs Hood to Coast Relay while in Iraq
It's Friday night and more than 15,000 people are taking part in the annual Hood to Coast Relay.
The event is known as the largest running relay race in the world and being part of it is ambitious for just about any athlete. However, when you're running it from the other side of the world, the challenge is even greater.
On Friday, KVAL news spoke via satellite with an Oregon National Guard soldier who's stationed in Iraq and participating in the Hood to Coast by running "away from home."
Running on the treadmill isn't just a workout for Staff Sergeant Kevin Hartman. The Oregon National Guard Soldier is running the Hood to Coast relay while he's stationed in Iraq.
"My brother has been trying to get me to do a marathon or at least half marathons forever and my buddy said to do this and I figured why not," said Hartman.
Hartman, a former KVAL employee made the commitment to run three 6-mile legs of the race months ago, but because he was called to serve in Iraq, he couldn't be there for his team. So instead, he came up with the idea of keeping his commitment by using a treadmill and running away from home with the help of his brother.
"So he's running the same time I am and he's taking my place in Oregon and I'm running here in Iraq," said Hartman.
It's a process that sounds simple enough, but as Hartman found out in his first leg of the race, it requires a lot of coordination. "I called from the front desk at the MWR gym and as soon as the person was about 10 to 20 seconds from handing off the baton or whatever they're doing there, I went ahead and jogged from that point and started my run."
Hartman keeps his inspirations close by. On the treadmill, a picture of Mount Hood on his left and a picture of Haystack Rock on the right, and in his mind, memories of the wife he left behind in Eugene.
"I was thinking about her the whole time," said Hartman.
A small effort he says, keeps him connected to his loved ones.
"I keep my mind focused on coming home and seeing everybody again and having a barbecue," said Hartman.
Staff Sergeant Kevin Hartman will run his next leg at midnight, Pacific time.
The Hood to Coast Relay ends in Seaside on Saturday.
The event is known as the largest running relay race in the world and being part of it is ambitious for just about any athlete. However, when you're running it from the other side of the world, the challenge is even greater.
On Friday, KVAL news spoke via satellite with an Oregon National Guard soldier who's stationed in Iraq and participating in the Hood to Coast by running "away from home."
Running on the treadmill isn't just a workout for Staff Sergeant Kevin Hartman. The Oregon National Guard Soldier is running the Hood to Coast relay while he's stationed in Iraq.
"My brother has been trying to get me to do a marathon or at least half marathons forever and my buddy said to do this and I figured why not," said Hartman.
Hartman, a former KVAL employee made the commitment to run three 6-mile legs of the race months ago, but because he was called to serve in Iraq, he couldn't be there for his team. So instead, he came up with the idea of keeping his commitment by using a treadmill and running away from home with the help of his brother.
"So he's running the same time I am and he's taking my place in Oregon and I'm running here in Iraq," said Hartman.
It's a process that sounds simple enough, but as Hartman found out in his first leg of the race, it requires a lot of coordination. "I called from the front desk at the MWR gym and as soon as the person was about 10 to 20 seconds from handing off the baton or whatever they're doing there, I went ahead and jogged from that point and started my run."
Hartman keeps his inspirations close by. On the treadmill, a picture of Mount Hood on his left and a picture of Haystack Rock on the right, and in his mind, memories of the wife he left behind in Eugene.
"I was thinking about her the whole time," said Hartman.
A small effort he says, keeps him connected to his loved ones.
"I keep my mind focused on coming home and seeing everybody again and having a barbecue," said Hartman.
Staff Sergeant Kevin Hartman will run his next leg at midnight, Pacific time.
The Hood to Coast Relay ends in Seaside on Saturday.
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