Baghdad marathon gets late start
By Michael Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer
The first time Keola Taniguchi ran the Honolulu Marathon with his brother Ryan, Keola finished 10 minutes behind his younger brother.
This year it was Ryan, a National Guard soldier stationed in Iraq, who was trailing — by almost a week.
Keola Taniguchi, 29, finished last Sunday's marathon in a speedy time of three hours and 27 minutes. Ryan, 27, got his turn last night, in a special Honolulu Marathon satellite race in Baghdad.
"He was really excited about it," Keola said of his brother. "He was happy to have this opportunity because he didn't want to miss the race at all."
Family members had been looking forward to monitoring the race via computer, but the military was unable to accommodate the technology to make that possible.
"I know they're running right now, as we speak," Keola said last night. "I guess we'll have to wait and see what happens."
The race started yesterday at 5:30 p.m. Hawai'i time.
It was organized by Marine Lt. Col. Jim O'Donnell, with official backing from the Honolulu Marathon Association, and open to U.S. military and civilian personnel and others with approved access to Camp Victory, where the race was staged.
O'Donnell, a five-time Honolulu Marathon finisher, got the idea from last year's Honolulu Marathon in Afghanistan.
The Baghdad event was originally scheduled to coincide with the marathon in Honolulu last weekend, but concerns about staging it so close to last week's Iraqi national elections resulted in a one-week postponement.
The entire course was contained within the secured confines of Camp Victory, the headquarters of the multinational corps, near Baghdad International Airport. Participants ran a 1-mile loop, then four laps around the camp to complete the standard 26.2-mile marathon distance.
According to O'Donnell, there were five aid stations/ water stops on the course, as well as two or three doctors, two ambulances, eight medics, seven other medically trained personnel and 30 combat lifesavers.
The Honolulu Marathon Association waived the entry fee for the event and donated finisher shirts, medals, shell lei and a finish-line banner. Burns Computer Service, the official timer of the Honolulu race, donated microchips and timing mats.
Keola Taniguchi said he was grateful that he and his brother were able to share the event again — even with the great divide in time and distance.
"He's the reason I started running," Keola said. "I dropped him off at the marathon one year and I told him, 'Next year, let's do this together.'"
Last Sunday's Honolulu Marathon was Keola's third, and he came within 15 minutes of his goal of qualifying for the Boston Marathon. Still, Keola said it was strange knowing his brother wasn't on the course with him.
"It took a toll mentally, but it did make me push a little harder," Keola said.
A happy reunion is in store soon for the Taniguchi family. Ryan returns for good at the end of the month.
Keola is counting the days until they hit the road together again.
"He's a true warrior," Keola said.
"He's up there in Iraq for the best reasons and intentions, and I'm glad he can have this race for himself.
"If he could run all the way home, it would be even better."
Staff writer Karen Blakeman contributed to this report. Reach Michael Tsai at mtsai@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2461.Reach Michael Tsai at mtsai@honoluluadvertiser.com.
