Winner Of Marathon Race Doesn't Need To Be At The Actual Event

There's a very good chance that the first runner to complete the Steamtown Marathon Race will not be the winner of the race. In fact, that runner won't even be on the 26mile race course at all.

Instead, Major Gary Beaty of the United States Army will run the marathon via satellite from his Forward Operating Base in Ghazni, Afghanistan.

Here's how it all works, Major Beaty is wearing a Garmin runner's GPS receiver that records distance, time, average pace and the his heart rate. He will run the race on a 1.1-mile circular track around the Arny base. When he's finished, Beaty will send a digital photograph of the GPS to Steamtown Marathon officials to show he has completed the required distance and his finishing time.

Having heard about the Steamtown Marathon from other runners, Beaty sent an e-mail to assistant race director Jim Cummings, who was more than happy to accommodate him.

"We have heard of runners before who would run from satellite locations," Cummings said. "So when he contacted us, not only did we say we would allow it, but we would be honored to do it as thanks for his service to our country."

A 39 year old husband and father of two sons from San Antonio, Texas, Major Beaty has been an active duty Army officer for more than fifteen years now. He began running long distance races in 2006 and is a member of a group called Marathon Maniacs. He has completed 23 marathons, such as Washington, Chicago, Miami and Little Rock, Arkansas. He also has completed eight ultra marathons, races with a distance longer than 26.2 miles, including a trail run through part of Death Valley, a race to the summit of Pikes Peak in Colorado and a 78.6 mile run around the perimeter of Lake Tahoe.

"I'll probably finish my run a little before the actual event back in the States as we are 8.5 hours ahead of EST," Major Beaty said in an e-mail. "Of course, this depends on our operations schedule." During his deployment, Major Beaty has completed satellite marathons in Wyoming, Idaho, New Hampshire and West Virginia.

"My short term goal is to complete my 50th marathon and a 50 mile race before turning 40 years old in 2010 and then train to finish a 100 mile marathon race in 2011," Major Beaty said. "Long term, I'm working on running a marathon in each of the 50 states and one on each continent."


"In the past I have most enjoyed the atmosphere of running in the small and mid sized marathons back home and have sought to participate in similar events while over here in Afghanistan. That has certainly paid off. I have received dozens of e-mails from other runners, veterans and even the local media wishing me good luck with their local races and for a safe return home to my family. It has really been inspiring."

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