 I'm running the Rincourt Marathon in Afghanistan because it gives me something to focus on for improving myself and having some fun on this deployment. The work up in the evolution you learn in a marathon is something that can be duplicated in any other way. I've pretty much never ran long distance before, I've done a couple of 5Ks. I figured it would be something different to try and I've been wanting to run a marathon for a couple of years now. It's definitely an outlet out here, you know, you work a lot. It's a bit more challenging here because of the altitude and the elements. There's not a lot of pavement, you've got to watch where you're walking. The road conditions aren't the greatest, it's pretty rocky, a lot of gravel and it doesn't smell too great. Camp Leathernecks, nice just because it's a bigger base and it's a little over 5 miles for one lap. I think that working out definitely becomes part of the lifestyle, it's one of the few chances you have to really bust some stress and kind of relax, it gives you something to focus on besides the deployment. I've done quite a bit of training evolutions to get here, but I've enjoyed it quite a bit. I guess my message to the people running the marathon back home would be, you know, just when you hit that wall during your race, just think about that marine that's outside of the wire and, you know, when he hits his wall, he can't quit, so neither should you. I'm Massar and Joel Whittemore. My name's Lieutenant Christopher Piercy. First Lieutenant Padriac Approved. I'm Gunnery Sergeant Jonathan Stansel and I'm running the Marine Corps Marathon at Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan.