I’m out for walk with the rest of our group at 5am. It’s cooled off to 105°F. I was the last one to arrive in the lobby. Two minutes late. Everyone else was right on time. Frank Shorter was walking up to my room to retrieve me but I met him in the stairwell.

We have a one-hour van transport to APOD a military base near Kuwait International airport. When we transport by van we have a security vehicle shadowing us.  It’s official. We’ve received our kevlar helmets and flack jackets.

Now we have about a 3-hour wait for our C130 to transport us to western Iraq. Sandra Magnus, Sandy, had us captivated with her stories on returningto Earth  from space. We totally take gravity for granted. She shares stories of not being able to judge while simply walking around corners. She forgot how to jump even it was only jumping 10 inches off the ground. 

We have to get used to the hurry up and wait game. We always have to be ready when the plane shows up.We just found out our flight will not leave until 3 pm 6 hours later than anticipated. We have no control over anything. We just wait until someone will escort us to our plane.

Lunch at the mess hall is rice and cabbage. All we need to do is show our military orders and they feed us. I’m sitting in the mess hall and a soldier next to me is reading the July issue of Runner’s World.He sees the giant photo of me near the front of the magazine and freaks out. “That’s you!”

It’s amazing to me how many of our soldiers read the magazine and know all about me. He escorts me around APOD introducing me to all runners he knew on base.

It’s time. Our C130 shows up and off we go to Western Iraq. We sit sideways in the back of the plane with the cargo. Flack jacket, helmut, ear plugs and strong stomach required.

We land at a base in western Iraq and the back of the plane opens up. They unload a a few pallets then we jump off the back of the plane.This was so cool. I’m ruined for life. Commercial flying will never be fun again.

We get escorted to some fancy barracks they call Camp Cupcake. Our escort tells me he’s been following my training plan from our July issue. He’ll be running the satellite race they hold here in conjuction with the Marine Corps Marathon.

I met a Captain at the barracks. He says to me: “Sir, I meet you at the Air Force Marathon last year.” It was his first marathon and he’s hooked on running.

We head over to the rec center to open registration for tomorrow’s 5K race. Sandy, Frank and I sign posters for all the runners as they register for the race.

It’s a very humbling experience because they all thank us for being here in Iraq. We thank them for all they are doing. They are a bunch of really strong, hard-working Americans who are protecting the liberties and freedoms that we enjoy at home every day.

Frank and I look at each other and say the same thing: We are getting more out of this then they are.

Our group of 8 meets up at the Dulles airport in Washington DC. Twelve hours later we are half a world away in Kuwait City – but still not near our final destination. 

The Warriors Tour Team of Eight:

Rob Powers, race announcer extraordinaire and founder of the Warrior Tours. 

Frank Shorter ,the man who invented the running boom, the marathoner who made running marathons cool.

Sandy Magnus, a REAL astronaut. She spent 4 months at the international space station.

Nicole Cloutier, public relations with NASA.

Anne Bonney, a Senior Manager of Sports Marketing at Under Armour, one of our sponsors

Rick Stern and his son Josh, our race timers,

and me, Bart Yasso.

We arrived in Kuwait city at 5 pm. It’s 118 degrees. First stop: The one-stop Visa shop to purchase your Visa for $20.00 US or 3 Kuwait currency – 3 Dinar (KWD). The shop is located next to a Mc Donald’s, and it’s like an old-fashioned bakery. You have to get a number then wait to be called up to the window. It’s a very crazy chaotic scene to get $20.00.

Each security checkpoint is very different. Some are very strict, passport, Visa and what are you doing here questions; other checkpoints they just waved us thru.

It was a 45-minute caravan to the Arifjan base. Arifjan is used to bring newbies in before they are sent to Iraq or the last stop before people head stateside. Our housing was in three-story cinder block building .The base lobby had a tv on showing cnn international coverage of the Michael Jackson Memorial service. Some people watched it intently. Others could care less.  he first 2 people who meet Sandy both said the same thing, wow a REAL astronaut. I wonder what’s a fake astronaut? 

Got to bed at 11:30 pm and up at 3:30 am. I can’t sleep much because my room is next to the latrine. I hear the doors open and close all night long. We need to be in the lobby at 5:30 am for transport to an unknown location. I like the idea of having no idea where we’re going. You feel very safe. The one thing we know were in good hands.

I’ve been packing for Iraq the last few days. Kitty keeps sitting on my orders and of course sleeping in my suitcase hoping he gets  to be a hideaway to the Middle East. Hard to believe I will be in Kuwait City in less than two days.

While I am in Iraq as part of the Warriors Tour, I will try to post to my blog daily and on the Runner’s World site.

Here is a link to a local tv segment filmed on Friday

09-yasso-5k-brochure

HERE IS A MAP of the 5K course:

http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=355805

GEORGE YASSO Memorial 5K Run & Walk

Run or walk the hilliest 5K in Pennsylvania’s Lehigh Valley

Sponsored by St. Luke’s Hospital and the Borough of Fountain Hill

Join us for one of the Lehigh Valley’s most fun 5Ks – thru the flat & hilly streets of Fountain Hill – right next to Bethlehem. Despite three hills, this course is fast and fun. WALKERS ARE WELCOME AND ENCOURAGED. Accurately measured course, splits every mile, 5-year age divisions, refreshments and prizes at the finish. Changing, toilet and shower facilities available. Take a dip in the pool afterward! First 200 entrants get a race t-shirt. All race proceeds go to the George Yasso and James Skelly Scholarship Funds which award scholarships to two local scholar-athletes each year - - 4 $1,000 scholarships!

RACE DATE & TIME: Saturday, August 1, 2009 9:00 am

WHERE: Fountain Hill Community Pool at 1445 Speigel Street in Fountain Hill (near Bethlehem), Pennsylvania

Just 2 miles away from PA’s newest casino, The Sands

ENTRY FEE: $17 ($20 day of race), $10 for h.s. students or younger

TO REQUEST A PDF OF ENTRY FORM: Attached as a pdf here: 09-yasso-5k-brochure

 or send an email to georgeyasso5K@gmail.com

MAKE CHECKS PAYABLE TO: George Yasso Memorial 5K

SEND ENTRIES TO:

George Yasso Memorial 5K

3002 Oakland Road

Bethlehem, PA  18020

Check out Facebook Page too!  http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=118975630599&ref=mf

DIRECTIONS: FROM THE SOUTH/Philly -

1. JOHN FRIES HWY/PA-663. 2. Turn LEFT onto N WEST END BLVD/PA-309. Continue on 309 N. 3. Turn RIGHT onto PA-378. 4. Turn LEFT onto SEIDERSVILLE RD. 5. Turn RIGHT onto BROADWAY. 6. Turn LEFT onto DODSON ST. 7. Turn RIGHT onto SPIEGEL ST. FROM THE EAST – 1. I-78 W. 2. Take the PA-412/ HELLERTOWN exit, EXIT 67, toward BETHLEHEM. 3. Turn RIGHT onto PA-412/ HELLERTOWN RD. Continue on 412. 4. Stay STRAIGHT to go onto E 4TH ST. 5. Turn SLIGHT LEFT onto BROADWAY/ PA-412. Continue to follow BROADWAY. 6. Turn RIGHT onto SMILEY AVE. 7. Turn LEFT onto SPIEGEL ST.

FROM THE SOUTHWEST/READING -

1. US-222 N toward ALLENTOWN. 2. Merge onto US-222 N via the exit on the LEFT toward ALLENTOWN. 3. Turn SLIGHT LEFT to stay on US-222 N. 4. Merge onto I-78 E/ PA-309 S. 5. Take EXIT 59 toward PA-145/ SUMMIT LAWN. 6. Turn LEFT onto W ROCK RD. 7. Turn LEFT onto S PIKE AVE/ PA-145. Continue to follow PA-145. 8. Turn RIGHT onto W EMMAUS AVE. 9. Turn LEFT onto SEIDERSVILLE RD. (follow same directions for South, #4 thru #7.)

FROM THE WEST/HARRISBURG -

1. I-78 E via EXIT 89 toward ALLENTOWN. 2. Take EXIT 59 toward PA-145/SUMMIT LAWN. 3. Turn LEFT onto W ROCK RD. 4. Turn LEFT onto S PIKE AVE/PA-145. Continue to follow PA-145. 5. Turn RIGHT onto W EMMAUS AVE. 6. Turn LEFT onto SEIDERSVILLE RD. (follow same directions for South, #4 thru #7.)

FROM THE NORTH/SCRANTON -

1. I-380 S via EXIT 4 toward MT POCONO. 2. Merge onto I-80 E via EXIT 1B on the LEFT toward STROUDSBURG. 3. Merge onto PA-33 S via EXIT 302A toward US-209 S/SNYDERSVILLE. 4. Merge onto US-22 W toward BETHLEHEM/ALLENTOWN. 5. Merge onto PA-378 S toward BETHLEHEM. 6. Turn SLIGHT RIGHT onto BROADWAY. 7. Turn RIGHT onto SMILEY AVE. 8. Turn LEFT onto SPIEGEL ST.

The Yasso family looks forward to meeting you and running with us!

It’s always nice to hear from runners I meet during my travels. At the Big Sur Marathon six weeks ago I was asked “Mate, could you sign my Footy Jumper?”  I knew the Aussie wanted me to sign something for him, something I’d never signed before but what the heck is a “Footy Jumper”?  I’ve since found out it was quite an honor to sign Pete’s running singlet.

Here’s an email message I recently received from Pete, the Australian runner I met at BSIM:

Coming to San Diego this weekend for the Rock n Rll Marathon or know someone who is? Stop by the Nissan Booth and Seminar Stage and say hello. I’ll be doing a book signing and autographs with Ryan Hall. I’ll also be hosting the Team in Training Past Party on Saturday night. And we’ll be at the Finish Line Festival on Sunday too. See you there!

My San Diego Schedule:

Saturday Date: May 30^th, 2009

11:00-11:30: Training Tips Seminar with Ryan Hall

Seminar Stage at expo moderator me– San Diego Convention Center

12:00-1:00: Intro Ryan and autograph session Ryan Hall appearance at the Nissan Booth

6:00: Team in Training Pasta Party (Nissan master representative)

Sunday

11:30-12:30: Intro Ryan Hall appearance autograph session at the Nissan Booth

          Finish Festival – Point Loma, Marine Corps Recruit Depot

NEWS FLASH: 

50 Books – FREE to the 1st 50 runners @ the Gate City Striders workout  in Nashua, New Hampshire (near Manchester) courtesy of Saucony.

I’m heading up there via Philly airport as we speak.