The White Falcon - 22.07.1983, Blaðsíða 5

July 22. 1983/THE WHITE FALCON 5
Two of the participants run along in front of the MWR bus that accompanied them.
13 runners
endure run
from Hofn
to Keflavik
After last February's Winter Run-Off,
the winner of the race, Allen Child of
Rockville, put out a challenge to all NATO
base personnel to participate in a race
from Hofn to Keflavik.
Two months later not a single person had
accepted the challenge. Allen started
thinking about it and came to the conclus-
ion that 526 kilometers -- 315 miles --
might be just a bit too far to run through
the unpredictable winds and rains along the
southern coast of Iceland.
But, almost five months from the date of
Child's challenge, a team consisting of 13
runners -- one civilian, four Air Force,
four Navy and four Marines -- had agreed to
participate. With a crew of only 13 run-
ners the idea of a competition was quickly
ruled out. This would be a group effort
with only one goal in mind... to finish as
a team on the Fourth of July in Keflavik.
The group set out at 8:30 a.m. on July 1
in a tiny blue bus with two drivers furnish-'
ed by MWR. As the group departed there
were several well-wishers on hand; one com-
mented that the group looked like "a blue
tin can packed with sardines." Little did
the group know, but before the long trip
was over that is exactly what they would
feel like.
There were two flat tires along the way
and at one point the bus accidently slipped
off the road. It took 30 minutes of push-
ing and shoving to get it back onto the
roadway.
Arriving at 6 a.m. on July 2, the Hofn
personnel gave the group a warm welcome.
Some had stayed up the night before, in an-
ticipation of the group's arrival. After
being treated to a warm breakfast the run-
ners took some time out for sightseeing
around the coast and each runner received a
ball cap displaying the letters H-O-F-N.
At 10 a.m. the first runner took off.
The bus driver went five miles up the road
(See HOFN RIJN, Page 6)
Photos & story
by PH2 Paul Riede
Making the most of a crowded bus. the runners rested wherever they could.