Seattle Team Runs Ragnar Relay for Troops In Iraq

SEATTLE, WA | July 23, 2007 - On July 27th and 28th over 900 Washingtonians will participate in the Ragnar Relay Northwest Passage. This intense 187-mile, 24-hour relay race from Blaine to Langley, WA will push runners through beautiful towns and over stunning islands as they rock out to live bands, enjoy wacky participant costumes, and make life-long friends with teammates and competitors. Most of the participants are just out to have a goodtime. However; one team, “Operation Homeward Bound”, is not just running to have a good time with friends; for them it is an opportunity to demonstrate their support of troops in Iraq.

Omar Wheatley, team captain of team Operation Homeward Bound, says, “Over the last year my friend had been training for the 2007 Ironman Coeur d’Alene. Before he was able to compete, however, he was called to serve in Iraq.”

Craig left for Iraq in January, 2007. Rather than let all his training go to waste, Craig Sylvester, decided to participate in his own triathlon in Iraq’s 100-plus-degree weather. After the successful completion of his own Ironman he made a personal goal that he would run 6,800 miles in a year; the number of miles from Baghdad to Seattle - his virtual trip home.

Inspired by his friend’s personal goal, Omar Wheatley decided to start Operation Homeward Bound (www.operationhomewardbound.com), a website that invites runners to log their fitness miles “in support of returning Veterans and their families.”

Wheatley is quick to point out that it is not an anti-war campaign. “Whether you are in support of or against the war, everyone can show their support for all the men and women, military and civilian, in Iraq today. Operation Homeward Bound provides people the opportunity to express their support actively.”

The goal of the website is to reach 1.5 billion miles, the distance between Baghdad and Washington, D.C. (6200 miles) times the approximate number of military (135,000) and civilian (120,000) personnel currently serving in Iraq.

Currently, Operation Homeward Bound has 30 registered users that have logged over 4,000 miles, a far-cry from its goal of 1.5 billion. However, this weekend Wheatley and 11 other teammates hope that their participation in the Ragnar Relay Northwest Passage will raise awareness for their cause, and gain them support throughout the nation.

Race Director Dan Hill says, “The Northwest Passage is one of the most unique and exciting running events in Washington. One of the unique aspects of the race is that many teams find a cause to run for. Team Operation Homeward Bound is a perfect example of this. We are honored to have them involved in our event and we support their mission.”

For more information on the Ragnar Relay Northwest Passage visit: www.ragnarrelay.com.