Bart Yasso: My Life On The Run

Days 3 & 4: Groundhog Day takes a day off at Camp Taji

bart yasso — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 19:25:49 +0000

Day 3, Al Asad

5k race with approximately 500 runners. Frank and I run with big packs. Perfect weather 90 and a slight breeze at 6 am. It was surreal running in this setting in the middle of vast desert all around. It was run on all paved roads thru the base. After each race we sign posters and do tons of photos.

Day 4, Camp Taji

We set up a 2-mile race on paved but pretty rough roads through the base. We have 175 runners. I meet lots of soldiers with Pennsylvania connections at Taji.

The common thing we hear is: “It’s like Groundhog Day every day here.” They see the same people and do the same thing, day in, day out. Race day was a welcome change for them - a temporary joy from the tedious repetition, something different. And some firsts too: unlike other runs they’ve done on base, this time they had chip timing, a real race announcer and the Frank, Sandy and Bart show but it’s really not about us, it’s about them. The runners got a goodie bag complete with real schwag, a race medal and two tech shirts, division awards, and post race food.

As for us, they are taking great care of us - from food, housing, transportation and general knowledge about what it is they are doing. All the men and women are such professionals at their craft.

After the race, Frank and I get to sit in an Apache helicopter cockpit. After I get out, the maintenance guy says: “Dude, I’ve worked here 2 years and never sat in one!” It’s real VIP treatment.

We get very little sleep. Three hours max. We are always on the go. Meeting and greeting. Flying in Chinooks in darkness over this vast desert landscape. We get to our sleeping quarters late and get up at 4 am to set up the race. Runners everywhere we go and they love the welcome addition of a real down-home style running race complete with pre-race expo setting. The Iraqi base expo booths are so cool.

I miss my family - wife and kitty. The soldiers are here for 6 to 9 month depoyments. We have it easy. It’s hard to hear them talk about their families. You can in their eyes how much they would love to go home but with honor the do their job and carry out the mission of freedom.

Day 2, Warriors Tour: Kevlar, Cabbage & Camp Cupcake

bart yasso — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 18:46:34 +0000

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.

Day 1, Warriors Tour: Allentown to Washington DC to Kuwait City

bart yasso — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 21:15:51 +0000

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.

Countdown to Iraq

bart yasso — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 15:30:35 +0000

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

http://wfmz.com/view/?id=1222863

Bart Yasso Gearing Up For Iraq Trip : WFMZ-TV 69News

Source: wfmz.com

Warriors Tour Press Release

bart yasso — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 15:31:46 +0000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Runner’s World’s Bart Yasso Supports Troops in Baghdad

by Running in The Warrior Tours

7 Races, over 7 Days, at 7 Bases

New York, NY — June 30, 2009- Bart Yasso, Runner’s World Chief Running Officer, heads to the Middle East on July 6^th as part of The Warrior Tours: “America’s Races Salutes the Troops” (http://www.thewarriortours.com). Over the course of seven days, “The America’s Races Salutes the Troops” will visit seven U.S. military bases in the Middle East supporting the troops in the semi-annual Armed Forces Physical Fitness Test.

“When I got the go ahead for this project, Bart was the first person I called to come along,” said Rob Powers, America’s Voice of Running and founder of The Warrior Tours. “Bart is one of the best known names in running, has military ties, and is an amazing motivator. Who better to take along to support our troops?”

“My dad served in the Navy during World War II on the USS Oklahoma City, and to have the opportunity to tie my love for running with my family’s history, and support our troops is very special,” said Yasso.

At each base, “The America’s Races Salutes the Troops” will produce world-class running events including evening entertainment, professional digital tag timing, announcing, and race T-shirts and awards donated by more than thirty of the top running events around the United States. Competitors will be given a race T-shirt (from the race closest to their hometown), a finish medal, and have their results posted the day of the race on The Warrior Tours web site (www.thewarriortours.com).

Along with Powers and Yasso, other special guests on the tour include NASA astronaut Sandar Magnus, Olympic gold medalist and Runner’s World contributor Frank Shorter, UnderArmour’s (www.underarmour.com) Senior Manager of RUN Anne Bonney, and 2009 Armed Forces Entertainers of the year Catchpenny.

Yasso, author of the best-selling book, “My Life on the Run,” is one of the few people to have completed races on all seven continents from the Antarctica marathon to the Mt. Kilimanjaro marathon. The Warrior Tours will be the first time he will race in a live combat zone.

Yasso may be best known for the marathon-training workout he invented, Yasso 800s, used by thousands of runners across the globe. He joined Runner’s World in 1987 to develop the Runner’s World Race Sponsorship Program, creating a vehicle for Runner’s World to work with over 7,000 races representing 4 million runners every year. In 2007, he was inducted into the Running USA Hall of Champions.

During the tour images, videos, and updates will be posted on the WarriorTours web site and through its Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Warrior-Tours/82328057349) and Twitter account (http://www.twitter.com/thewarriortours). Yasso will also be contributing with updates onrunnersworld.com (http://www.runnersworld.com) and through his Twitter account–http://www.twitter.com/bartyasso.

About The Warrior Tours

The Warrior Tours, a pending 501(C)(3) nonprofit, connects the men and women of the US Armed Forces with the American people through physical fitness by teaming up stateside events with The Warrior Tours events at US military bases worldwide. While supporting the troops in their fitness programs The Warrior Tours connects US service men and women with their friends and families through video, text, and images that are posted on The Warrior Tours website and broadcast at domestic sporting events. More information athttp://www.thewarriortours.com

About Runner’s World:

Recognized as the worldwide authority on running information, the mission of Rodale’sRunner’s World is to inform, advise, and motivate runners of all ages and abilities. Runner’s World aims to help runners achieve their personal health, fitness, and performance goals, and to inspire them with vivid, memorable storytelling. Currently Runner’s World publishes 14 international editions. Runner’s World’s award-winning companion Web site,www.runnersworld.com, is the largest running community on the Internet, featuring interactive, searchable, and targeted content for runners of all ages and abilities.

George Yasso Memorial 5K, August 1, 2009 - Registration Now Open

bart yasso — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 03:28:46 +0000

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!

G’day Bart from Pete in Oz

bart yasso — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 23:08:37 +0000

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:

G’day Bart!

Mate, it was awesome to meet you at the recent Big Sur Marathon.

I got home 3 days ago after nearly 7 weeks in USA and I had the time of my life! I loved the hospitality of the American people and the natural beauty of the country.

And Big Sur didn’t disappoint me in any way! As you know, I set myself for this run a very long time ago and it was the very reason that I came to America to realise a long held ambition. I’m proud that I made the journey and finished the race - it won’t be my last! I’m hoping to qualify for Boston next year (I need to run a 3:20 or better in the Sydney Marathon in 16 weeks time - I’m already in training and doing my “Yasso 800’s”!) and when I get there, I’m keen to do the Boston-Big Sur double only 6 days apart! That sounds like my kind of challenge, and as you say, Bart - “Never limit where running can take you”!

Anyway, mate, thanks again for your hospitality and friendliness whilst in Monterey. I treasure my Footy Jumper that you signed for me with your famous Big Sur quote (which inspired me to do the run in the first place).

Here’s an Email I put together for a few of my mates back home in Australia to showcase what a special run the Big Sur is, and to thank them for their comraderie in training with me to realise a goal. You’ll see a picture of your good self at the end of the Email and it was a big highlight for me to rub shoulders with yourself, Charlie Engle, and some other running royalty. Thanks again, Bart, and best wishes to you and family.

Pete Frayne

Victoria, Australia

_____

Photo Caption from Pete: Ok, now for a bit of running Royalty.. This bloke is dubbed the “Mayor of Running”, and all jokes aside, he is the very reason that I not only wanted to do the Big Sur Marathon, but actually became aware of it in the first instance. About 20 years ago, long before I’d run beyond 10kms and had dreamed of one day running a marathon, I picked up a “Runners World” magazine (US Edition).. The magazine compared and described some of the best marathons run in the USA/Worldwide at that time, and was written by Bart Yasso (below). His famous quote was “If we were told that we could run only one marathon in our lifetime, Big Sur would have to be it”. I never forgot the quote, nor the marathon. Bart Yasso has run marathons/Ultra marathons all over the world - including one on every Continent (yes, Antartica included) - and through places like Death Valley, Rift Valley, North Pole, and with Zulu warriors, bare-assed nudists, eskimos, and has been chased by Rhino’s in Southern Nepal, etc.. He’s just about done it all in his capacity as reporter/journalist/competitor over the years and has set many records. He is also the inventor of “Yasso 800’s” (Ozzie, Stevo, Sean, Al, and Riss would all be familiar with this training regime), and he is an Author, Multi Race Patron, and Motivational Speaker.

But above anything else, Bart Yasso is a ripping great bloke. I met him at the “Runner’s Expo” prior to race day where he signed the back of my Hawk’s guernsey with his famous Big Sur quote (see above) and we chatted for a while. I told him that he was the very reason I was here to do the Big Sur, and he was genuinely humbled and honoured that I would come all the way from Australia to do this race. The race organisers (Bob, Wally, etc) also ran with my story, and I was treated like a V.I.P. after that! Bart mentioned me in his presentation at the Runner’s Forum, and after that we chatted a few times both before and after the race. Here we are outside the “V.I.P. Tent” at the Finish (an area that I was ushered into by the Race Director!).

Photos of Alexis’s Kayak Escape/Rescue from Cuba

bart yasso — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 20:48:14 +0000

Referring to my blog post of April 30th, 2009: How Alexis Garcia Got To Big Sur

Some of you asked to see Alexis Garcia’s photos of hiskayak escape / rescue off the Florida coast. He just recently saw these photos for the first time and his wife Marlene was kind enough to can them and send them to me. I’ve also included some pix ofthe Garcia’s and me from Big Sur.

Rock n Roll San Diego ~ The Bart & Ryan Show at Nissan

bart yasso — Thu, 28 May 2009 15:30:24 +0000

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

50 Books - FREE to the 1st 50 runners @ the Gate City Striders workout (Nashua, NH) courtesy of Saucony.

bart yasso — Wed, 27 May 2009 18:13:01 +0000

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.