Some Fort Carson 4th Brigade Combat Team soldiers in Afghanistan were bummed they couldn’t be here for Saturday’s annual very fun 5K St. Patrick’s Day Race. 

So, they decided to have a race there.  They are having a sister race, Jalalabad Jig, on Saturday at Forward Operating Base Fenty.  But they’ll feel quite at home.

Local businesses pitched in to send them a “Race in a Box” with 100 shirts,  hats, banners, trinkets, treats and gift certificates for when the soldiers return.  About 150 soldiers have signed up at this writing for the race that starts at about 6 a.m. Afghanistan time.

SSG Mac Arthur D. Ocampo sent this message today by email:  “I felt that this run would be a significant because one, we are doing it the same day as our friends, families and supporters from Colorado Springs are doing it and two, we’ve been supported by them all throughout the preparation for this event. Though we are thousands of miles away, just knowing they will be running only hours behind us in celebration of the same holiday makes us feel like though we’re far apart, we’re still close.”

I hope the Jalalabad runners get to cool down with green beer. I’d even buy the first round, if I was there. Heck, I’ll buy them beers when they come back.

A record 1,800 runners are expected for the 10 a..m. race in downtown Colorado Springs. A children’s Fun Run  is at 11 a.m. The St. Patrick’s Day Parade starts at noon. It runs along Tejon Street from East St. Vrain Street to Vermijo Avenue.

Click here for everything you need to know about the parade. 

Click here for race information.

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