CAMP ADDER, Iraq - When Lt. Col. Jeff Mark ran the 27th annual Hood to Coast Relay last year with team 360 Goes 180, he said he didn't know it could be the beginning of a tradition that highlights the sacrifices of the young men and women from the National Guard and armed forces Reserves.

Mark ran the race in Iraq and communicated with his team via satellite phone to determine when to get the relay handoffs. He said he thought it would be a great way to have a personal connection with home while doing something that didn't distract from combat duties.

This year, more than 62 soldiers from the 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team of the Oregon National Guard simulated running the race Aug. 29 in multiple locations across Iraq, Colorado and Oregon.

The race stretches 197 miles from Mount Hood to the Oregon coast with 12,000 runners and 3,500 volunteers. The relay teams are comprised of 12 members running three legs each, two four-mile legs and a seven mile leg.

Mark is once again a member of team 360 Goes 180, joined by Maj. Christopher Reese of Albany, who is the official team member running in Iraq this year.

The team's name came about when a company called 360 Physical Therapy offered Mark a spot on their team. Mark suggested the name 360 Goes 180 because he would be running from halfway around the world.

This year Reese helped organize the more soldiers who ran in the extreme heat of Iraq.

"This race has once again shown me that Oregonians are not only mentally and physically capable to tackle any task, anywhere, anytime, but that soldiers do this business for mainly one reason - because they don't want to let the guy or girl on their left and right down," Reese said. "I love being part of that and I love being an American soldier."

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