Sgt. Brandon Beyer
Long-time runner
First Team Ortho Race: Polar Dash 2010 (completed in Iraq)

We are honored to have Sergeant Brandon Beyer as a member of Team Ortho. Sgt. Beyer signed up for the 2010 Monster Marathon Series, even though the plan is for him to do most of his events in Iraq!

Sgt. Beyer is originally from Stillwater, Minnesota and when he’s stateside, he is an Army Reservist stationed out of Rock Island Arsenal, in Rock Island, Illinois. But right now he’s serving with the 402nd Army Field Support Brigade in Iraq until December of 2010. Sgt. Beyer contacted Team Ortho executive director John Larson in December of 2009, asking if it would be at all possible for he and a few of his buddies to sign up for the series and do it from their base in Iraq. Larson wholeheartedly agreed and was happy to welcome him into the Series.

Sgt. Beyer and his buddy Major Daniel McClintock both signed up for the series and did the Polar Dash on the streets of their post. Sgt. Beyer apologized for the quality of the photos saying “Sorry about the quality of the pics... we couldn't get anyone else to run with us at 0500.” We’re just glad they got out to do the race from thousands of miles away. Both of them received the Polar Dash hat, gloves and the medal.

The next race for them is the Minneapolis Marathon. They said they’ll continue to train on the streets of their post (some soldiers ran the Boston Marathon there in 2005) to prepare for the race. Then Sgt. Beyer will come back to Minneapolis on leave and run the marathon. Major McClintock will likely be running his marathon in Iraq.

We’re so glad to be able to help members of the military take part in our races even when they can’t be here on race day. Thanks for doing a great job for the country!