By Garrett Wymer

UK ROTC soldiers ran 3.1 miles simultaneously with troops in Baghdad on Friday night despite being a time difference — and an ocean — away.

Friday night’s Run for the Fallen was a shadow run, meaning multiple groups and hundreds of people took part in the event at the same time across the globe, said Capt. Joey Orr, a UK ROTC operations officer.

The 5K was held in memory of UK ROTC alumnus Jeffrey Graham, who was killed in 2004 while stationed in Iraq.

Stacey Martinez, who helped coordinate the event, had dated Graham for five years and was engaged to marry him when he died.

“This started out as just a couple of people,” Martinez said.  “Five of us running — at the absolute most.”

About 50 people, including a Georgetown cross-country team, took part in the run.

“To have this many people here — it means so much,” Martinez said. “And it means so much to the Graham family.”

A group of about 60 people at Valparaiso University near Chicago also joined in on the shadow run, as well as 700 soldiers at Camp Slayer in Iraq, she said.

The 5K began in Commonwealth Stadium’s blue lot. Guided by assistants waving American flags and blue glow sticks, participants ran to Avenue of Champions before looping back and finishing at the starting point.

But it was the cause, rather than the course, that drew many runners to the race.

“This seems like the best cause I’ve ever run for,” said Lindsey Roberts, a 2007 UK graduate.

Architecture freshman Brooke Roberson read about the 5K and wanted to run “because of the troops,” she said.

The soldiers in Iraq were able to run because coalition forces heavily protected the area, Orr said.

“All over the U.S. people are running at the same time to support our troops,” Martinez said.  “Just being out here, supporting him, supporting the troops, running for the fallen soldiers — and not just the fallen, all who are serving….it’s touching.”