Stillwater won’t be the only place in the world this weekend where hometown runners will be competing in a long-distance race. Stillwater native Jim Bartkey will be running in a sister race on Sunday, only it will be 6,500 miles and eight time zones away from home. In desert temperatures of at least 80 degrees.

He will be competing in a 12K race he organized himself as a member of the U.S. military serving in Iraq.

“When I heard that Stillwater was planning a marathon, I knew I wanted to participate and do the full marathon,” said Jim, a sergeant major for Alpha Company, 34th Infantry Division, and 24-year veteran of the Army National Guard. “But once I received notification about the deployment, I realized I would have to change those plans.”

Jim mobilized on Feb. 10 and deployed with the rest of Twin Cities-based Alpha Company to Ft. Lewis, Wash, two days later. After 50 days of training, the unit started moving overseas for a one-year tour of duty. The Alpha Company’s mission is to support the 34th Infantry with tactical voice and data communications.

Jim said he is really excited about Sunday’s sister race.

“This is another avenue that helps us stay connected with the community back home,” he said. “There is always a positive change in morale anytime soldiers can participate in an organized event.”

Jim went the extra mile -- no pun intended -- for his fellow soldiers by contacting Stillwater Marathon promoter St. Croix Events to see if it would be willing to do something for the troops overseas. Race Director Dave Eckberg offered to not only sponsor a sister race, but to also supply participants with T-shirts and finisher medals and complimentary entry to each soldiers race of choice for the 2010 Stillwater Marathon.

An over 100 soldiers will compete in the 12K race, whose course will be the inside roads of the Basra base. In addition to the Alpha Company, soldiers from the 34th MP Company based in Stillwater will participate. Among them is SPC Cory Schmidt, himself a Stillwater native. The race will be held in the early morning hours: Daytime highs have been hitting 107 degrees of late.

“The leadership has been very supportive of this run,” said Jim, the son of Gudrun and the late James Bartkey. “Even our battalion commander will be participating.”