When duty calls, Matthew Simms is quick to answer.  A Lieutenant Commander and elite marathon runner from Langley, Wash., Simms’ has turned his recent deployment to Iraq into the biggest ultramarathon of his life.

   Simms has good-naturedly titled his latest challenge, “Langley to Baghdad – Out and Back.” Determined not to let this 6,600-mile journey interrupt his regular running routine, Simms plans to keep in marathon shape during his one-year tour overseas.  This is not a surprise to his friends back home.

    “The funny thing is, Matt will probably come back even fitter than he was before,” says running mate Sherry Mays, also of Langley.

   A reservist for the past 15 years, Lieutenant Commander Simms has excelled as a long-distance runner, placing in the top 10 at the Seattle Marathon twice and placing second and first in the North Olympic Discovery Marathon in 2003 and 2005, respectively. Last year, he clinched his first career win at the Whidbey Marathon in April, crossing the finish line in two hours and 48 minutes.

   In addition to his experience as a Class II cyclist, Simms has also competed in triathlons and long-distance orienteering races including the 2004 Kona Ironman Triathlon.

   But he’s more than just an athlete – he is the nucleus of Down Sound Racing, a network of swimmers, cyclists and runners from the Puget Sound area. As primary organizer of the group, Simms brings local and visiting athletes together for training and racing events.

   Down Sound member Frazer Mann says, “Not only is Matt an incredible runner and athlete, but he is talented, creative and productive.”

   Simms had been fulfilling his monthly duty at the Whidbey Island Naval Air Station in Oak Harbor when, with only 12 days notice, Simms was called to Leesburg, S.C. for two weeks of training at the Army’s Camp McCrady. Next, he was flying to Kuwait and eventually landed at Camp Victory in Baghdad.

   The morning before Simms left, he was on his morning 30-kilometer run, yet an all-night winter storm on Whidbey Island had left downed power lines and scattered debris along his path. Thinking that his running buddies had probably stayed home after a rough night, he was surprised when, one by one, they began popping out from behind trees and other hiding places along his route.

   After years of providing support and motivation for runners in the Whidbey community, Matt Simms’ peers wouldn’t let a little wind and rain keep them from sending him off right.

   Since leaving the country, Simms has even taken time to post photos and personal updates on the Down Sound Racing’s forums during layovers in both Newfoundland and Sicily. 

   “Although Matt is thousands of miles away in Iraq, he still keeps us together,” marvels Down Sound racer Dan Thorson. “There’s a group of us who run together on Thursday mornings at 5:40 a.m. Obviously, he doesn’t show up for this run anymore, but he’s still runs with us. Iraq is 11 hours ahead, so now he runs at 4:40 p.m. on Thursdays whenever he can and emails to tell us about it.”

    Married with two young children, the ultra runner speaks several languages, and serves as secretary of the South Whidbey Parks & Recreation District Board of Commissioners. His friends marvel at his boundless energy and enthusiasm. Frank Jacques sums it up: 

   “He’s got this lovely way of making anybody believe that they are an athlete. You have such confidence that the next thing you know you’re signing up for the Chuckanut 50K and subscribing to Triathlete.”

   For more info on Down Sound Racing, or for updates on Matt’s tour in Iraq, visit www.downsoundracing.com.

—  Congratulations, Matt!

As this month’s Peak Performer, Matt will receive a box of
Baker’s Breakfast Cookies and a Solstice fleece vest.
Please email your nominations for
Peak Performer to: editor@OutdoorsNW.com.