AF Marathon offers more than 26.2 mile race

Published Aug. 15, 2008
By Kathleen A. K. Lopez
Air Force Materiel Command Public Affairs

WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio (AFPN) -- People can become a part of history by registering for the 12th annual United States Air Force Marathon.

The event will take place Sept. 20 at here at Wright-Patterson AFB, near Dayton, Ohio. Races include the full marathon, including wheeled division; a half-marathon; and individual and four-member team 10-kilometer races.

For the second consecutive year, a 5-kilometer race will be held Sept. 19 on the campus grounds of neighboring Wright State University.

Other associated activities include the sports and fitness exposition Sept. 18 and 19 at WSU's Ervin J. Nutter Center, and the gourmet pasta dinner Sept. 19, at the National Museum of the United States Air Force. The expo and dinner are open to the public. The expo will host a variety of vendors with running apparel and other sporting goods.

Bart Yasso, "Runner's World" magazine's chief running officer, will sign autographs and conduct free running clinics both days of the expo. Mr. Yasso also will speak at the dinner and participate in races Sept. 20.

Another marathon feature is a free pace team. Runners can sign up for the various pace times at the Sports and Fitness Expo.

A change to the event this year is the elimination of the four-person relay, which is being replaced by the 10K individual and team category.

"No more waiting for buses, looking for teammates, collecting money from other team members or having to swap out team members," said Molly Louden, USAF Marathon director. "All 10K runners will start the race at the same time. The winning team will be determined by collective fastest times of team members."

Another aspect of the marathon is the service-wide competition for active-duty Air Force Airmen which determines the command with the best long-distance runners in the Air Force. The USAF Marathon's MAJCOM Challenge "Commander's Trophy" is awarded annually by the chief of staff during the Fall Corona to the commander of the winning major command.

Additionally, more than 2,000 military personnel, who are fighting the war on terrorism from their deployed overseas locations, will participate in the USAF Marathon simultaneously on race day, at their deployed bases.

The USAF Marathon is the world's only "air and space power marathon." Runners are treated to a variety of fly-bys at regularly scheduled intervals by America's most advanced military aircraft.

The F-22 Raptor is the 2008 U.S. Air Force Marathon featured aircraft. While marathon participants and observers hear the pounding of feet on the ground, they also will hear the powerful roar of Air Force aircraft in the air, including the Raptor, as well as other selected Air Force aircraft.

The marathon, a Boston Marathon qualifying race, is certified by the USA Track and Field Association. The 26.2 mile run traverses historical places on Wright-Patterson AFB, including the National Museum of the United States Air Force, the Air Force Institute of Technology, Headquarters Air Force Materiel Command, the base's flight line, Huffman Prairie Flying Field -- where the founding brothers of modern-day flight, Orville and Wilbur Wright, first learned to fly in 1903 -- and the Wright Brothers Memorial. It also travels through neighboring Fairborn, Ohio.

Every runner who crosses the finish line will receive a commemorative finisher's medal from a senior Air Force leader. Runners also will receive a T-shirt, towel and embroidered patch depicting the highlighted F-22 Raptor.

A post-party featuring the Air Force Band of Flight, as well as food and beverages, will begin after the first person crosses the finish line. Runners and guests can tour the National Museum of the United States Air Force throughout the day.

The race and its associated events are open to the public, and for military runners, permissive TDY is authorized.

Click here to register for the marathon.

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U.S. Air Force Marathon