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☰
Air Force Marathon Runner Comments
Back to Air Force Marathon Information & Reviews
Course 4.3 
Organization 4.5 
Spectators 3.6
Number of comments: 344 [displaying comments 191 to 201]
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R. H. from Cincinnati
(9/16/2007)
"Some Major Glitches Among the Many Positives" (about: 2007)
6-10 previous marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 Having done a dozen or so races, my comments are: Actual Race: Fantastic Course: Mostly flat with one challenging hill Expo: Great Medal: Really great Start organization is TERRIBLE. Parking and GETTING to the parking lot is pathetic. The last mile took almost 45 minutes of bumper-to-bumper traffic. No one controlling the traffic light. All the traffic funneling into a tiny entrance. OPEN MORE GATES. With ALL of that space, ALL of the staff available, this is just not acceptable. Having to do a race with sopping wet shoes from walking in wet grass to the start is poor planning. Fortunately, we allowed an extra hour - and needed ALL of it. Many, many behind us didn't make it to the start line on time. Long lines to use the porta-potties OUTSIDE the start area. Then when you finally are ushered past the "guards" into the start area, tons of porta-potties were unused because no one knew they were there. Again - not enough support staff to tell the runners/walkers where to go and what to expect. Along the course - well staffed, but organization of water vs. Gatorade was poor. I had continually to ask what they had as all drinks were served from Gatorade cups. Many didn't know as they gave me Gatorade when telling me I had water. Lots of enthusiasm, little knowledge. The events afterward were great; food and drink plentiful. It seemed that parts of the race were done "over the top" and parts headed by people who meant well, but just didn't understand the needs of marathoners/half marathoners. | |
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S. B. from Ohio
(9/16/2007)
"Great race but need better organization" (about: 2007)
4-5 previous marathons
| 3 Air Force Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 1 I have done this one the past 3 years and there are always a lot of good points. The course is fun; awesome medal; awesome towel. But... they do need to switch to a tech shirt. As for the bad... they screwed up parking enough to ruin a lot of experiences for a lot of people! The past 2 years, it seemed fine. But 2007 was a total nightmare! The people directing traffic were clueless and they had only a few gates open for thousands of runners! I did the 1/2, which started later than the full. I watched several full marathoners darting to the start line 20 minutes after the gun fired! That is NO WAY to start a marathon... stressed over traffic and parking! Getting off the base was even worse! Felt impossible! They really messed up the parking/traffic at the expo as well! Half the lot was occupied by the 5K, so parking involved stalking a runner leaving the expo as he returned to his car! Nuts!!! But, the course is a fun one, the medals are great and in 2007, the military plane "flyovers" were awesome. There were a lot this year when in the past there have only been a few. They did the post-race food right this year... better than any post-race. I was baffled that we were restricted from crossing the field to get from the finish area to the final 1/2 mile stretch to cheer in other runners! That was a stupid change! All we wanted to do was lend support to those about to finish but were told to stay away from that area. Plenty of port-o-lets. Plenty of aid stations. However, the GU station was way too late! Believe it or not, I do love this race; just a few screwed up changes that will have me boasting less about the quality of the organization. | |
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S. P. from Western Ohio
(9/15/2007)
"Nice route changes for 2007" (about: 2007)
11-50 previous marathons
| 3 Air Force Marathons
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 The AF Marathon was top-notch, overall. Some positives: The change to the course this year, which ran out into the Fairborn community (thus adding some spectators for a change) was really nice. The expo is really well set-up and organized. The medal, as always, was fantastic. Having showers available is a real PLUS - especially since I had to go to work immediately after the run. A couple of negatives: The traffic situation is pretty horrendous. It is a 15-minute ride for me to the AF Museum. I left one hour early and spent the last 1.5 miles (45 minutes) in bumper-to-bumper, gridlocked traffic. Many runners were leaving their cars and walking. I, as the only car occupant, had to wait and then, once parked, had to sprint to the starting line. The race had just started as I arrived. It was, likewise, a 45-minute ordeal to get off the base afterwards. I don't know that there is anything that can be done to alleviate this, so just take it as a "heads up" and give yourself PLENTY of time. The shirt is all but useless. Heavy cotton and long-sleeved, it isn't really nice enough to wear as a garment and is totally unsuited for running. If they would change over to technical shirts, this event would be almost perfect. | |
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Luis Rodriguez from Houston, Texas
(8/14/2007)
"Challenging but awesome marathon" (about: 2006)
2 previous marathons
| 1 Air Force Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I discovered marathon running after AF retirement. After running other half and full marathons in Texas, I discovered the AF event. Great reason for an annual return to visit family and friends and push the physical fitness envelope another notch. So, I ran the AF Half Marathon in 2005... and loved it so much that I went back and tackled the full marathon in 2006. I even convinced family and friends in Dayton to run the AF 5K. The course is challenging but relaxing. This event has a unique personality that invites participation... its fans, volunteers, organization, scenic trails, challenging hills and that AWESOME MEDAL add to the amazing experience. I definitely love that kind of challenge so I am planning and looking forward to run the 2007 full marathon. Thank you to all the military and civilian staff who make this yearly event such a great success. See y'all soon, pardner! | |
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R. E. from Anchorage AK
(5/12/2007)
"Awesome" (about: 2006)
4-5 previous marathons
| 2 Air Force Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I've run this race twice and it will always be one of my favorites. It's a challenging course and the support is out of this world. Also, the medal is hands down the best you'll ever get. | |
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B. T. from Chicago, IL
(11/18/2006)
"Great marathon!!" (about: 2006)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Air Force Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Everything was great!!! Just a little suggestion to "Island Photography" or whoever will be doing the runners' pictures next year: Please, try to make pictures when the finishers get their medals from the Air Force general! It would be awesome, especially for the servicemen and women. | |
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V. M. from Piqua, Ohio
(11/15/2006)
"My favorite" (about: 2006)
4-5 previous marathons
| 2 Air Force Marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 Incredibly well organized with lots of space for parking and running. The base is closed to visitors but the volunteers are wonderful. | |
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D. S. from Cincinnati, Ohio
(10/16/2006)
"Great race!" (about: 2006)
4-5 previous marathons
| 2 Air Force Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 This is a great event, very patriotic! Walking through the planes at the finish is the best. The aid stations have the most enthusiastic volunteers of any race I've done so far. The expo is well organized and the long sleeve t-shirt is my favorite. The race organizers really want everyone to have a good time and it shows. The medals are the best and I have to say it's great to have them placed on your neck with a handshake. Kudos to the U.S. Air Force for a job well done. | |
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V. J. from N.Lawrence,Ohio USA
(10/10/2006)
"Great aid stations and volunteers" (about: 2006)
4-5 previous marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 This was my 4th marathon, and I loved it! I thought the hills were tough; I missed my goal time by 2 minutes... but, overall, very nice course. I loved the support of our military personnel, and I felt very honored and humbled to have a general place my medal around my neck at the finish. The aid stations were at every mile, and it really helped a lot to see the smiling faces, cheers and encouragement, esp. since your family can't really see too much of you due to the closed course. | |
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J. K. from Pittsburgh, PA
(9/26/2006)
"Great experience from dinner to finish line" (about: 2006)
First Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 First-time marathon runner. Course was great - relatively flat with the exception of a few overrated hills at the beginning and end. Aid stations were plentiful. Pace groups were helpful in tracking my time. To me, the course, other runners, and aid stations provided all the motivation I needed to run a fast pace. My goal was to finish between 4 - 4.5 hours; I finished 3:49. I also credit my time to the adrenaline factor of running my first marathon. |
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