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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 221 to 231]
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Dennis Traxler from Oklahoma
(9/18/2006)
"making it a personal run" (about: 2006)
11-50 previous marathons
| 3 Air Force Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 I am not some great runner, but I have completed 13 marathons, including three Air Force Marathons. This is one of the best - if not the best - organized event I have ever participated in. As a runner I consider the marathon a spectator sport, but from the inside, not from the outside. And the people here are great. There are more aid stations than you can shake a stick at and it seems like you are going for a long training run with a few thousand of your closest friends. As a retired navy chief I hate to boast about another service. But the Air Force does this right!!! | |
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R. B. from Warner Robins, GA
(9/17/2006)
"My 2nd marathon, but the best... no comparison!" (about: 2006)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Air Force Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Totally impressed by every aspect of the event starting with on-line entry and hotel reservations. There were nearly three volunteers for every runner! Outstanding support from the AF and local community in/around Dayton. Already making plans for next year's run. | |
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D. H. from Pennsylvania.
(9/17/2006)
"Did it slip a bit from last year?" (about: 2006)
11-50 previous marathons
| 2 Air Force Marathons
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 This was my 2nd AF Marathon, having also raced the 2005 version. The weather was agreeable again - heavy fog the first 3+ hours, but that's better than sunny and hot. The organization is great, the aid staions are almost overwhelming in quantity and in number of volunteers, the medal was again fabulous, but two things bothered me this year: 1) The pasta dinner fell a notch or two. There was not enough food after 7:30, yet it went until 9 p.m. And, it just wasn't as tasty as 2005. 2) Also, the mile markers left a little to be desired. The early markers were tough to spot in the fog; whereas the late mile markers have a sign on the ground and a permanent pole, the early miles are marked just by a sign on the ground, which is easy to miss. One mile was way off - 11, I believe. And, there was no mile 13-mile marker, only a 13.1. Strange. | |
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M. H. from Wauseon, Ohio
(9/17/2006)
"Great time.... Needs to start sooner!" (about: 2006)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Air Force Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 This marathon was a lot of fun - great course, great organization, great medal, plenty of water stations and great food afterwards. However, it needs to start a little earlier - once the fog lifted it got warm and people started feeling the effects of the early autumn Ohio heat. If this race starts one hour earlier, the weather would have been perfect for anyone finishing in less than four hours. Even though I only ran the relay, I did run the 4th leg and it got very, very slow for everyone (full marathoners and relay teams) the last couple of miles due to the heat. | |
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J. A. from Minnesota
(9/17/2006)
"Kudos to the Air Force and their volunteers!" (about: 2006)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Air Force Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 2 I ran the 2006 race and would definitely recommend it. The course is an out-and-back that is mostly flat but does have two decent hills that make it a little more challenging. It is fairly scenic but as it is run mostly on the Wright-Patterson Base, it does not set itself up for local spectators. It does however have one of the largest and most enthusiastic volunteer corps I have witnessed. There are water/Gatorade stops at least every mile, which really helped to break up the course. You should also take the chance to visit the Air Force Museum (it's free). It is pretty cool to see the old planes and understand more of the history of the USAF. My ONLY criticism is that while they arranged for three entrances onto the base to help with parking, my entrance was closed when I tried to leave, which meant long lines leaving the base and for me a much longer drive back to my hotel. Everything else was well done from packet pick-up to race start to post-race. Kudos again to the race director and everyone involved. | |
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J. W. from All over the US
(9/17/2006)
"This is simply an outstanding experience!!!" (about: 2006)
11-50 previous marathons
| 3 Air Force Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 The Air Force puts 110% into this event. From the course volunteers, to the general and major general at the finish line handing out medals, they truly offer up a first-class marathon experience. I gave "Spectators" five stars, not because there a lot of them (most of the race is on a secure military base), but because those course workers that ARE there are giving it their all! Themed aid stations, lots of entertainment, and major enthusiasm. Thank you, Air Force! | |
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T. M. from Kentucky
(9/17/2006)
"great group pf competitors" (about: 2006)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Air Force Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 At mile 22 (I was running the half - so it was mile 9 to me), I happened across a wheelchair marathoner as she forced herself up that hill. She had trained but she was pretty spent. Everyone who passed her willed her to will herself up that hill, wrenching arm turn by turn. She inspired me and reminded me of what really counts when there's no age award or check at the end of your run. When I got in (a bit after she'd flown down the last hill) she was there to shake my hand. That's what made this marathon so great - classy volunteers, classy runners and a classy military outfit. Thanks USAF! | |
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J. H. from Twinsburg, Ohio
(9/17/2006)
"great race, good morale booster!" (about: 2006)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Air Force Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 4 Loved the race.... Would do it again. Need more signs at the expo regarding where clinics are and time slots. Volunteers were friendly, and overall it was an enjoyable race. Hills mild, but still a little challenging. | |
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j. s. from Oak Forest, IL
(9/16/2006)
"Good Job A-Force!" (about: 2006)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Air Force Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 Overall: Grade B. Starting with the course: some challenging hills and long boring stretches w/ few or no spectators. The H20 stops, however, rocked. Many stops had themes, which were very well done. The finish is great, running the last 400M with live history with many types of USAF aircraft lining the finish chute. The organization was well done with a great pasta feed, a start on time, and plenty (almost too many) H20 stops, plenty of porta-potties along the way. I was VERY UPSET that they were charging for a massage at the finish. This is very rare, and was NOT advertised. The other major hit was that the drinks at the finish had no ice. Nothing like running 26.2 and drinking warm H20 or Gatorade. These are both must fixes for next year. The medal and shirt are top-notch, and the USAF Museum is also a must-see. The pace teams rocked, especially the 3:30 group (you know who you are). I would do this again and recommend it to all. | |
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Colleen Taylor from New York, NY
(9/16/2006)
"Wow! What A Great Race!" (about: 2006)
2 previous marathons
| 1 Air Force Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 I just finished the 2006 Air Force Marathon, and am still amazed at how great this event is! This was my second marathon, and although I thought the first one was good, the Air Force blew it out of the water! I can tell this race will become the standard against which all my other races will be measured. The course was great - yes, there are hills at the start and the finish, but they are manageable, provided you hold back and save a little energy for the end. The aid stations were the best I've ever seen. From the sheer number of them (26+!) to how well-stocked they were, even for a 6:30 marathoner like me, to the great themes (pirates! Spongebob! Margaritaville!). There are not as many spectators along this course as some other marathons, probably due to security concerns on the base. But the volunteers at the aid stations were very supportive and encouraging, and the few spectators out there were great! The finish at this marathon was superb. Finishing through the row of planes was empowering. The medal is great! (Heavy and very beautiful.) The golf towel was a nice touch, as was printing everyone's name on their bib. Another nice touch: relay runners wore white tags on their backs that said "Relay," so that runners didn't get discouraged when they got passed by fresh relay runners. Overall, this was a fantastic race - well organized, great volunteers, and a wonderful pasta dinner the night before. Everything about this race is top-notch. See you in 2007!! |
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