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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 111 to 121]
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Joe Church from Harrisburg, PA
(9/23/2009)
"Great race in all ways (but one)" (about: 2009)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Air Force Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 Weather was perfect with a cool start and light breeze. The flags falling from the sky and the jets at the start were awesome. I liked the mix of early hills, flat and hills at the end; it used more of a variety of muscles than a flat course. Stations well stocked and staffed. There were some kids to "high-five" me along the way. A PR run, and now I'm going back to Boston. Nice medals were given out by top brass. What else could you ask for? ...Well the one thing, as others have mentioned, is that the convergence of the half-marathoners with the marathoners for the last few miles can be a drawback, though I doubt that it had much real impact on my time. Great job, and thanks! | |
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G. T. from Lexington, KY
(9/22/2009)
"Good Race, But..." (about: 2009)
11-50 previous marathons
| 6+ Air Force Marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 2 I have run the AF Marathon for seven straight years. Everything about this marathon fits the bill for a top-notch marathon except the fact that marathon runners have to weave through half-marathoners for about the last 5 miles or so. At the end of a marathon, the last thing one wants is to have to expend energy weaving through half-marathon walkers and slower paced runners. Nothing against these runners/walkers, but the marathon organizers need to figure out the logistics to avoid this, especially as the half-marathon is growing each year. My first year at the AF Marathon this was not as much of a problem, as the the number of runners of all distances was much lower; but with the numbers growing, it has become a drag at the end of the marathon. I hope it gets fixed, as I would like to return to what otherwise is a good race. They give out a great finisher`s medal, by the way. | |
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E. B. from Ohio
(9/22/2009)
"Great Experience; Needs a Few Improvements" (about: 2009)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Air Force Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 This was my first marathon and it was a very good experience. The aid stations were always full. The only drawback was weaving through the half-marathoners during the last four miles. | |
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R. K. from United States
(9/22/2009)
"Miserable at the end" (about: 2009)
4-5 previous marathons
COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 Everything about this race was wonderful until the end. The aid stations were plentiful and well-organized. The volunteers were helpful and pleasant. However, I ran into a problem (pun intended) at about mile 20: VERY slow half-marathoners. I applaud their efforts and appreciate the fact that they are out there instead of on their couches. But I was running and they were, well, lollygagging. As a four-hour marathoner I had to battle my way around hundreds of oblivious three-hour half-marathoners, who were practically walking with their arms linked and chatting loudly about celebrity gossip and the latest sale at Penny's. This had a negative effect on my time as well as my distance, as my GPS watch later proved (since I had to serpentine through the walkers, each "mile" at that point wound up being MORE than a mile - not what you want at the end of a marathon). Other than the miserable end, it was a good race. But it was bad enough that I would be reluctant to return and/or recommend it to a friend. | |
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R. R. from Memphis, Tennessee
(9/21/2009)
"A Top-Notch Race After You Get There!" (about: 2009)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Air Force Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 This is a great event once you get to the start line. I think that the parking and the bus situation needs some work. There were at least two ways onto the base and these were outlined at the expo, so make sure to pay attention so you won't get caught in traffic lines that could delay you literally for hours. From the parking area you need to catch a bus to the start. This process was a bit unorganized and we just decided to walk to the start after waiting a long time at a bus stop where no buses ever came. It wasn't that far to walk and other bus stops seemed to have buses coming so why our bus stop was being ignored is something of a mystery. Next year maybe a lighted pathway can be set up for those who can't wait for the bus so they can more easily make their own way to the start line without walking through the dark and crawling under a chain link fence like we had to. The bottom line is that you need to arrive here VERY EARLY to make your race on time. As for the race itself nothing could be better! I ran the marathon and my wife and son ran the 10K. We all had a great experience. The race started with a pair of fighters overflying the crowd and then shooting straight up into the sky with afterburners aglow. Very cool! I have run many marathons and none has had the course support of this one. There seemed to be a water station at nearly every mile and the volunteers were great. The marathon ran through downtown Dearborn and the locals seemed to be having a grand old time cheering us on. It was really nice to have so much support from the revelers. The start and finish was on a runway lined with neat aircraft from many different eras and vintage aircraft were flying overhead during most of the race. Nice touches! The course was mostly flat with only a couple of hills and the weather was perfect. I ran with a great pace group that helped me set a new PR. The finisher's medal was substantial and the size varied depending on the distance you completed. I loved my BIG marathon medal but even the 10K medal was a prize worth having and was larger than many marathon medals I own. So overall the Air Force did a great job setting up a top-notch event. With a little more traffic control and bus coordination at the start, this could be the race to watch as the "up and comer." | |
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J. B. from Mason, OH
(9/21/2009)
"Better Traffic Plan Needed" (about: 2009)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Air Force Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 1 I did the half. It started at 8:30 and was right on time. The course is a relatively flat course with a couple of grades that aren't too bad. Very few spectators. Water and Gatorade stops were fine. The problem was that many participants were still stuck in traffic when the half started. I hit Exit 15 off of I-675 at 7:15 and didn't make it to the start line until 8:25. You have to enter the base (single lane entry) and then take a shuttle bus to the start line. If you want to do a warm-up of any kind you will have to get there much earlier unless they fix the traffic plan for next year. I started in the back of the pack, so it was very congested at the start and didn't thin out until mile 5. Not a great experience but the traffic issue is probably making me grade this lower than it should be. | |
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C. K. from Michigan
(9/21/2009)
"Very well organized, enjoyable race" (about: 2009)
3 previous marathons
| 1 Air Force Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 This race is very well organized, with good directions for parking and shuttles to the start. Get there at least an hour ahead, though, it takes awhile to park and shuttle to the start. Pluses: Great volunteers. Enthusiastic spectators in Fairborn. Very well organized. A gazillion aid stations. Awesome swag, especially the medal. Flyover at beginning was awe-inspiring. Minuses: The course is not super exciting and there were few spectators on base (although I was A-OK with that). A few hills at the beginning, which seemed fun, but the same few at the end seemed brutal (it's all relative!). As (apparently) in years past, the half-marathoners are running the same course toward the end. For me (3:50), this meant that I had to compete with hordes of half-marathon walkers for the last five miles or more. This really sucked, to say the least. I hope they reconsider the routes/race start times so that this is not the case in future years. It took me 35+ minutes to get through the ladies' bathroom line before the race started. I discovered later that there were a zillion porta-potties farther on, near the start line. I wish this had been pointed out with a sign and/or volunteer stationed nearby - I nearly missed the race start because I was in the potty line so long and I was definitely not the only one! | |
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A. N. from Chicago, IL
(9/21/2009)
"Caters to volunteers and walkers, not runners." (about: 2009)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Air Force Marathon
COURSE: 2 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 5 First, I would like to thank the many enthusiastic volunteers who made this race possible. The themed aid stations were fun and entertaining, and there were A LOT of aid stations along this course. No shortage of water or Gatorade that I saw. The folks at Fairborn cheering on the runners were fantastic! A few areas could use improvement. Months in advance of this race, I booked a hotel very near the start area, next to the Air Force Museum gate. I could literally see the start area from my room. However, no runners are allowed entrance at this gate; it is only for staff and volunteers. There were hundreds of vehicles parked on the grass near the start (all volunteers?), and dozens of acres of available open space on which to park, yet runners were not allowed to enter or even to be dropped off at the museum gate. I had to drive or take the hotel shuttle to another (further) gate, then wait alongside spectators for an available bus, only to be dropped off at the museum and still walk 15 minutes to the start! All together it took me about 45 minutes to get from the hotel to the start. I could have walked it in 10 minutes. This is needlessly complicated and inconvenient. At the very least, there should be buses designated for runners only. We should not be required to compete with spectators for available seats on race morning. The course was decent but had one serious flaw: the half-marathon route joins up with the full marathon course at about mile 21. I had to weave in between and pass hundreds of walkers in the last 5 miles. I have never seen this many walkers on a marathon course. Congestion this late in the race is the result of poor planning and needs to be changed. Also, the online course maps had no north/south orientation. Finally, at the finish line party, several volunteers were cutting in line in front of runners to get pizza. I have nothing against rewarding dedicated volunteers with perks, but it should not be done at the expense of runners who have paid a lot of money, incurred travel expenses, and trained for months to be here. All in all, I cannot recommend this marathon to serious runners, especially those who are traveling a considerable distance. There are so many better and more runner-friendly marathons out there. However, if you live in the area and want to volunteer, this is probably a good bet. | |
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M. M. from Troy, OH
(9/21/2009)
"Amazing Experience" (about: 2009)
11-50 previous marathons
| 6+ Air Force Marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 My wife and I have done either the full or the half since 2003. Each year improvements are made and this year is no different. Tech shirts are great. The half is a faster course, and the organization is great as usual. The final .1 mile is packed with people and airplanes, and offers a finish like no other race. It is an amazing feeling to have all of the top officers handing out medals to all of the finishers. Thank you, Colonel Mitchell, for giving me my finisher's medal. Parking, bag check, post-race food, and the expo also improve each year. Thank you, Air Force and USAF Marathon, for a great race. See you next year. | |
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Mike Smith from West Virginia
(9/21/2009)
"Great Experience" (about: 2009)
First Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Great experience. This was my first marathon, and it turned out to be a great weekend. Everything was SO organized. Great job to everyone who was associated with the marathon. |
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