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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 241 to 251]
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Mikel Gregory from Dover, Delaware
(9/27/2005)
"Great Race" (about: 2005)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Air Force Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 My first marathon and glad I chose this one. Plenty of aid stations and the people were extremely friendly. Limited spectators due to the location on the Air Force base and force protection concerns, but the workers at the aid stations really picked up the slack. Awesome finish at the museum! | |
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A. R. from Powell, Ohio
(9/23/2005)
"Very challenging course & outstanding finish line" (about: 2005)
3 previous marathons
| 1 Air Force Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 This marathon has its ups & downs, literally. The expo was ok. Had to wind through the vendors to get to the marathon shirt pick-up. VERY unhappy to have all the medium & small shirts gone by 6:30 pm of the day before the marathon. So I guess those of us who traveled to the marathon had to settle for the large or extra-large shirts. Pretty pathetic since back in July I had marked my registration for a medium shirt. When I reached the Hope Hotel, where the marathon office had supposedly set up my registration via the phone 2 months prior, there was no reservation record for my family. This could have been a major setback for the marathon. But fortunately the hotel had a couple of last minute cancellations and we got a room. Due to large number of marathoners staying at the hotel, the front desk must have been busy with check-out and we didn't get a wake up call. Thank goodness we also set our clock just in case. I was disappointed that the website advertised a 4:15 pace group but upon arrival to the expo found out that only a 4:10 or a 4:20 was offered (as well as faster & longer pace groups). The marathon itself was excellent. The course was hilly at the beginning & the end. The challenge was to not walk the hills at 20 & 23. There were virtually no spectators since we were on base. Relay runners were added throughout the entire race so there always seemed to be someone sprinting past you. More than enough water stops, porta-potties, & Gu provided. Wet sponges were handed out periodically, which were greatly appreciated to freshen up while running. The ending is absolutely the best of any marathon I have run or seen. You run the final .2 among jets into a finish line with USAF generals placing your medal on your neck. The medal is huge and extremely handsome. The best bling in my collection by far. Post-race food was adequate and plentiful. The USAF marathon golf towel was a surprise gift to end a very fine race. I didn't run my fastest time, nor did I run my slowest time either. I went with 3 other runners, one of whom qualified for Boston with the race. If you are looking for a challenging course with a superb finish, then this is well worth the frustrations of the hotel & expo. | |
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B. C. from Ohio
(9/22/2005)
"KUDOS TO BEARINGPOINT & THE AIR FORCE" (about: 2005)
11-50 previous marathons
| 4-5 Air Force Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 This is a must do race for all running enthusists! Its a very challenging course (hills) and an awesome finisher's medal! 4-Star Generals and other military personnel place the finisher medal around your neck when you cross the finish line! They even had 'fly-overs' with the U-2 and figter jets. The presenting sponsor, BearingPoint, did an great job. The free food, $1 beers, live bands, medals, and t-shirts are the best in the country. Its a must do! | |
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A. P. from Honolulu, HI
(9/22/2005)
"There's a reason I run it every year..." (about: 2005)
50+ previous marathons
| 6+ Air Force Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 And I recommend it to any runner. The organizers outdid themselves this year, especially with the pasta dinner (with great desserts) in the AF Museum. Loved getting my post-race towel from my sister. The course is a challenge, holding special memories for me and my husband. BZ to all the finishers! The Air Force does it best, I'll be back next year. | |
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JAIME GONZALEZ from WARNER ROBINS, GA
(9/21/2005)
"First marathon, had a great time" (about: 2005)
1 previous marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 This was my first marathon so I have nothing to compare it to. I can tell you the hills at the end made the last 5 miles fun. Lucky for me I had read about the hills on this web page and was prepared physically and mentally. The organization was wonderful. I was never alone on the course due to the over 1200 runners so that made it go by faster. Plenty of water/aid stations. I am looking forward to next years and my next marathon in January. | |
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P. D. from OHIO
(9/21/2005)
"AWESOME! AWESOME! AWESOME!" (about: 2005)
11-50 previous marathons
| 4-5 Air Force Marathons
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 Thank you Air Force, BearingPoint, and all the volunteers. This race continues to get better and better every year. The U-2 fly over was out of this world. I always encourage folks to run this event. Its a challenging course but worth every blood, sweat, and tear. The medals are awesome and coming across the finish line and shaking hands with the Generals and other Sr. Officers is incredible. The Post Race Party with two bands, $1 beers, and free food was wonderful. This is a must do race!! Thank you. | |
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Jim Skibo from Cedar Hill, Texas USA (Dallas)
(9/21/2005)
"A superb race in a historic setting. " (about: 2005)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Air Force Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 One would expect anything sponsored by the military to come off without a hitch and the AF Marathon didn?t disappoint?flawless execution. Special kudos to the Air Force dude who ran the whole race in a Star Wars storm trooper outfit. Support: More H2O stations than you can imagine, at least every mile and I think more than that. They even had one at mile 26! I think a few may have varied but they all pretty much had water followed by Gatorade. No waiting at any station, they had plenty of volunteers and plenty of full cups ready for the runners. Gu packs at several locations throughout the entire course. I don?t use Gu so I can?t give an exact count, but it was more than the one or two locations most races have. Post race food was fruit; bagels, Gatorade, hot dogs, nacho chips, salsa, and several varieties pastries. They even had great tasting cranberry scones?nice touch. I pigged out on those. Spectators: I ranked this as a 5 even though there weren?t any to speak of. Because the tight security of an air base, there weren?t too many spectators other than the families who live on base, but the spectators who were along the route were very enthusiastic. The Medal: If you like your medals like I do, then you really want to run this one because the Finisher?s medal is fantastic. They feature a different plane each year and this year it was a U2. The medal is 3? in diameter and has beautiful detail in high-relief. It is 3/8? thick. This one got plenty of comments. The Course: You?d think an air base would be flat as a pancake but that isn?t the case! There is a total of 550? of ascent that is divided between two series of hills. The first 200? is between miles 1 and 2 and then a moderate descent from miles 2 to 5. Coming back though, you are doing that in reverse so you?re climbing 220? from miles 21 thru 24 and some of the hills get your attention that late in the race. My daily runs have hills so I was comfortable with that, but I passed many, many runners who had to walk the last hills. The Weather: 63 to 68?.totally overcast?.and 97% humidity. I?ve run both the Cincinnati Flying Pig and now the Air Force Marathons. Both are about the same age?8 years but each has a very different feel to it. The AF is a runner?s marathon?serious. The Pig is boisterous and meant for everyone. Both have superb organization and support. If you wan the city lights and fans, the Pig is your race. If you want an unusual setting and a calmer quieter marathon with serious runners, then the AF is your race. | |
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william hege from maryville, tn
(9/21/2005)
"most organized race" (about: 2005)
3 previous marathons
| 1 Air Force Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 I would like to commend everyone involved in organizing this race. Everyone who worked on planning or during the race,especially the crew at bikini bottoms at 13.1 and all the kids that cheered me on at 17(i think). The turn to the finish was great running between the aircraft and fans was great. There aren't alot of 'fans' out on the course, but with very well staffed aid stations at every mile, the workers were plenty of encouragement.I only have one complaint, the finishing towels were gone by the time I was done. I will definitely run this one again. | |
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J. B. from Chicago
(9/20/2005)
"Military jets provide air cover for marathoners" (about: 2005)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Air Force Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 This was the first time I ran this race. It was so well organized! If you were thirsty or hungry on the course it was your own fault for they had fluid stops every mile and had gel at several spots on the course along with bananas and oranges. Because the route is mostly on the restricted-access Wright Patterson Air Force Base there weren't many spectators but the volunteers really were enthusiastic. I ran with a great pace group and hit my goal. The route is mostly flat with two small gradual hills that hardly seem like anything. The dinner was inside the most awesome museum with Air Force jets all around! If you're tired of the big crowds at Marine Corp then you should run the Air Force. | |
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Don Pattison from Bartlett, IL
(9/20/2005)
"The most fun marathon I've ever run" (about: 2005)
6-10 previous marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 This was the most perfect marathon I've ever run. The organization was great and the weather couldn't have been better. The hill on about mile 22 could have been smaller and shorter and not so steep but still an outstanding fun time. I started out with the 3:50 pace group lead by Bill Sanders and soon met most of the other folks in the group and compared different races and goals. Annie was our course specialist since she had just retired from the Air Force and had run the course before (she even warned us about the hill at 22 on our way out). Antoinette from Indiana had done some other course across the USA so we got to compare notes and Jennifer also from Indiana was on a mission to qualify for Boston. Then there was 'Louie' just a ball of energy at the start of the race, holding his gel packs and a camera to record the event. Pace leader Bill got most of his group over the finish line well in front of the 3:50 target. GREAT JOB Bill. The folks that came out and cheered us on were great. Getting to run between two long lines of Air Force planes that last 1/4 mile or so to the finish and have one of several Air Force generals put your finisher medal on was also very cool. The medal with the U2 plane was the biggest I've received to date and was very nice as were the other items, t-shirt, mini towel and warming blanket. |
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