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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 21 to 31]
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B. P. from Albuquerque, New Mexico
(9/25/2013)
"Excellent mid-sized marathon" (about: 2013)
50+ previous marathons
| 1 Air Force Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 My wife and I flew to Dayton from Albuquerque specifically to run this race and we werent disappointed. A couple of the earlier comments are true, you do park about a mile from the start so be prepared to do some walking but the parking was super organized and it was easy to find our car among the sea of cars. It's also the case that you join the half-marathoners for maybe as much as the last 7 or 8 miles but I didn't find it to be a big deal. The majority of that time they have half runners on one side of the street and full runners on the other and there are sings and volunteers indicating such. However, I can see if someone were on the bubble for their BQ time the intermingling with half runners at the end could blow it for you because for the last three miles or so you will almost certainly have to do some bobbing and weaving. Even so, I can't imagine you'd lose more than a couple minutes at the very most. I thought the course was pretty good as well. I drove around on base a bit and believe me; they could have come up with something much less appealing. I really enjoyed the effort they made in creating the 'Fairborn Fly Zone' where you are actually off base in the town of Fairborn. It's an out and back section that is maybe two miles in total length and it is an area where there are a lot of spectators. Its definitely not the girls of Wellesley from the Boston marathon but then again, what is. It was still energizing and a lot of fun to run. I also liked the finish line because there were a lot of spectators there as well, again, not Boston but the crowd support was greater than what you receive at most other marathons. The port-o-potty situation was amazing. Maybe that's a weird thing to comment on but I know my wife really appreciated it because she was having issues from the get go and said she never once had to wait to get in and there always seemed to be one nearby. I suppose that if a 50-stater were reading this review trying to decide on an Ohio race then I would say that I doubt anything in Ohio beats the Flying Pig but the Air Force marathon is a good, solid race; definitely a cut above average. | |
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J. M. from Peoria, IL
(9/25/2013)
"Nice race, not enough to repeat though" (about: 2013)
3 previous marathons
| 1 Air Force Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 Dayton Air Force Marathon was an OK race. It was actually pretty fun, I PR'd, and it was my first affiliated with the military which was cool. I'd say it's more of a race you just do once though. Pro's: Mostly flat course (only big hill was in first 2 miles). Smooth and well organized. Visible security throughout the course. Running through Fairborn provided the best and most lively scenery. Nice cool weather (rain even stopped right before the start!). Wright State students/fans were great. Water station and traffic/course control volunteers were great. Loved getting bananas at some of the later stations. Very helpful and friendly staff and volunteers. Con's: The roughly 1.5 mile walk from parking to start/finish wasn't so bad in the morning, but after running 26 miles, it really sucked walking back. No restrooms between parking and start/finish. Besides Fairborn, scenery was kind of boring. No flyover at the start this year. Unceremonious start - all of a sudden they called the wheelchairs to the line, started 1-2 minutes later, then the runners 5 minutes after that. Stark contrast to the guy yelling on the loudspeaker at the finish (find somewhere in the middle?). Getting into the parking area was a little slow, but nothing compared to getting out (took a good 30 minutes to get out). Merging the marathon and half marathon around mile marker 22 was kind of a pain. I know now what previous reviewers were talking about with having to dodge happy-go-lucky walkers for the final couple miles after running for 3+ hours straight. | |
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J. M. from Chicago
(9/25/2013)
"First Class Runners - Sparse Spectators" (about: 2013)
11-50 previous marathons
| 2 Air Force Marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 I ran this race about 5 years ago, and reviewed the comments from the 2012 race. Almost all of what they could fix, they did. The half marathon start was scheduled after the marathon, and the course was set up to minimize conflicts when the marathoners were sharing the course with the half marathoners. I heard and saw plenty of course marshalls where needed. The bigest hassle five (or so) years ago and now is the traffic to get in and out of the base. With the bombing in Boston, I am glad of the close (but reasonable) scrutiny by the security forces. They also instituted a shuttle bus system so runners could be dropped off near by, and brought in by free buses, which helped with trafic. The race is mostly on a military base, but apparently based on comments, this comes as a surprise to some folks. It shouldn't. Because it is on a military base, there are not many spectators along the course. If you run marathons to see numerous high school marching bands, this race is not for you (there was one, and it was good). In my experience, this race has more aid stations with enthusiastic volunteers than any other marathon (I've run more than 40). The pasta dinner in the Air Force Museum is beyond awesome. Approximately one-third of the finishers were active duty military, and the piggish behavior I have seen from some runners at every other race was entirely absent here. It was a pleasure and honor to run this race. Runners should be aware that there are long stretches with no shade, but I have certainly run under much more difficult circumstances, and I burn easily. I highly recommend this race, but runners should be aware of the shortage of spectators,that the security needs of the military (and unfortunately nowadays, the runners)causes some logistical delays, and you might need to wear sunscreen. | |
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D. B. from Guam
(9/24/2013)
"Good for a recreational runner or AF enthusiast" (about: 2013)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Air Force Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 The previous night's downpour brought a wet and drizzly morning start for the marathon. I started the full even in wet shoes, and met with little or no sunshine for the duration of he course. This was one of those races, tailored to the crowds, spectators, visitors, (and half-marathoners), more than to the runners. But that's ok - it was largely a fast course minus a dual-crossing of the freeway overpass, and the 21-mile marker merger with the half-marathon course. The weekend's festivities are definitely the highlights, so you ought to bring your family and plan to stay awhile in order to check out all the Air Force heritage stuff. While not yet a rival of the Marine Corps Marathon, the AF does offer it's own flavor. If you're an all-business racer, you may not find this your favorite due to there being 3-times as many halfers as full racers - all of which you seem to encounter in the last 6mi stretch. But the water stations, med support, and port-o-johnnys are unrivaled! | |
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E. R. from TEXAS (TX)
(9/23/2013)
"AMAZING organization, not enough spectators" (about: 2013)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Air Force Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 What a terrific job the organizers do! Every detail is carefully orchestrated and carried out to perfection. Well done! That being said, there are two things (and really only one that they can do anything about) to complain about: 1. Parking. The parking lot is a looooong haul from the start/finish line. This has been pointed out before, and I am sure it has been considered by organizers, but it is tough to know you have a mile slog back to the car after running 26.2. 2. Spectators. Other than Fairborne (what a great turn out!! The rain and temps sucked, and they were still there to cheer!) there were basically a couple of dozen or so people along the course, and most of them were security. It can make a huge difference to have someone yelling from the side of the road. I understand it is a massive military installation and security makes it impossible to let everyone on, so I am willing to give them a pass on this one. Just sayin' don't run this race if you need crowd support to get it done. Other than that, it was amazing. Very cool to have a three-star general draping a medal around your neck at the end. Wish the fly over could have happened this year, but I understand the politics and they put the money to better use. | |
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G. T. from Ohio
(9/23/2013)
"Why do I do this?" (about: 2013)
50+ previous marathons
| 6+ Air Force Marathons
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 1 The race expo was easy to navigate, however boring in content. This being the US Air Force you would think that maybe they would look for US made products, but alas the techno shirt was made in Egypt and the hat in China. Global economy aside - take care of the home front first. While port-a-potties were numerous most places there should have been some placed upon the sidewalks along the north side of Col Glenn Highway since the entries into the parking areas was so pitifully slow. 1/4 mile in 15 minutes - really guys - do better! The weather cooperated nicely with a gentle mist at the start and the sun didn't commence in full till the finish. (all relative) The course itself was tweaked a tad from last year and it still has more hills and canted roads than Cincinnati, Nashville, or even Atlanta. The medal remains top-notch, but I can't help wondering where it was made. | |
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J. B. from Chicago, IL
(10/7/2012)
"PR but wouldn't do it again" (about: 2012)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Air Force Marathon
COURSE: 1 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 1 This was the most boring course I have ever run. There was nothing to look at, very few fans, just UGLY! I realize it was an Air force base, but man. It started by feeling like we had to walk a mile from where we had to park to the start line. It finished by having to weave my way through all of the half-marathoner who were walking! That was really bad. People I know running the full marathon were sent on the wrong path which of course ruined their race. I am very skeptical that the race was 26.2; I had almost 26.5. I had a good race, the weather was nice but, I would never run this race again. | |
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Chuck from Cincinnati from Milford, OH
(10/3/2012)
"I knew better but followed the pack" (about: 2012)
11-50 previous marathons
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This is the 3rd year running the half. It all started at the corner of Hebble Creek and Skeel Ave. Everyone ahead of me crossed the median, and I followed. When I saw the 3 mile clock on the other side of the road, I thought? This won't be good, we're going the wrong way. I ended up doing about 14 to 14.25 miles. I still finished at 1:51, so I was happy, and I got my half marathon moneys worth by doing an extra mile or so. HEY, I caulk it up as a mistake, and an easy fix for the organizers, either a race official on the corner, or orange cones routing you around the corner and not over the median. I've run 25 full marathons so far and have heard worse horror stories than this. Moral of the story, if you want to compete... know the course. I thought maybe the course changed ? I'll look at the map next year to see. This mistake will not keep me from coming back. I enjoy this race too much ! I'll be back next year AND stay on the correct side of the road !!! Air Force does a wonderful job, and I will be back !!! | |
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S. R. from Quad Cities USA
(9/29/2012)
"Mass confusion at the half marathon" (about: 2012)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Air Force Marathon
COURSE: 1 ORGANIZATION: 1 FANS: 2 I went to the Air Force marathon in 2011 and came back in 2012 with four friends this time. I was hoping to run a 1:23:00 and qualify for New York but not once but twice we were directed off course. I ended up running 15.4 miles. Not sure I would have made the 1:23:00 but I would have placed in my age group. I emailed the marathon the next day just asking what happended and what their plans were. I never received a response. I understand mistakes can happen but after this same thing happened the year before I would think it would be a priority. The 5K and the rest of the race I really enjoyed. I'm sure they will fix this issue and would recommend the race. I spent a lot of time and travel expense for this goal race and the disappointment will not bring me back again. | |
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K. B. from NYC
(9/21/2012)
"Awesome race; small but mighty!" (about: 2012)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Air Force Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 This is my 12th marathon and it was awesome! I've run NYC a bunch of times, and it of course is a very different experience, but I really enjoyed myself. Beginning and ending among the planes was super cool. There weren't a ton of spectators (obviously, since it's partially on a military base) but the ones that are there are great and enthusiastic. I wasn't bored at all in the quieter parts. It was peaceful. I LOVED the volunteers. They were sooo encouraging and supportive. I really liked how they made it clear who had water and who had Gatorade. There were plenty of fuel stops, too, which was much appreciated. The flyover at the beginning was really cool. Though I am never hungry at the end of a race, I thought it was nice that they had pizza at the finish. I only have one complaint- people participating in the half need to be told more clearly to stay on their side of the road when the half meets up with the full. Having already run ~22 miles, it was really annoying to have to go around people walking 5 abreast. It didn't bother me that much, though, and is literally my ONLY complaint. Overall, this race is great and I am sure that I will be back! |
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