I've run the Air Force Marathon the last 7 years and plan on being back next year. The only thing I didn't like this year was the change from the long-sleeve t-shirts to the technical shirt. The aid stations are plentiful and well staffed. The medals are by far the nicest I have seen. I also like the towel at the end. Nice touch! I love this marathon!

Challenging course with great participants (I chatted with a few of them when I slowed down). I found no trouble with weaving, nor did anyone need to weave around me (at least I don't think). We lacked spectators, but it was on a military base so that only added to the authenticity of the marathon. The scenery was great throughout the marathon. I am glad that I took my camera and was able to use it. I was one of those people who procrastinated on lodging, but that was a minor problem. The expo was nice. There were not too many vendors. The food tent was a welcoming attraction to finishing the 26.2 course. The ice water tubs were also a plus in my book. The little editorials on the pavement in chalk was a nice addition to the marathon experience; perhaps this can hold the solution for those complaining about the "slow crowd." I did have trouble searching for my results using my name. I kept telling myself, "I knew I ran the race!" Hey, let's hear it for the volunteers.

This was my first Air Force Marathon and I enjoyed it very much. I plan to return again. My only complaint, like others, was having to encounter the half-marathon walkers over the last 5 miles. After running 21 miles and already being mentally and physically drained, the last thing one wants to do is have to weave in and out and around walkers. This really can just break a runner mentally. The marathoners and half-marathoners both deserve to have their own finishing miles. I am sure the half-marathoner walkers were annoyed with the marathoners as much as the marathoners were with the half walkers. I applaud the half walkers for taking part in the event and they certainly deserve the right, but this problem could and should easily be corrected by race organization.

Otherwise, this is a fine race from the expo to the finishing area. The finisher's medal is by far the best I have ever received.

I love the new course, and although they are few (which I don't mind), the spectators are A+. The volunteers and aid stations are great and I thank each and every one of you!!!

Something has to be done about the traffic and start times. I have run seven fulls marathons and eight half's, and I've never missed a start until now. And although I live 20 minutes from the base, I gave myself 90 minutes to get there and still missed the half start by 18 minutes. Good thing it wasn't a full or I'd never run this race again. I had a ton of cars behind me so I wasn't the only one. I had to run through the tire tread dirt to get around the walkers for way longer than I care to remember. If I were a full runner trying to get around slower runners and walkers like this at the end of a race, I would be furious, so I sympathize. I run The Pig every year and make it to the start from Springboro within 90 minutes. This is an organized military base; what gives? Maybe the events should be run on separate days. I hope parking improves, but I won't be back until it does.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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."

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.