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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 281 to 291]
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A. M. from East Coast
(9/20/2004)
 "Well done mid-size marathon" (about: 2004)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Air Force Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 Packet pickup - Free parking, easy to get to, open late, there was a problem with the ages on the chip (mine was off by two years), for some reason my after marathon party pass was not included in the bag. Race morning - Lots of parking, took all of 10 minutes to drive from Days Inn and park car. Lots of port-a-potties. Started on time. I was expecting a fly-over, but there was none until the 5k at 10:00 a.m. I liked that the relayers and 1/2s started after the marathon, which allowed us to set our pace. Even though there were 3000 runners, never felt like I was in a race of more than 200 folks. Race - Plenty of water stops, decorated aid stations and enthusiastic volunteers, road closed to traffic lonely for 26.2 folks from mile 7-19, although basically flat from 7-19. Quite hilly from 1-6 and 20-26, but for every up hill (and there were many) there is also a downhill. Miles 20-26 difficulty was compounded by quite a few 1/2 marathon walkers to avoid. They allowed headphones. Nice finish through airplanes, handshake with two star general. Post race - Massages offered, food was weak (only bananas, cookies, water and some new protein bar.) Graet medal, great t-shirt, best off all is the Air Force Museum. I spent over 4 hours there after race looking around. Overall - If the weather is right, and you can handle some lonely stretches, this is a potentially fast marathon. After touring downtown Dayton, I can see why it is not included in the course. | |
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R. K. from Estero, FL
(9/20/2004)
 "Wonderful!" (about: 2004)
1 previous marathon
| 1 Air Force Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 This was the most organized and respectful run I have done yet. Wide streets which were all closed to traffic, aid stations seemed like every mile or less, great volunteers! I really enjoyed it! | |
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C. H. from United States
(9/19/2004)
"The Air Force does a GREAT job with the race." (about: 2004)
3 previous marathons
| 1 Air Force Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 3 Great course. Yes, there were some elevation changes, which keep things interesting. The young military people were very involved, some running with heavy backpacks, some working the aid stations while others patrolled the course on bikes. All were very polite and inspiring. Running through the planes at the finish was so cool, as was the medal with the F-117 Nighthawk on it! We arrived a couple hours before the start and had no problem parking. A wonderful event that I would recommend to anyone. | |
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G. M. from Dallas, Texas
(9/19/2004)
 "This will be a tradition!" (about: 2004)
50+ previous marathons
| 1 Air Force Marathon
COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 1 This was my 89th marathon and I loved it! It was a tough course...thanks to the two hills, but the rest of the course was beautiful, well marked and very well hydrated! I have never seen so many aid stations! The end of the marathon was most memorable...the aircraft as the finishing chute - incredible. The pasta dinner in the museum was extraordinary and the medal presentation by officers was very special. Thanks to all the volunteers...they really made the difference. | |
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R. V. from Dexter, MI USA
(9/19/2004)
 "A fun race despite its drawbacks" (about: 2004)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Air Force Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 1 I thoroughly enjoyed this race in 2004. The weather helped enormously: 50 at the start and never more than low to mid 60's. At the finish line you get a medal almost immediately after crossing and it is handed to you by uniformed U.S. Air Force personnel. Not obvious to me that it was a commanding officer, but that's not important anyway. I never did find post-race goodies: food, drinks, etc. Did I just miss that area? As to the course: I have run Big Sur and the first hill is sort of like a mini Hurricane Point: about half as long and only as steep as the gentler parts of Hurricane Point. Still it was a challenge. Coming back the hill between mile 23 and 24 wasn't nearly as long or steep, but once again is was a challenge. I thought the freeway on ramp that came just before it was harder. Also - running back down the first big hill when you get to mile 24 was seriously painful - my hips and quads were screaming at that point. The course itself is definitely deserted except for the water stop personnel. There were 26 aid stations and the volunteers couldn't have been more enthusiastic. I especially liked the themed stops: there was a Wizard of Oz stop, a Rock 'n Roll Radio Station stop, and others which I'm having trouble remembering right now. I wouldn't have any hesitation about running this one again. | |
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donna creditor from Normal, IL
(9/19/2004)
"Great race! Well organized." (about: 2004)
6-10 previous marathons
| 1 Air Force Marathon
COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 2 Train for hills is my first thought. The beginning and the ending are very hilly. Lots of aid stations, so many that I felt I could skip 2 and be ok. What support there was on the base was great! I liked the expo too. The course can get a little monotonous around the flight line, but all in all I liked it (well maybe not the hills so much). I highy recommend this one. The medals are fabulous and the shirts are great. | |
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D. C. from Columbus Ohio
(9/19/2004)
"Unique Race and Lots of Fun" (about: 2004)
4-5 previous marathons
| 1 Air Force Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 I really liked having the option to pick up my number and chip on race day! Saved me the expense of a hotel and I was not going to sleep before the race anyway. I could see the starting line from where I parked so I did not have to walk very far and the weather was just about perfect. Not many fans because we were running on the base but the people at the water stops gave you a nice boost. I am a runner that has to hit the rest rooms several times during the race (just how I work) and there were more placed to do this than any other race I have been in and there were no lines so this was fantastic for me! The hills were challenging but I trained exclusivly in hills so they were absolutly no problem. Lol. You do not have to fight crowds of runners like in Chicago so it is a good place to put the pedal to the medal and race. I got a PR shattering my old record by 22 minutes! Great race! | |
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M. H. from Powell, Ohio
(9/19/2004)
"Awesome experience - WPAF does it well!!" (about: 2004)
3 previous marathons
| 1 Air Force Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 Before running this marathon, I had heard mainly about the hills. While the course has its share, they are doable with training. What I didn't hear was how scenic and serene the course is. Aid stations were plentiful. Highly appreciated all the nice amenities - gels, several fruit stops, cold sponges - WOW! The Air Force did a great job. Fighter jets overhead inspired us all. This is a great one with the organization you would expect. | |
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Peanut USAF from Dayton Ohio
(9/18/2004)
"Great race -- poor organization" (about: 2004)
3 previous marathons
| 1 Air Force Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 5 Despite the lack of support for the expo and the after race activities, this continues to be a great race. This is certainly a "hilly" race and the hill by the Wright Brothers Memorial is similiar to Heart Break Hill. I would recommend the relay to get the lay of the land before trying the marathon. The half marathon has the quality of a marathon w/o all the miles. A challenging course -- second only to the Big Sur in California (at least of those I have run) for the most elevation. | |
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John McKague from Jacksonville, FL
(5/24/2004)
 "Top 10 Marathons to do" (about: 2003)
11-50 previous marathons
| 1 Air Force Marathon
COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Very well organized marathon. The finish medal was awesome. The airman, airwoman and civilian workers did a great, job supporting the runners along the course deserve a 3-day pass. The MP?s at the bottom of the hill at the 23.5 mile mark where very encouraging. The finish line was magnificent. I plan on doing this again in 2004. I will do more hill training. Weather was great. Post-race party was a blast. |
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