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May 21, 2024

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 71 to 81]

More Comments: [ < 1 .. 6 7 8 9 10 .. 35 > ]

Ryan Kruse from Dayton, OH (9/28/2010) "Great Half Marathon Course" (about: 2010) First Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 This was my first half marathon and I had a great experience. The course was flat with water stops at every mile. The crowd was very supportive. Some of the fans even dressed up with different themes to entertain the runners. There were also several bands that played along the course as well. B-52 flyover at the beginning of the race was a nice touch as well. The parking wasn't the best but you have to expect that with such a big event. Overall, I had a great experience at the Air Force Marathon and plan to do it again next year!
J. M. from Ohio (9/28/2010) "Great race" (about: 2010) 6-10 previous marathons \| 4-5 Air Force Marathons COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 This was my fourth, it was the first year that I had problems getting on and off of the base. That's the only downside. I thought the fly-overs were great! Running next to Bill Rodgers was great! Love the course.
Sid Busch from Goose Creek ,SC (9/28/2010) "STOP COMPLAINING" (about: 2010) 50+ previous marathons \| 4-5 Air Force Marathons COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I am tired of reading complaints about all of the traffic and parking problems with the Air Force Marathon. This is a military base; word was put out about getting there early way in advance. The walk to the start is treated as if it were 10 miles. It wasn't; get over it. People complained last year when shuttle buses were used because there were not enough of them, so the parking was moved closer and they still complain. The Marine Corps Marathon does a great job, but read the comments on this site about people complaining about the transportation there. I met a few runners after who were very happy because they did qualify for Boston, so it is done. Stop the complaining, or start your own PERFECT MARATHON.
R. N. from NJ, USA (9/27/2010) "Amateur Hour...." (about: 2010) 11-50 previous marathons \| 1 Air Force Marathon COURSE: 3 ORGANIZATION: 2 FANS: 3 NOT A GOOD BOSTON QUALIFIER. The parking was atrocious; it took almost an hour to get into the base and parked. The full marathoners merge with the half marathoners late in the race.... That's utterly pathetic, since you are not running the same pace (7-minute marathoners merged with 10-minute half marathoners and were forced to dodge their way through the half marathoners to keep pace... NOT what you want to do late in the race). Just utterly pathetic that they can't coordinate the parking better. Maybe they need to contact the Marine Corp to learn how organize a race properly. I DO NOT RECOMMEND THIS RACE FOR A BOSTON QUALIFIER!!!
A. C. from Indianapolis, IN (9/25/2010) "My plans for next year are already made" (about: 2010) 4-5 previous marathons \| 1 Air Force Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 I've felt the race was one of the more sentimental and one of the most fun races I've done. The course has variety and it wasn't boringly flat, nor ridiculously hilly. Every segment had some sense of significance to the race planners. I liked running on a high-tech runway, and a few miles later, running past the Wright brothers' runway. As far as crowds, the start and finish, along with Fairborn, were phenomenal. We could hear them about a mile away. The parking situation left a lot to be desired. I will say that getting to the gate at exactly 0500 helped a lot. My running partner and I parked, and the moment we did, we saw a snake of headlights start. You'd think with the logistics and capabilities in a college town, they'd have more sense, but that's the one glaring flaw. Outside of that, I couldn't be more pleased.
R. W. from Colorado Springs (9/24/2010) "Work In Progress" (about: 2010) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Air Force Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 4 You can't ask for a better course than the Air Force Marathon: Fast, flat for long stretches and abundant water stations. Unfortunately, the organization/logistics before the race constituted the glaring flaw for this race (as it was for 2009, judging from the comments... so little has been fixed). The only means of getting onto the base was through two gates, that had little to no police support, just poorly timed traffic lights. Traffic was backed up for about 3 miles one hour before the race and traffic was barely flowing. If I hadn't been carpooling with someone from the local area and knew back-roads, we never would have made it on time. At the gun, we ran by large fields where you could see the off-base traffic and the hundreds of cars trying to get to the race already underway. It looked like the final scene from Field of Dreams. The race officials need to have people/cops directing traffic into base two lanes at a time (not single file) and utilizing the whole field for parking. If you are going to do this race next year, do not attempt to show up 90 minutes early... you'll be late. You need to aim for 2 hours early or more to be on time.
C. H. from Anderson, SC (9/24/2010) "Great Course! Great Organization!" (about: 2010) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Air Force Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 3 I disagree with many of the past reviews I read before running this race. I thought the spectators were good, considering the majority of the race is on a base. If you need tons of spectators you may want to stick to Chicago, NY, etc. I thought the course was fairly easy, with only a few small hills mixed in. I thought the expo was above average, unlike some reviewers in the past. This was my tenth marathon and one of the better ones I have race. I had a PR of 3:08 on this course.
Sid Busch from Goose Creek,SC (9/23/2010) "AMAZING START" (about: 2010) 50+ previous marathons \| 4-5 Air Force Marathons COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was my fouth time running the Air Force Marathon, and it keeps getting better. This was the first year that all of the runs, 5K, 10K, Half and Full sold out. The marathon starts and finishes at the Museum of the US AIR FORCE. The start had a fly-over by a B-52 bomber, and during the run also, as well as a replica of the Wright Flyer built by the Wright Brothers. The course is mostly on the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, but you have fantastic support from base personnel, and themed aid stations as well as bands. For 2 miles from before mile 9 past 10, the course goes out into the community of Fair Born, and the residents show great support, which helps a lot. Mostly a flat course, though there are some hills, the biggest being at mile 1. At the finish you are presented a very heavy medal by a senior Air Force officer.
R. C. from TN, USA (9/22/2010) "Great except for parking NIGHTMARE!" (about: 2010) 4-5 previous marathons \| 1 Air Force Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 5 Everything about the race was good to great. The course, the volunteers, and the event as a whole were very sharp. The parking was ridiculously stupid. I was warned at the expo to get to the start 90 minutes or more early. I was there 90 minutes early and waited in line to park for the entire time. I ran to the start line and got there 3 mins after the gun and had to fight through all of the 10K walkers. I would return if they addressed the parking issue. The planes were awesome.
d. p. from Mitchell, Il (9/22/2010) "Very nice marathon - run it" (about: 2010) 6-10 previous marathons \| 1 Air Force Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 5 I recently completed the 2010 USAF Marathon and really enjoyed it. The medals are really nice, and having them presented to you by active military staff was a nice touch. I did not finish as well as I had hoped, but that had nothing to do with the race. My only complaint would be the LONG walk to and from the parking area to the race start/finish. Before the start it was no problem, but after the race it was not what I needed. I always make it a point to get out and stretch the legs after a race, but not right after the race on the walk back to the car. Overall, I would definitely recommend this race.

More Comments: [ < 1 .. 6 7 8 9 10 .. 35 > ]

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