Marathon weekend features four event distances, including the full marathon, half marathon, 10K and 5K.
First held in 1997 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Air Force, the Air Force Marathon has grown into a popular event, with runners from all 50 states and eight countries around the world experiencing the thrill of running beneath a C-17 Globemaster III on the final dash to the finish.
New this year, a Tailwind Trot 1K kid’s run has been added for the little ones to also enjoy the weekend festivities. The 1K will be held Sept. 20 prior to the 5K at Wright State University.
The 10K, half and full courses have also been rerouted to improve runner’s experience as well as adding a new corral system to help ease the flow of runner traffic at the starting line.
Runners will also be welcomed by a wide variety of new food and drink choices at the finish line.
The weekend kicks off Sept. 19 with the Air Force Marathon Sports and Fitness Expo at Wright State University’s Nutter Center.
The expo features more than 100 booths on tap with the latest developments in sports, fitness and nutrition. New this year, a free mobility clinic for lower extremity amputee runners will be offered with instruction provided by Optimus Prosthetics and American Paralympic gold medalist Grace Norman.
The two-day expo is free, open to the public and runs noon to 7 p.m. Sept. 19 and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sept. 20.
On Sept. 20, from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m., at the Holiday Inn in Fairborn, attendees can listen to guest speakers Norman and American Gold medalist Bob Schul for a panel discussion at the Breakfast of Champions.
Runners can enjoy a pre-race Gourmet Pasta Dinner at one of two seating times that evening at the National Museum of the United States Air Force. Schul, the first and only Team USA runner to win the 5,000 meters at the Olympic Games, will be the guest speaker.
Everyone who finishes a race will receive a medal with the featured aircraft, the KC-46 Pegasus, celebrating their accomplishment. An additional special medal awaits those who complete the Flight-Fight-Win! Challenge, which entails completing three marathon weekend races: the 5K, 10K and half or full marathon.
Medals are presented at the finish line by senior Air Force leaders. All races begin and end at the National Museum of the United States Air Force except the 1K Tailwind Trot kid’s run and 5K, which takes place on the Wright State University campus.
The Air Force Marathon is a Boston Marathon-qualifying event, and the course goes past numerous historical landmarks, including Huffman Prairie, where the Wright brothers perfected manned flight.
The featured aircraft for the 24th running of the marathon will be unveiled at the after party at The Greene in Beavercreek Sept. 21.
Visit www.usafmarathon.com for more information about the 2019 Air Force Marathon and get the official 2019 Air Force Marathon app at the Apple App Store or at Google Play.
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