Real runner feedback on course feel, crowd support, aid stations, and logistics (parking, hotels, restaurants).
The course is boring with the exception of the Fairborn Fly Zone. The aid stations are well supported and the volunteers were exceptional. There are plenty of aid and medical stations which are needed because this race is HOT. I understand the events of this weekend have to correspond with the Air Force birthday, but mid-September is not anywhere close to ideal (90º+ temps at the finish for most runners). I've never seen so many people from a lead corral walk. I even saw a pacer that failed to finish anywhere close to their assigned time. The race start of 7:30 is simply too late. The race directors encourage getting there extra early because of security measures and traffic, so you end up waiting 3-4 hours for a relatively small race. It's really unnecessary but they insist on doing the 10k first at 6:30 as part of the "Fly Fight Win" challenge – why they don't do the 5k and 10k together on Friday is beyond me. A 6:30 marathon start would improve this race experience tenfold. On another note, the F-35 flyovers were really cool. For what it's worth, if it weren't for the Armed Forces Series Challenge, I would not do this marathon.
Depending on the weather forecast, a slightly more conservative pacing strategy may be best. Wear sunscreen as there is not much shade. Race day will involve a ton of waiting. Bring something to entertain yourself. The number of portajohns seemed appropriate but the lines got pretty long about an hour before race start. Go early if you can!
I stayed in Vandalia around a bunch of walkable restaurants and a Walmart. I didn't bother with trying to park on base and then walking a mile to the start (never mind having to walk all the way back in 90 degree heat afterwards). Instead, I just rode the shuttle from the Nutter Center and glad I did. Super easy and alleviates some of the race day stress.
I liked the hills, varying terrain, and part of the run on base. It was an Honor to have an officer hang the medal over my head and congratulating the accomplishment. Meeting military personnel on the training journey is priceless. Thankful for the eleven years in a row I participated.
Salt tablets for a hot race day. Find a running team for training is priceless.
Arrive early! Then relax until race start.
You would expect the military to be well organized and the Air Force delivers in that area. Generous on course support, and the air base is a unique setting for this race. The weather was bad, with a 40 minute delay for lightning and a hot muggy day on the course - it was yellow flag conditions for the whole race. While the course is mostly not hilly, it isn't pancake flat either, and the hills that are on the course hit you at the end when you are digging deep already. Visit the the museum, the exhibits are awesome and you can see all that for free as part of the dinner. This was only my third marathon, but despite the heat and the weather, I still made a PR and qualified for Boston, so all in all a good day.
I bought a VIP parking pass and was glad I did, quicker into the lot and a much shorter walk to the car after the race.
The staff and volunteers were very helpful and accommodating. However, because it falls in september you run the risk of an Indian summer. I trained with most of my summer runs falling in the high 60s/low 70s. This race was 80* two hours in. There was little to no shade, many miles With zero human interaction and two huge hills between miles 21-25.
If you're an experienced marathon runner you should be able to take all of the above in stride. This was my 3rd marathon and I think I learned that September is just too dicey when it comes to heat to spend months of training for conditions out of your control.
Not enough portable toilets - get to race early to get in line.
Great course, challenging without being excessively taxing. Volunteers and community are source of inspiration and spirit.
Over half of the race is a gradual uphill run, the weather is usually humid with high pollen count.
Not all the hotels are nice, make sure to review. Many restaurants serve decent food and service has always been really good at whichever establishment we've attended
I like that they don't start the full and half marathon at the same time.
Great Course!! Heavy involvement by community to make sure everything is right. Fantastic enthusiasm for runners. Great Venues
Be prepared for any kind of weather. This is early fall in the Midwest so temps can range from 90 down to upper 30s Sunny and hot with thunderstorms to cold and windy.
The website has everything you need.
Well laid-out course and a tremendous gathering of both runners and spectators, not to mention the vast number of volunteers that donate selflessly many, many hours of their time to insure that the entire event runs smoothly and successfully!
Positive attitude gives freedom of mind!
Water, Water, Water!
Fast, flat, amazing venue -- mile 20 runs round Huffman Prairie where the Wright Brothers tested their airplanes. Huge supportive crowds.
DO NOT MISS THE PASTA DINNER! In the National Museum of the USAF, under the wings of a B-52 bomber. Arrive early on race day. Security is rigorous -- the race is on Wright Patterson Air Force Base -- and parking can be a mile from start through long grass. Wear baggies or grocery bags to keep shoes dry in dew. Water, energy drink at every mile, so don't carry hydration. 13-20 is quietest part of course. Be prepared to hit the wall when motivation is lowest.
Check out sponsors on race websites. This is a huge event and nearly every hotel offers amenities to runners. Holiday Inn, Beavercreek offers late check out to grab a shower on the way to the airport after the race.
I enjoy the friendly atmosphere and great support from staff and volunteers ..... just like running with family. Love the Fairborn enthusiasm and support. The fly by is an awesome way to start this race.
Go easy on the first 5 miles and enjoy the rolling hills on the last few miles.
Arrive early to avoid delays and secure a good parking spot.
This is a great race. The pasta dinner is held in the National Air and Space Museum. It's well organized with great crowd support through neighboring communities and while running on the actual base.
The last 5 miles of the full and half are pretty hilly so I would not pick up your pace if you think things are going well early on. Stick to your plan and you'll be fine.
You park on the grounds of the museum so there is always plenty of parking, but you do park in a grassy field. Wear plastic bags over your shoes to keep them dry before the race since there is usually dew on the grass. It is a 10-15 minute walk to the start line from your car. Plan on attending the Post Race party.
Like the location and the race itself, never had anything to complain about in the 4 years that I ran it. The flyovers are amazing, AF Museum is something to see.
A nice flat course, not a lot of support from spectators but then again it is run mainly on an AF Base.
Arrive early for parking, you are not that close to the start and finish.
The race is very patriotic. The Flyovers every year are great.
There are parts of the race on an active military base, which is cool. This also means there are stretches of the Marathon with few people.
Get to the race early. There is a decent walk to the start line.
I loved everything. It is very exciting from the registration until the end of all races.
My favorite but the last few miles are tough.
This is a great marathon.
The AFM is a fantastic race and very unique compared to most major marathon events. With 4 distances over two days running through the local university and through the nation's largest Air Force Base (by personnel, 25K+), you will have a very awesome time! From the flyover to start the race to running under the wing tips of jets at the finish, this is one of the best themed events of them all!
AFMs only downside is for runners who rely on crowd support, there are large chunks of roadway and the base where there are no throngs of people to cheer you on just given the nature of the course. I've never found this to be an issue and enjoy the many miles on the backside of the flightline.
AFM can also be a bit warm/humid given the time of year, It's very fickle in mid-september, so hope for cool weather but be prepared for warmer/humid weather.
Arrive early just because the parking is tough. Lots of good options for food/hotels right in Fairborn/Beavercreek on Colonel Glen and Fairfield road. You won't have to travel very far at all between the race venue, your hotel, and finding food while you're in town!
I enjoyed helping others and as a United States Air Force Cycling Team member, this is a well organized event and everything moves right along. I will be there again this year for 2018.
Course is relatively flat and many roads are closed for the event.
Arrive on time. The start wait's for no one. Information is well provided in your packets. Do not stay at Motel 6 in Dayton. It is very disgusting and ill kept.
This is a well-organized and fun race, with a unique setting (on active military base), with lots of enthusiastic volunteers. I especially like that there was an aid station at almost every mile. This made a big difference to me. Most of the race is void of spectators due to being on secure military base, but there is plenty of support where the course runs off-base. Begins and ends at the National Museum of the US Air Force; an incredible collection of aircraft! It would take 2 complete days to see everything. Make time to see at least some of it, which will be easy to do if you attend the pasta dinner the night before since the dinner takes place in the museum. Where else can you eat a dinner with a B52 on one side of you and an F22 on the other side?
The hills across miles 2-5 didn't seem noticeable and from there thru mile 21 is a slight downhill. I made the mistake of thinking the hills of miles 22-25 would come back the same way as going out. Not so! You run out on gradually up-sloping lanes of a highway, but return on the frontage road which has lots of rolling hills; which is where I began cramping. If I could do it over again, I would not have gone out so fast in order to save something for the rolling hills at the end. I made a rookie mistake :( I hope to return to this race in a later year to show it who is boss!
The hills across miles 2-5 didn't seem noticeable and from there thru mile 21 is a slight downhill. I made the mistake of thinking the hills of miles 22-25 would come back the same way as going out. Not so! You run out on gradually up-sloping lanes of a highway, but return on the frontage road which has lots of rolling hills; which is where I began cramping. If I could do it over again, I would not have gone out so fast in order to save something for the rolling hills at the end. I made a rookie mistake :( I hope to return to this race in a later year to show it who is boss!
Excellent organization, polite and impressive military presence, great volunteers, challenging and well-marked course(s), easy parking and logistics. Very cool fly-overs by various AF aircraft - different each year!
Expect a great race environment, as proven by the consistent popularity of this event (all distances). The USAF is very experienced at putting this race and it shows. Not an easy course - rolling, climbs, and false flats abound. Pace yourself conservatively as climbs in beginning AND end will be challenging. Weather can also be a factor, heat and humidity are generally felt, especially as the race progresses.
Plenty of lodging options near-by, but reserve early. Bring BAGGIES to protect running shoes from getting wet from the short walk from grass field parking area to pavement approach to start area. Also allow time for security check, etc.
Fabulous medal, inspirational patriotic scenery, awesome spectator support!
Rolling course and some tough hills at beginning and mile 21. Unfortunately, the weather was just brutal - super high humidity and high temps. There was a storm before the run that cause a delay till 8 AM. Once it finally got started, the sun came out and baked the wet roads, producing 100% humidity that sucks the life out of you. The course itself is fine and volunteers were outstanding. But the weather and air quality were a major challenge. I met people who could not even complete the 1/2 marathon. Some reportedly had collapsed. 20th Anniversary medal was spectacular. Other than the weather, it was very well run, except you had to walk nearly a mile to the buses after the finish.
This is technically a summer marathon, so make sure you are prepared. Conditions for 2016 were the worst I've ever encountered of my 17 completed marathons and this was my first AF marathon.
Make sure you plan to visit the Museum of the Air Force - an absolute must for any aviation enthusiast.
I can't find anything negative about the Air Force Marathon, only positive! From the wonderful atmosphere, to the swag, the post race party, to the amazing race course, everyone needs to run this marathon at least once in their lifetime! I can't wait to run it again. Very well organized and very friendly people.
The race is very well organized, good race day information provided at packet pick up. I would recommend staying at a hotel VERY close to the course because race day traffic can be a nightmare. If runner is a passenger stuck in traffic on race day morning, many runners hop out of cars on race day morning and run to the start line (that's your warm up lol).
This was a well organized race with adequate roadside spectators, considering it was mostly on base! Loved running the runway under the wings of the planes coming into the finish!
It is not a flat course...if your from the south...train for hills. They are rolling, but there are several.
Be prepared to walk over a mile to the parking lot. Also give yourself time to get through security check...it is a Military base!
Very well organized parking is very easy. There is a little bit of a walk to the start line t
The second half of the race is a little hilly. It being in September it he can get hot especially towards then so stay hydrated
Everyone parks on base on the runway’s and they direct you where to park
I loved everything from the Pasta Dinner to after race recovery areas. Well organized with enthusiastic, supportive volunteers. Great opening with fly over aircraft, flag bearers parachuters, lots of fun hydration stations, and highly visible and supportive pace runners!
Go with a Positive Mental Attitude and Run you own race!
Love the venue, the organization, water stop contest, pre-race pasta dinner! Only down-side is the long walk to/from parking area.
Wright Patterson AFB provides flawless security, course assistance, and top notch motivational speakers. Course is well marked. There are a couple of moderate hills near the end of the course.
Traffic can be slow, so it is recommended to arrive at start line about 2 hours before start time.
Love the spirit of this marathon
Just smile through it