Air Force Marathon boasts new additions

  • Published
  • By Rachel Castle
  • 88th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio (AFPN) --  Officials announced that there will be a new team in town at the tenth anniversary Air Force Marathon. For the first time, a pace team will run with participants in the half-marathon, assisting participants who want to finish within a specific race time.

"We are very excited to add a new pace team to the half-marathon. The half-marathon is a great race for those who prefer a shorter course. Having a pace team will add to the competition and enhance an already great event," said Molly Louden, marathon director.

Half-marathon pace times and team biographies will be posted on the event Web site, www.usafmarathon.com/ and will range from 1:40 to 3:00 hours.

In addition to the half-marathon pace team, the full-marathon pace team will return to
Wright-Patterson with a new, faster race time of 3:10. Other pace teams will run for
3:20, 3:30, 3:40, 3:50, 4:10, 4:20, 4:30 and 5:00. The pace team times reflect a variety of runner's needs, including the finishing times required to qualify for the Boston Marathon.

"The pace team is a group of experienced marathoners that lead runners through the
entire 26.2 miles of the course at even, designated paces. Runners wishing to achieve a particular goal pace only need to meet up with the pace group leader at the starting line and run with that leader to achieve their goal," according to a pace team release.

The U.S. Air Force Marathon will be Sept. 16 on the grounds of the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force. Admission to the event is free. Runners registering online by July 31 will receive a discounted entry fee. Race information can be found on the Web site or by calling 1-800-467-1823.

(Pace Team Director Jim Crist contributed to this article.)