Disclaimer: I received an entry into the Air Force Marathon as part of being aBibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to find and write race reviews!
Use AFMBR21 to save 20% on your Air Force Marathon event registration
I definitely have September 18, 2021 marked on my calendar and hope to run the Air Force Marathon in-person next year. Hope to see YOU there as well!
Me, after the 2020 Virtual Air Force Marathon weekend – September 27, 2020
Well, here we are – nearly one year later. Take a wild guess what I’m doing next month? If you guessed the Air Force Marathon, you’d be spot on!
Last year, I was fortunate to participate in my first-ever virtual FULL marathon as a result of the Air Force Marathon (as well as others) going virtual due to the COVID-19 pandemic. On a beautiful day in September 2020, I ran the length of the Olentangy Trail in an out-and-back effort to cover the distance. I recapped that experience HERE, but to summarize – it was a fantastic adventure that definitely included some challenges. But now, on to 2021!
2021 – Back To Dayton (I hope!)
With that said, I’ve known about the Air Force Marathon for a while, but have never run in any of the events. It runs around Wright Patterson Air Force Base as well as through the campus of Wright State University – again, two areas you can’t really avoid if you visit that portion of Dayton! As a BibRave Pro, I’ve been afforded the opportunity to participate again this year, so I couldn’t pass it up! Adding to the build up is the fact that this year’s event will be the 25th Anniversary of the race and what a way to return after a year “off”.
Personally, I’ll be approaching the full marathon more like a delayed long run or as a “B” race this time around. I say that for two reasons. First, that mindset will hopefully help me do a little better job of pacing myself a little bit slower and with a better focus on the mental side of things. Secondly, this will be the first of TWO marathons I will run within 7 days of each other! I’ll talk about that other event in another post later this week…so stay tuned!
I’m “from” Dayton
As someone who grew up in the Miami Valley region of Ohio, Dayton was the first real CITY that I experienced. This experience largely consisted of shopping trips, performances with my high school marching band, and grade school trips to the National Museum of the United States Air Force – which I’ll refer to as the Air Force Museum from here on out. After grade school, my most recent trip to the Air Force Museum was in 2010 (wow!) with my then-girlfriend (now, wife) Tammi. Fast forward to 2021, our family – which now includes our daughter Shalane (3) and son Matthew (newborn!) – makes much more regular visits to the Air Force Museum. Tammi and I have always loved aircraft and the history that comes with them and we cannot wait for our children to dig even deeper into that history as well.
Ready to Fly High?
First and foremost, this year’s Air Force Marathon takes place on Saturday, September 18 – which also happens to be the birthday of the United States Air Force! You’ll want to visit the Air Force Marathon website for all the detailed information. To give you the cliffnotes version though, you can sign up for one of a number of race distances, such as:
- 5K (3.1 miles)
- 10K (6.2 miles)
- Half Marathon
- Full Marathon
- Marathon 3-Person Relay
- Tailwind Trot 1K Kids’ Run
If ONE race isn’t enough for you though, you can also sign up for the #FlyFightWin Challenge Series. I participated in the Virtual #FlyFightWin series last year – completing the 5k, 10k, and Full Marathon spread out over three days rather than the traditional two days. You can read more about that experience HERE.
REMEMBER: You can save a few bucks (10% to be exact) on your Air Force Marathon event registration when you use AFMBR21 when you checkout!
So – will I see you in Dayton this year? If so, shoot me a message on social (@presramsey on FB, Instagram, and Twitter) and let me know what distance you’re planning on running!
Preston Ramsey 