Air Force Marathon 2015: Route, Course Map, Times, Event Details

Summer is nearly over; autumn is ready to arrive. Before the good, warm weather waves goodbye to many parts of the United States, it's good for runners to get in another long jaunt before bitter cold sets in (not that this will stop many of them).

Saturday, September 19 will see runners from all over the country embrace the day in Southwestern Ohio for the 2015 Air Force Marathon. 

The big run takes place around the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, which lies just east of the city of Dayton. Per USAFMarathon.com, this will make the 19th edition of the race. Last year saw Steve Chu of Colorado Springs, Colorado, win the overall male group with a time of two hours, 28 minutes and 15 seconds. In the overall female group, it was Nicola Holdsworth of Columbus, Ohio, taking first place with a time of 2:56:03.

Here's a rundown of the key race details. 

Route, Course Map

The event features a full marathon, half-marathon and 10K, which all loop around the Air Force base and have the same starting and finishing line. Course maps for each of the big three races can be found at USAFMarathon.com. The website described some of the important areas of Wright-Patterson runners will see on their journey: 

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The marathon course is a 26.2-mile run that traverses historical places on Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, including the National Museum of the United States Air Force, the Air Force Institute of Technology, Headquarters Air Force Material Command, the Wright-Patterson AFB flight line, Huffman Prairie Flying Field, and the Wright Brothers Memorial Monument.

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Want a preview? Here's a runner's-eye view of the of the 2014 course:

Times

Start Time (local time)	Group
7:25 a.m	Wheeled Marathon
7:30 a.m.	Marathon and 10K
8:30 a.m.	Half Marathon

Note: A complete list of event times can be found by clicking here.


Event Details

According to Weather.com, conditions could be dicey on Saturday.

The high is forecast at just 78 degrees Fahrenheit, but there is a 50 percent chance of precipitation with the potential of "scattered thunderstorms developing during the afternoon." The humidity that comes with that won't be much fun. This should only further motivate marathoners to finish as quickly as possible. Winds shouldn't be too terrible at around 13 miles per hour.

WDTN.com's Jordan Bowen is reporting that the event is expected to attract 15,000 participants, a turnout consistent with recent years.

"We work all year long for that one day,” Air Force Marathon Race Director Robert Aguiar said, via Bowen. “So it’s very special and it’s very meaningful for us. And we [are] so thankful and so excited for the runners that come out.”

The steady popularity of the run is a boon to all those who participate and work hard to put on the event. It's a a nice boost to the region's coffers as well, per Joe Cogliano of the Dayton Business Journal: 

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Officials say more than 6,000 of those registered, about 40 percent, are coming from outside Ohio. A report on the 2014 marathon shows the event put $12 million into the regional economy, which included a direct impact of $7.3 million (money spent at hotels, restaurants and retail establishments) and an indirect impact of $4.7 million.

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The all-in effort from the city of Dayton and the surrounding areas matches the intensity and dedication of those who participate in the event. The race's volunteer coordinator, Jeanette E. Monaghan, says the event has about an 85 percent retention rate among volunteers, via Barrie Barber of the Dayton Daily News.

Assuming the weather doesn't play spoiler, this marathon should make for a fine day for all involved.