Runners descend upon Dayton

  • Published
  • By Rachel Castle
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio --  More than 6,100 runners have signed up to date for U.S. Air Force Marathon events and officials here are busy putting on the final touches to an event 15 months in the making.

The first race will begin tonight at 5:30 p.m. when Wright State University hosts the 5K Race on their campus.  Opening ceremonies begin at 7 a.m. Saturday, with wheelchair, marathon, half-marathon and relay teams competing for top prizes.

All race events are free and open for the general public to attend.

U.S. Air Force Marathon race schedule for Saturday:

7 a.m. - Opening ceremony

7:30 - Wheelchair race

7:35 - Marathon race

8 a.m. - Relay race

8:15 - Half-marathon race

9:30 a.m. - Post race festival begins

1 p.m. - Awards ceremony

Several roads, both on and off the installation, will be closed during the course of the race from approximately 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. Gate hours will also change due to the event.

Marathon officials encourage motorists and visitors to carefully plan their routes and to anticipate delays and heavy traffic, especially in the early morning and late afternoon hours. This includes the roads around the National Museum of the United States Air Force and Fairborn.

Road closures on Saturday include:

Wright-Patterson Air Force Base Area B
Loop Rd., 5th St., Skyline Dr. and Hobson Way 

Areas A & C
Communications Blvd., San Antonio Ave, Spruce Way, Sacramento, Road "T", Chidlaw Rd., Yount Dr., Schlatter Rd., Lahm Circle, Pearson Rd, Wright Ave. through gate 1C to Broad St., Allbrook Rd., Harness Rd., Buckner Rd., Pearson Rd., Sundorph Rd., Skeel Ave., Loop Rd., Douglas Rd., Mitchell Rd., Riverview Rd., Marl Rd. and Hebble Creek Rd. 

Off Base - Dayton and Fairborn in vicinity of Wright State University
Kauffman Rd., Wright State Rd, University Blvd, and SR 844 down the hill through gate 15A

Fairborn roads
Broad St., Main St, Pleasant St.

Gate changes on race day:

Gate 22B will close at 6 a.m. and Gate 1B will open at 6 a.m. and remain open through 6 p.m. At 6 p.m., Gate 22B will reopen and Gate 1B will close.

Gate 12A will close at 7 a.m. and Gate 8C will open at 7 a.m. and remain open through 11 a.m. At 11 a.m., Gate 12A will reopen and Gate 8C will close.

For more information, visit www.USAFMarathon.com.