Save money by registering now for Air Force marathon

  • Published
  • By Kathleen A.K. Lopez
  • Air Force Materiel Command Public Affairs
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE --  Attention all marathoners and half-marathoners: If you've put off early registration for the 11th annual U.S. Air Force Marathon, Sept. 15, your time for procrastinating is running out. 

If you haven't logged onto http://www.usafmarathon.com and registered for your race by the time the clock strikes midnight Eastern Standard Time on July 31, your procrastination is going to cost you. That's when the early registration period ends and entry fees go up. 

Through July 31, the cost for full-marathon registration is $65; the half-marathon registration costs $50; four-person relay costs $180 to enter and the 5K fun run costs $20. This year begins a new tradition for the 5K run, as it will take place on the evening of Sept. 14 on the campus of neighboring Wright State University. 

From Aug. 1 through Sept. 7, the price to register for the full marathon jumps to a cost of $70, the half-marathon increases to a cost of $60. Cost for the relay and fun run remain the same. 

After Sept. 7, add another $10 to the cost of both the full- and half-marathon races, another $20 to register for the relay and add $5 to the cost to enter the fun run. 
Besides the obvious financial savings, there are other reasons to register early. 

"First and foremost, it's one more thing to check off on the list of 'things to do,'" said Molly Louden, marathon director. "Plus, runners' bibs that they wear on race day will be guaranteed to be personalized with runners' first names." 

Additionally, all runners receive a commemorative 100-percent cotton T-shirt, goodie bag, towel, patch and a special finisher's medal with the Air Force 60th Anniversary and C-5 Galaxy logos. 

If you're coming in from out of town and don't have a place to stay, you will find nearby hotels that offer limited discounted accommodations, Ms. Louden said.
If you're looking at the four-person relay race as a bonding experience for you and three of your friends, you won't want to delay registering, as there is a limited number of relay teams permitted. 

"The (maximum) number for relay-team entry is 300," Ms. Louden said. "We are already one-third of the way to that number, well ahead of where we were last year at this time." 

Preceding the marathon is the sports and fitness exposition Sept. 13-14 and a gourmet pasta dinner on Sept. 14. The expo is free and open to the public; the cost for the dinner will not increase. The cost for dinner is $20 for adults, $10 for children ages 6 to 12 and free for children 5 and under, but seating is limited. Don't put off registering for the U.S. Air Force Marathon any longer. Log onto http://www.usafmarathon.com and be part of the race.