My marathons

United States Air Force Marathon

The organiser has not published a date. Wright-Patterson Air Force Base
National Museum of the United States Air Force
National Museum of the United States Air Force. Photograph by James St. John, CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons

The course

The marathon starts at the National Museum of the United States Air Force and finishes near the wing tips of historic aircraft in the museum's Air Park, after re-entering the gates of Area B at mile 26.

The course in short 3 lines
  • Start and finish at the Air Force museumStart and finish are both at the National Museum of the United States Air Force.
  • One early hill, the flight line, then FairbornA hill at the start, a flat run beside the flight line, and Main Street in Fairborn from mile 15.
  • Held since 1997, certified, with an 8 hour limitThird Saturday in September since 1997, 8 hour limit, a Boston Qualifier.
Course notes 3 short reads on the course
Whole courseFinishStart and finish at the Air Force museumStart and finish are both at the National Museum of the United States Air Force.

The organiser describes the 2026 course as beginning at the National Museum of the United States Air Force and ending there: “Once back inside the Air Force base gates of Area B at mile 26, zip along a portion of the old flight line and finish near the wing tips of historic aircrafts at the museum’s Air Park!”

Sourced

Whole courseGeometryOne early hill, the flight line, then FairbornA hill at the start, a flat run beside the flight line, and Main Street in Fairborn from mile 15.

The course heads up “one of only two solid hills right from the start before dropping down into Historic Huffman Flying Field in the third mile.” After that the organiser calls it “a very flat and fast route” where runners lap the flight line, home to the 445th Airlift Wing and its C-17s. The course continues “into Fairborn at mile 15 for what is lovingly referred to as the Fairborn Fly Zone”, down Main Street, and then back through the brick living quarters of the base, past the golf course and onto the 844 freeway, exiting into Wright State University’s athletic facilities. Between there and the flat last mile the organiser lists “a few gentle rolling hills and one downhill”.

This is the organiser’s description of the 2026 course.

Sourced

Whole courseConditionsHeld since 1997, certified, with an 8 hour limitThird Saturday in September since 1997, 8 hour limit, a Boston Qualifier.

The organiser’s history page says the first marathon was held on 20 September 1997, for the Air Force’s 50th anniversary, and is held “the third Saturday in September each year”; 2026 was set as the 30th running. The page also states that the course “is certified by the USA Track and Field Association and is a Boston Qualifier”.

Finishing within the 8 hour gun time is required for an official time and a finisher’s medal. For 2026 the organiser also set a checkpoint: runners had to reach Mile 21 (Gate 15A) by 1:05 pm or be escorted off the course.

Sourced

Race fuel

Energy gel
An energy gel sachet
Illustration · drag to turn

5 gels for Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, plus 1 spare

Finish

One every 40 minutes, by the clock:

  1. km 7mile 4.4
  2. km 14.1mile 8.7
  3. km 21.1mile 13.1
  4. km 28.1mile 17.5
  5. km 35.2mile 21.8

Our pick: SiS BETA Fuel gel, box of 6, strawberry and lime. 40 g of carbohydrate a gel, about twice a usual gel, from two kinds of sugar your body takes up side by side.

Easy to forget on race morning: pack them with your bib the night before.

Get it on Amazon

We earn a small fee if you buy through these links. The price is the same.

In Canada the button opens GU Energy Gel, Salted Caramel, 24-pack, the best seller there.

Outside the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Austria and Switzerland, the UK and Ireland, Spain and Portugal, Italy, the rest of the EU and Canada the button opens GU Energy Gel, Chocolate Outrage, 24-pack on Amazon.com, the best seller there.

Anti-chafe
Compeed Anti-blister stick
Photo: Compeed

Compeed

Compeed anti-blister stick, 8 ml

Best selling on Amazon amazon.nl, read 2 Nov

An invisible layer before the start keeps seams, straps and shoes from rubbing skin raw.

Put it on before you leave for the start: heels and toes, inner thighs, under a bra or heart-rate strap.

Try it on a long run first, like everything you use on race day.

Get it on Amazon

We earn a small fee if you buy through these links. The price is the same.

Number belt
A race number belt
Illustration · drag to turn

Compressport Race Belt

Holds your bib without safety pins through your top, with loops for up to 8 gels.

Clip the bib on the night before, so it goes on with your shorts in the morning.

Keep the number on the front, where officials and photographers can see it.

Get it on Amazon

We earn a small fee if you buy through these links. The price is the same.

Electrolytes
A tube of electrolyte tablets
Illustration · drag to turn

SiS Hydro electrolyte tablets, tube of 20

One tablet in a bottle puts back some of the salt you sweat out.

One tablet in 500 ml of water in the hour before the start.

Only if you have used them in training: nothing new on race day.

Get it on Amazon

We earn a small fee if you buy through these links. The price is the same.

Blister plasters
Compeed Blister plasters, medium, 6
Photo: Compeed

Compeed

Compeed blister plasters, medium, 6

Best selling on Amazon amazon.nl, read 2 Nov

One in a pocket cushions a blister if one starts.

Put it on clean, dry skin and leave it until it comes off by itself.

Give a couple to whoever comes to cheer, so they are there at the km you need them.

Get it on Amazon

We earn a small fee if you buy through these links. The price is the same.
distance
42.2 km26.2 mi
cut-off
8:00 h

Trip

Getting a place

Entry through the organiser

Entry details on the organiser’s site →

The organiser, a third party. We take no entries and have no part in the race.

Keep exploring

More races to look at after the United States Air Force Marathon.

Marathons people fly to

Races in North America
  • A frame from our Honolulu Marathon filmImagery: Google Earth4:00

    Honolulu Marathon

    Honolulu, United States

    Sun 13 Dec42.2 km88 m

    Climb summed after smoothing the heights over 1 km. The edge is this course's height profile on one scale for every race: 250 m above its lowest point fills it.
  • A frame from our Boston Marathon filmImagery: Google Earth3:12

    Boston Marathon

    Boston, United States

    Mon 19 Apr 202742.2 km105 m

    Climb summed after smoothing the heights over 1 km. The edge is this course's height profile on one scale for every race: 250 m above its lowest point fills it.
  • A frame from our Marine Corps Marathon filmImagery: Google Earth4:00

    Marine Corps Marathon

    Washington, D.C., United States

    Oct 202742.2 km112 m

    Climb summed after smoothing the heights over 1 km. The edge is this course's height profile on one scale for every race: 250 m above its lowest point fills it.
  • A frame from our Chicago Marathon filmImagery: Google Earth3:59Ballot open

    Chicago Marathon

    Chicago, United States

    Sun 10 Oct 202742.2 km20 m

    Climb summed after smoothing the heights over 1 km. The edge is this course's height profile on one scale for every race: 250 m above its lowest point fills it.

Courses on film

All races on film
  • A frame from our Athens Marathon filmImagery: Google Earth3:56Race week

    Athens Marathon

    Athens, Greece

    Sun 8 Nov42.2 km281 m

    Climb summed after smoothing the heights over 1 km. The edge is this course's height profile on one scale for every race: 250 m above its lowest point fills it.
  • A frame from our Malaga Marathon filmImagery: Google Earth3:50Race week

    Malaga Marathon

    Malaga, Spain

    Sun 8 Nov42.2 km63 m

    Climb summed after smoothing the heights over 1 km. The edge is this course's height profile on one scale for every race: 250 m above its lowest point fills it.
  • A frame from our Porto Marathon filmImagery: Google Earth3:53Race week

    Porto Marathon

    Porto, Portugal

    Sun 8 Nov42.2 km133 m

    Climb summed after smoothing the heights over 1 km. The edge is this course's height profile on one scale for every race: 250 m above its lowest point fills it.
  • A frame from our Curitiba Marathon filmImagery: Google Earth3:51Entry open

    Curitiba Marathon

    Curitiba, Brazil

    Sun 15 Nov42.2 km128 m

    Climb summed after smoothing the heights over 1 km. The edge is this course's height profile on one scale for every race: 250 m above its lowest point fills it.
More races in the United States