Yes, absolutely! Roughly 60% of our participants are civilians.

Earlier is always better! We suggest that race participants arrive at the start line at least 1.5 hours before the scheduled start of their race, as traffic can back up quickly.

Race start times are as follows:
Friday Race Start Times

• Tailwind Trot 1K Kids’ Run – 6:00 p.m.
• 5K – 6:30 p.m.

Saturday Race Start Times

• 10K – 6:30 a.m.
• Marathon Wheeled Division – 7:25 a.m.
• Marathon – 7:30 a.m.
• Half Marathon – 7:30 a.m.

• Marathon: 16 years or older on race day
• Half Marathon: 12 years or older on race day
• 10K: 10 years or older on race day
• 5K: 4 years or older on race day
• Tailwind Trot 1K Kids' Run: between 4 and 12 years old on race day. Parents/guardians are permitted to run along with their child(ren) as long as they are also a registered participant.

Packet pick-up is held at the Health & Fitness Expo at the Wright State University Nutter Center on Thursday and Friday of race weekend. Each runner is required to show photo identification and to know their bib number in order to pick up their bib and participant items. See the Health & Fitness Expo page for details.

Due to security reasons, we ask that runners make every effort to pick up their own race bibs at the Health and Fitness Expo.
If you are unable to attend the Expo yourself, you must make arrangements for a representative to pick up your bib for you. You must fill out and sign the Bib Pick-Up Authorization Form, and your representative must present the completed form, a copy of your photo ID (can be a hard or digital copy), and their own photo ID (hard copies). Representatives who do not have these three things will not be able to pick up your bib, no exceptions.

For Friday events, participants may park for free on-site at the Wright State University Nutter Center.
For Saturday events, there is free, on-site parking approximately 1 mile from the start line at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force.
See our parking page for more details.

For Friday events, participants may be dropped off and picked up directly at the Wright State University Nutter Center.

For Saturday events, participants who wish to take the shuttle may be dropped off and picked up at the Wright State University Nutter Center, where the shuttle will take them directly to and from the start line at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force (shuttles are for registered participants only). Participants must be in line for the shuttles at the Wright State University Nutter Center by 5:00 a.m. The last shuttle departs at 5:30 a.m.

All parking gates at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force will be entry-only until 7:30 a.m. Anyone wishing to drop off a participant at the museum must stay until 7:30 a.m. or later. Anyone picking up a participant may enter through the main museum gate on Springfield Street after 8:00 a.m. See the Directions, Parking, & Shuttles page for more details.

All of our events including the Marathon, Half Marathon, 10K, and 5K are walker-friendly. We ask those of you who are going to be walking to start in the back. Please remember that you must finish by the course time limits. All time limits are based on gun time, NOT when a runner crosses the start line.

Course Time Limits:

• Marathon - 6 hours and 30 minutes
• Half Marathon - 6 hours and 30 minutes
• 10K - 3 hours 30 minutes
• 5K - 90 minutes

Marathon participants must maintain a 16 minute mile pace and reach Mile 21 (Gate 15A) by 1:05pm or they will be escorted off the course and will not receive a finisher's medal.

Yes, you may wear a hydration backpack or rucksack during your race. Please note that for the Marathon, Half Marathon, and 10K, all bags will be inspected at the security checkpoints before you are admitted onto Museum grounds. If you choose to bring a rucksack or other non-clear bag, please allow for extra time at the security checkpoint.

The Air Force Marathon is a Boston Marathon qualifying course. Qualifying times for the Boston Marathon can be viewed here.

Every individual who crosses the finish line within the time limit will receive a finisher's medal, including participants in the Marathon, Half Marathon, 10K, and 5K. Tailwind Trot finishers will receive a commemorative dog tag.

There will be plentiful portable restrooms located at the start line. Each hydration station along the courses will have a minimum of 3, with some having as many as 10, depending on the number of runners expected to pass by. For the locations of hydration stations, see the course maps: Marathon | Half Marathon | 10K | 5K

All races will take place rain or shine. In the event of extreme weather, routes may be altered. Races will be cancelled only if absolutely necessary for the safety of participants, volunteers and event staff. In this case, there will be no refunds of race entry fees. Each athlete accepts any such risk during registration. We encourage you to check our website, app, and social media throughout the weekend for the latest information.

Yes, participants may transfer their registration to another event if there are spots available. The last day to transfer to a different event online is August 31, or when the event sells out. *Updated info as of September 10, 2022 - you may also transfer to a different in person event at the Health & Fitness Expo as long as the event you want to transfer into is not sold out. See our registration policies page for details.

Yes, you may defer your registration to the following year. The last day to defer is August 31. See our registration policies page for details.

No, person-to-person transfers are not permitted. If you have already registered and can no longer run, you may defer your registration to the following year (see above).

No, we do not allow race registration or race bib pick up on Saturday for the marathon, half marathon, or 10K race. The only exception is for those who have purchased the Race Day Packet Pick-Up option along with their registration. 5K participants may pick up their bib on Thursday, or Friday before 6 p.m.

All participants are required to pick up their runner's bib, T-shirt, and goodie bag at the Health & Fitness Expo.

Registration fees are non-refundable, even in the event of race cancellation. The only exception is for official military deployment (CED Orders). Refunds will NOT be given for TDY or PCS orders. See our registration policies page for more details.

Marathon and Half Marathon: All marathon and half marathon participants must finish within the 6 hour 30 minute gun time limit in order to receive an official time and a finisher's medal. For your own health and safety, the 6 hour 30 minute limit will be strictly adhered to and there will be no exceptions. Full marathon participants must maintain a 14:55 minute mile pace and reach Mile 21 (Gate 15A) by 1:05 pm or they will be escorted off the course and will not receive a finishers medal or an official time.
10K: The 10K course has a time limit of 3 hours and 30 minutes.
5K: The 5K course has a time limit of 90 minutes.

All time limits are based on gun time, NOT when an individual runner crosses the start line.

Yes, there will be 9 medical stations on the course. Medical support for this event will consist of primarily volunteer medical personnel prepared to administer first aid-style assistance along the race course and at the finish line.

The Air Force Marathon, Half Marathon, 10K, and 5K courses are all certified by the USA Track and Field Association.

Refunds will be given to individuals who have deployment orders that will prevent them from participating in the Air Force Marathon. Refunds will NOT be given for TDY or PCS orders. The following are the requirements for a refund due to a deployment:

• Copy of deployment orders (CED Orders)
• Refund needs to be requested via email (usaf.marathon@us.af.mil) before the end of September

Permissive TDY is authorized for Air Force Active Duty members under AFI 36-3003 (11 May 16) Military Leave Program, Chapter 4, Paragraph 4.2.3, Table 4.5, Rule 12. Be sure to check with your supervisor.

In accordance with Joint Travel Regulations, DoD guidance and AF Instructions, civilians cannot be granted permissive TDY to participate in the Air Force Marathon. For more information please contact HQ AFMC/A1SXA at (937) 257-4803, (937) 257-4803 or DSN 787-4803.

According to AFI 36-3003, for the Permissive TDY rules to apply, the ANG or Reserve member must be on Active Duty status. This must be approved by the Unit Commander.

(This publication addresses leave, passes, and permissive temporary duty (PTDY) for military members. It applies to active duty personnel, including United States Air Force Reserve (USAFR) on active duty. It also applies to Air National Guard (ANG) members serving on active duty in Guard or Reserve status under the provisions of Titles 10 or 32 United States Code (U.S.C.) for 30 or more consecutive days. It implements Air Force Policy Directive 36-30, Military Entitlements, and DoD Directive 1327.5, Leave and Liberty, September 24, 1985, with changes 1-4).

Beginning in 2023, this challenge (formerly known as MAJCOM Challenge and Air & Space Challenge) will be a competition amongst teams of Air Force and Space Force service members. Each half marathon and marathon team will be compromised of 5 members (mixed male/female) evenly built according to information provided on individual applications. For more information, see the Stratosphere Challenge page.

Yes! More than 2,600 volunteer slots are filled each year, and each volunteer is necessary in order to put on a successful Air Force Marathon. Volunteer opportunities range from shirt/bib pick-up at the expo to assisting with the Gourmet Pasta Dinner to helping out along the course at a hydration station. Individuals and group volunteers are welcome. Volunteer registration opens May 1st and will close August 31st. For more information, see the Volunteer page.