Something for everyone at 2005 Air Force Marathon
By Mike Wallace
Skywrighter Staff, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base
The running of the ninth U.S. Air Force Marathon began at 7:35 a.m. Saturday, but much activity preceded the starting horn.
Volunteers, many from Wright State University , helped direct traffic into parking areas. They earned their volunteer points because nearly 4,000 runners were there as were family members, friends, other volunteers and distinguished visitors.
Among the distinguished visitors was retired Maj. Gen. Claude M. Bolton Jr., assistant secretary of the Army for acquisition, logistics and technology, who had served here as commander of the Air Force Security Assistance Center. He was running the full marathon just like he's done in all previous Air Force Marathons.
"I'm running for fun and for training," Gen. Bolton said. "I'm doing the Marine Corps Marathon next month."
Retired Master Sgt. Chris Stanley, executive director of Fisher-Nightingales Houses Inc., was the event's master of ceremonies.
The predominantly 1960s-era rock music filled the air and stopped only for words from the DVs and the singing of the National Anthem by Master Sgt. Shawn Stanley, of the U.S. Air Force Band of Flight. A 19-year Air Force veteran, Sgt. Stanley also serves as noncommissioned officer-in-charge of "Systems Go," the Band of Flight's pop music group that played later in the morning. Sgt. Stanley lives in Jamestown , about a 35-minute ride from the base, and said he used that time to warm up his voice.
The 88th Security Force Squadron members were several strong, including Staff Sgt. John Maningas, of the bicycle patrol. He and his people rode ahead of the various groups of runners, approximately 75 paces ahead of the lead runners. That wasn't for fun though.
"This is the real deal," Sgt. Maningas said. "We have to stay observant and check what's up ahead and beside the road. It's part of our job."
On hand again this year was the Officers Wives Club. This year, the group had a tent that offered plenty of bottled water, fresh fruit and other items to replenish runners' strength when they completed the race. According to member Cynthia Wilson, the tent had an "entire semi-truck load" of consumables.
Nine medical aid tents were scattered about the course, each one manned by at least one doctor and several assistants. In all, there were 35 medical people, two civilian ambulances and one base medical crew available to help anyone needing medical care.
There were other refreshment areas, including one by the race sponsor, BearingPoint. The sports massage tent, a luggage/lost-and-found tent and a recruiter tent were all there.
There was the "Merchandise Tent" that had plenty of drinks and food, but no merchandise, and the "Festival Tent" that had lots of merchandise - T-shirts, sweats, caps and more.
The water mist shower was also there, but not used. The air was cool enough, cool enough for all runners to grab towels and foil "blankets" that kept the heat in as soon as they crossed the finish line.
Among the runners were 15 people from the Virginia Military Institute who drove seven hours to get to the base. Some were running the full marathon and some were running the half.
Stealing the show again were members of the University of Dayton Army Reserve Officers ' Training Corps - 22 of them this year. Each of them, male and female, ran the half-marathon wearing combat boots and carrying a 30-pound backpack. One explained that is was training for the mid-October Ranger Challenge at Fort Knox , KY. Ranger Challenge is and ROTC competition that begins at 4 a.m. and ends at 10 p.m. and makes ample use of the famous Fort Knox hills, woods, and ranges.
On the course, some runners exceeded their time goals, and some just tried to finish.
Along with cheers from and amazing number of spectators, volunteers at refreshment stations greeted the runners with competing cries of "water" and "Gatorade" along the way.