U.S. Air Force Marathon pace team returns to 2006 Marathon
News Release
June 2, 2006
Following the successful debut in the 2005 Air Force Marathon, the Pace Team is returning to help marathon runners achieve their goals. The Pace Team is a group of experienced marathoners that lead runner through the entire 26.2 miles of the course at even, designated paces. Runners wishing to achieve a particular goal pace only need to meet up with with the pace group leader at the starting line and run with that leader to achieve their goal.
This year the Pace Team is adding the fast pace group goal time of 3 hours 10 minutes, which is 7:15 per mile. Last year there were groups for 3:20, 3:30, 3:40, 3:50, 4:10, 4:20, 4:30, and 5:00. The addition of 3:10 was prompted by the demographics of the runners of the Air Force Marathon.
Pace Team director Jim Crist explains, "Many of the runners in the Air Force Marathon are not, surprisingly, the young men in the armed services. For men ages 18-34 that want to qualify to run in the Boston Marathon, they need to first complete a marathon in 3:10 or less. We felt that the addition of a 3:10 Pacer along with the relatively flat course at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base provides an excellent opportunity to qualify.
Women are not forgotten by the Pace Team. "The Boston qualifying time for women ages 18-34 is 3:40 and that's one of the times we already offered. Also with our pace groups as slow as 5:00 we are providing support to many runners that may be slower and prefer to have a more relaxed run," Crist adds.
"Last year I received emails from many runners that attributed their success in the marathon to running with the Pace Team. This year we will be providing that service to even more participants."
The 2006 United States Air Force Marathon will be held September 16 at Wright-Patterson AFB near Dayton, Ohio. In addition to military personnel it is open to the general public. Additional information is available at http://afmarathon.wpafb.af.mil/ or by calling 800-467-1823.
The Pace Team is organized and directed by Jim Crist who provides Pace Team services to marathons and half marathons around the country. He may be reached at 412-487-9708 or PacerJim@hotmail.com.