Blogs
We are the Champions… This is one of the most recognizable songs in the world, and rightfully so. With the Olympics happening and the marathon just over 7 weeks away, it seemed appropriate to use today. So much has happened since last we talked. The Air Force has a new national partner with Girls on
Running down a dream (Tom Petty) It’s May!!! All of the spring races are happening, and it is amazing! I ran amuck last weekend (photos below with my cousin Chris at the Indy Mini and my pace partner Jennifer at the Flying Pig) and truly found my joy again. Seeing everyone else hitting their stride,
“Learn to Fly”- Foo Fighters This may be the most appropriate song title I ever use for this blog. Foo Fighters are getting a lot of talk in our office-mostly by me. I recently listened to Dave Grohl’s book: The Storyteller. If you have not listened to it yet, download it as fast as possible.
In the middle of the miles Happy Tuesday, friends! How is your training coming along? Spring races are in full swing and trainings are probably hitting their last long run or you will do so in the next few weeks. Perhaps you’ve already run your ‘target race’ for the season and now are getting a
Get the party started! Hello Friends! Happy Wednesday. This week’s song choice is from my favorite artist, P!nk. She exemplifies hard work and celebration, just as you do with training. We absolutely need to get this party started! RACE SEASON IS HERE. And…my beloved Purdue Boilermakers #boilerball are playing basketball this weekend, so I am
We are family… First: I love Sister Sledge and the song We are Family! This was also the best way I could think to introduce you to our ‘extended family-our ambassadors.’ When the application process began, I asked for stories and reasons why they wanted to represent the Air Force Marathon Events. The responses moved
Tell me why… If you have yet to figure out, songs are constantly playing in my head. I will be in a conversation with someone and pull lyrics out to match the situation. Is this normal? Who knows. It is my normal though and my friends are not only used to it but expect it.
Hello Friends! Happy 2024!!! It is hard to believe we are already one month into the new year. How is your training coming along? Is your spring race calendar set in stone? If so, tell me what you have planned. You know I want to hear about your goals, if this is your first race,
24 days and counting! If you’ve been following along since January, you are probably aware race weekend is rapidly approaching. As of the writing of this post, we are 24 days out! This is the time when ALL the cliches come into play and fit perfectly. Rounding third and headed for home… Before I began
Choose Happy. Often times, the greatest experiences are the ones most difficult to put into words. Every time I finish a long-distance race, I take time to reflect and embrace the journey. As I shared back in May, I set out to complete a half marathon in August, the last one for me having been
Why Volunteers Matter. Any time you are aware of an event, you may see a post or a callout for volunteers. While this may seem trivial, know that events cannot exist without them. Volunteers are the backbone to make anything get off the ground with success. Think about it: You travel to a race and
Where has the time gone? For this month’s Director’s blog, I decided to share a little bit with you of my journey of years thus far at the Air Force Marathon. On June 2, I celebrated 9 years with the organization! Now, if you’d asked me 9 years ago if I would one day be
Starting Over: Starting over again can be really daunting in any task, whether it is a job change, a relationship change, or a physical activity change. And since I am sitting in that position currently with re-starting my running regimen, I decided this seems a good time to give a pep-talk which works for my
For whom he runs: Today’s featured Ambassador has captured the hearts of those who have run with him. Sid Busch may be one of the most selfless people we’ve had the pleasure of meeting. For those who do not know, Sid is a retired Navy Veteran (Senior Chief Sonar Tech). He has run thousands of
Energy Abound? ‘Spring is in the air!’ ‘Hope springs eternal!’ ‘Ditch the pants, bring on the dresses!’-Ok, the last one was one came from my best friend at Purdue. Phrases that let you know the temperatures are rising. The flowers are blooming. The allergies are ON FIRE. Race season is here and the cold gear
This week’s Star Spotlight is on Pamala Berry! Our Stars Crew is a very special group who have run the Air Force Marathon every year. Truly, they have gone through life together, catching up every September and sometimes more often. We would like to introduce you today to local Star, Pamala Berry. Why Air Force
Life Lessons found in the run. In my life, I am an analyzer and a learner. I am constantly taking in what is being said and done around me. I would like to say I use these moments to grow in who I am learning to become every day. I admit, though, that sometimes the
An Olympic Hopeful in the Air Force? Our Tailwind Ambassador Crew is full of adventure and surprise. What may come as a big surprise to most is that one of the members is an Olympic Hopeful and will attempt to qualify again next summer. Senior Airman Michael Mannozzi is a race walker and competes for
What thoughts go through your head while out on a run? How many ‘world problems’ do you solve while logging miles? Recently, our ambassadors started posting ‘what they ponder.’ A lot of what travels through their heads is probably what goes through yours as well. I hope you laugh with them as we did, relating
Double the trouble or double the fun? This week’s Stars Spotlight is also a member of the Tailwind Ace Crew Ambassadors! Amanda Preble has taken part in the Air Force Marathon since 1997. She stated she had such a good time that first year, she just kept coming back. 2002 is her most sentimental year
Getting to know the Ambassadors: Over the last few months, we have truly had the honor to get to know our Ambassadors. The way they interact with the staff, with others in our group makes hearts swell. Reading John’s posts, his comments when others post is the reason he is today’s spotlight. Wanting you to
Why the Air Force Marathon? Rachael and I were interviewed for a podcast Monday. One of the first questions asked was ‘what brought you to the Air Force Marathon?’ Rachael’s story is one of working her way through the ranks and growth. Mine is different because I worked my way through a few different races
Ambassador Spotlight: Megan Mottet I would like to introduce you to Megan Mottet, our next Tailwind’s Ace Crew Ambassador. Megan is the definition of grit and grace. She encourages those around her and finds a fire within herself to dig deep and do more. As of this typing, Megan is ranked in the top 10%
On the move…It’s Expo Season! Race Expo season is really one of my most favorite things. Everyone in the office knows this. Rachael laughs and teases me about it. I have attempted to write this post at least 15 times about how much I love expos and why and the reason I feel like this
Ambassador Spotlight #1 Join me Tuesdays leading up to the Marathon weekend as we get to know our Tailwind Ace Crew Ambassadors! The individuals you will come to know have different reasons for wanting to represent the Air Force Marathon. All filled out questionnaires and agreed to promote the race through social media channels. As
The age-old story of the Tortoise and the Hare… By now you have most likely heard the story of the tortoise and the hare. The hare is confident of winning the race, so he stops, rests, and does silly things along the way. At the same time, the tortoise is slow and steady. The hare
The Stars Shine Bright… When a race director first lays plans to have a race, they truly hope the people will come. Questions run through their head much like a runner runs laps racing the 5000M on a track. After the first iteration of the event, a true test of measure is who returns. And
On the move…traversing Dayton Being able to travel around Dayton and find new places for all of us to venture is truly an amazing job perk. Meeting the people who run the establishments is even more fun. This week, we’re on the move in a few must visit areas of Dayton. Carillon Historic District If
Back in the Saddle… Do you exercise for health, for sanity, for goals? When I run, I like to have goals in mind whether it be an upcoming race I am running or a race I am pacing. I used to set timed goals to the point of obsession. At that time in my life,
We are one month into the new year already. The adage of “time flies” is very true. If your schedule is anything like mine, it is often hard to fit everything you want to do into one day. We have work, family, exercise, committees, kids’ activities and our own hobbies. How is it possible to
Fairborn and Dayton: Traveling to races, whether local or destination, always presents a challenge. Where should you eat before/after? Are there fun activities pre- or post-race? What could you visit on your downtime (instead of resting your legs)? Over the next 8 months, there will be local venues and activities for you to add to
Introducing me: Hello! I’m Jill! Assistant Race Director by day, mom all the time, and forever on the move. I have two teenagers involved in sports, extracurriculars, music, and everything social. We have a Black Lab who NEVER stops talking. I am a fiercely loyal friend. Something I am not: a life-long runner. That journey
From the Director’s Desk: Happy New Year! We are two weeks in to our resolutions (if you make them). Personally, I have always been a goal setter-adding, evaluating, revising all year long. Sometimes, I succeed. Other times, I let go. This year we have team goals for the Air Force Marathon, and I have separate
Recovery After Your Race Written by Michelle Daniel, owner of The Lifestyle Technique, LLC Congratulations on completing your race. You did it. All the training and hard work paid off and I hope you are proud of your accomplishment. As a general rule of thumb, it is suggested to take one day of rest per
Final Air Force Marathon Race Day Preparation Written by Michelle Daniel, owner of The Lifestyle Technique, LLC Can you believe that your race day is almost here? You have put in so much thought and effort into your training plan for the Air Force Marathon and the big race day is quickly approaching. As you
Visualization Techniques Can Lead to Success Written by Michelle Daniel, owner of The Lifestyle Technique, LLC What are visualization techniques? These are mindfulness techniques that help you focus on something specific, such as, your upcoming race or goal you want to achieve. As you visualize begin holding visions and thoughts in your mind, imagining your
A Strong Runners’ Mindset Written by Michelle Daniel, owner of The Lifestyle Technique, LLC Mindset is the driving force in the pursuit for success and achievement. A mindset that combines discipline, strength, confidence, and ambition is a powerful mindset. This can help motivate and drive you in achieving anything your mind sets its sights on.
Listening to your body! Written by Michelle Daniel, owner of The Lifestyle Technique, LLC What does it mean to listen to your body? It means being in tune with how you feel on any given day. This can mean noticing your breathing pattern, feeling fatigue, your mindset, or maybe your legs feel tired. The body
Can stress affect a runner’s performance? Written by Michelle Daniel, owner of The Lifestyle Technique, LLC Exercise has been shown to increase your overall health and sense of well-being. It can also help relieve stress and have great benefits. Physical activity, such as, running can help increase your endorphin production, which is our brain’s feel-good
Can sleep deprivation prolong post-run recovery? Written by Michelle Daniel, owner of The Lifestyle Technique, LLC Many people boast about the little sleep they run on each day. For runners, not receiving an adequate amount of sleep, can hinder their post-run recovery. Why is this? During a long run or hard workout, your muscles
Maximize Your Post-Workout Recovery with These Top 10 Foods Written by Michelle Daniel, owner of The Lifestyle Technique, LLC In the previous Air Force Marathon blog, we discussed how fueling before a long run or race is important in performing and recovering quicker. Fueling your body with carbohydrates prior to exercise will give you the
Benefits of Practicing Yoga for Runners Written by Michelle Daniel, owner of The Lifestyle Technique, LLC As your training miles begin to increase for your upcoming race, some runners may begin to have some aches and pains. Paying attention and being mindful in what your body needs will help you throughout your training program. Depending
Pre-Workout Overnight Oats Written by Michelle Daniel, owner of The Lifestyle Technique, LLC Overnight oats is a great pre-run breakfast choice. It’s easy to make, eat and digest. Plus it provides a ton of carbs: one half-cup gives you about 64 total grams! Of course, every runner is different in terms of fueling and metabolism, but I
Long Distance Training and Dietary Supplementation Written by Michelle Daniel, owner of The Lifestyle Technique, LLC Training for a long-distance run is sometimes a running curve. Fueling your body properly is imperative when training for a race and is done through your diet. There are times though that eating real food just isn’t possible or
Delayed Onset of Muscle Soreness Written by Michelle Daniel, owner of The Lifestyle Technique, LLC Do you ever get sore after you start a new exercise or increase the intensity, resistance, frequency, or duration of your workout or run? If so, you may be experiencing what is called delayed onset of muscle soreness (DOMS) which
Experimental Era: History & Heritage of the XF-85 Goblin The XF-85 Goblin, nicknamed Parasite, was made to protect B-36 bombers. These small-framed bombers could easily fly beyond the range of the conventional escorts. The range endurance was 1 hour and 20 minutes. The B-36 would carry the XF-85 in case the enemy fighters came into
Top 10 Success Tips to Help Support Your Training Program Written by Michelle Daniel, owner of The Lifestyle Technique, LLC As many may be beginning a training program for the Air Force Marathon races, there are a few tips that can help with your progress and success along the way. To begin, creating healthy habits
Vietnam Era: History & Heritage of the F-4 Phantom II The U.S. Navy Fleet first developed the F-4 Phantom II in 1958. It wasn’t until May of 1963 that the U.S. Air Force flew their first version of the Phantom II, an F-4C. By 1979 5,000 Phantom II’s were built for the U.S. Navy Fleet,
Meet the Team: Matthew Crooker Hello everyone! My name is Matthew Crooker and I am the Operations Manager for the Air Force Marathon and the Space Force T-Minus 10-Miler. I started in August 2021, and I am the newest member of this wonderful team! I want to dedicate my career to public service, and there’s
Post-Vietnam: History & Heritage of the MH-53 Pave Low The Pave Low is an all-weather platform capable of operating during in a contested environment. The MH-53 Pave Low was a long-range aircraft with low-level emissions to assist with special operation forces. The MH-53 started off as a HH-53 named, “Super Jolly Green Giant”, which was
Pre-WWII: History & Heritage of the J-3 Cub The Piper J-3 Cub is a symbol of the contributions of the Civil Air Patrol (CAP) to the United States Air Force. The J-3 was used by these CAP members to hunt enemy submarines, report damaged ships, tow aerial targets, and deliver integral war materials. The aircraft
Experimental: History & Heritage of the North American XB-70 Valkyrie The XB-70 Valkyrie started as a prototype for the B-70, a high-altitude, nuclear strike bomber. The Valkyrie had six engines that allowed the aircraft to fly at Mach 3+, which is three times the speed of sound. No such enemy could defend against a bomber
WWII: History & Heritage of the B-17F Flying Fortress The Boeing B-17F Flying Fortress was a versatile plane used first in WWII. This highflying, fast plane with a respectable range was fully equipped for war. The bomber was so beloved that it quickly became the 2nd most manufactured bomber in history. Europe took extra liking
Post-Vietnam Era: The History & Heritage of the F-117 Nighthawk The F-117 Nighthawk is one of the most unique and memorable aircraft to fly in the USAF. Designed as a twin-engine stealth attack aircraft, its design was based purely around evading radar signature and thus was the world’s first operational stealth aircraft. In 1989 Lockheed
Lung Cancer Warrior: Every Race is an Accomplishment Despite starting his running career at age 62, surviving lung cancer, and dealing with the challenge of 2020, Vince Fonner proves that it’s never too late to start and that each race truly is a significant accomplishment. Along with two friends, I completed the 2020 Air Force
Virtual Strides: Running Your Own Race I completed the virtual AF Half-Marathon on 6 September 2020 running 13.1 miles straight down the measured Montour Trail near the Pittsburgh Airport. I parked my car near mile-marker 21 and started at 0742 with two bottles of water in my hands and some Gu Gel to keep me
A Day in the Life: Race Director If you are reading this but have yet to read the other blogs in this series, I would encourage you to first learn what some of the other members of the Air Force Marathon team does first. Those blog posts can be found linked below. Administrator Assistant Director
Pre-WWII: The History & Heritage of the P-26A Peashooter The Peashooter marked both the beginning and end of numerous features in the evolution of fighter aircrafts (in the pre-AF years, fighters had a “P” designation or “pursuit”). It was the first all-metal monoplane and was much faster than older wood planes. However, it was the
The Green Program: Going for Gold In 2019, here at the Air Force Marathon, we launched the Green Program. Honestly, we’d love to have a better name for it, as that feels very generic and not sufficient to all that the program entails. This program is done in partnership with the Council for Responsible Sport.
Big Heart: Complete Stranger to Comrade First, I am not a marathon participant, but rather a volunteer. Second, the marathon allows me to take my love of bicycling and turn it into the high lite of my year. Being able to escort the wheel-chaired athletes in the completion of something I can’t fathom. We both
8 Years: Hooked on Running My husband used to volunteer for the Air Force Marathon because he worked for Civil Service. When he retired after 4 years in the Air Force and another 37 years on the base, he wanted to try the Half Marathon. I decided to run-walk with him. After 8 years of
Dayton Strong: A Passion for Running, Ohio, and AFM’s very own, Brandon Hough I love telling this story because I think of the world of USAF Race Director, Brandon Hough. I was born in Dayton, Ohio and at age 11, we all moved to Florida. I lived in Florida until I joined the Air Force
Just Breathe: Learning to Run and Never Stopping I started running competitively in 2010. I’d always admired runners but never imagined I’d be one. I started walking at the local track and would look longingly at runners but couldn’t breathe properly whenever I tried. “I’d always admired runners but never imagined I’d be one.” One
A Day in the Life: Assistant Race Director “A dream doesn’t become reality through magic; it takes sweat, determination and hard work.” – Colin Powell I first wrote this blog in a way which described the role of the Air Force Marathon Assistant Director (AD), but decided to scrap that and start over. I wanted
A Day in the Life: Events Manager I have had the privilege of working a few roles within the Air Force Marathon office over my time here in 6 years. Each role has taught me more about the success of the event and how every detail matters. I spent a year and a half in
Why I Run…Why Not Run It? It’s not about why I run the USAF 5K as much as “why not run it.” I’ve never been the athletic type but always thought that my life as a working mom was keeping me active enough. My brain kept insisting I was healthy and fit in spite of
Stepping Out: Sole Sisters It is 2016 and someone at the young age of 53 decided it was time to get up and get moving so the challenge was made to family and friends and Stepping out Sisters was established. Our goal was to move more so we challenged ourselves to complete a 5K, 10K,
Director U.S. Air Force Marathon 88 MSG/AFM 5030 Pearson Rd, Bldg 219, Room 106 WPAFB, Ohio 45433 July 4, 2020 Hello, I’ve run your race a number of times, once the full and I believe three times the half. At 71 I’ve decided to experience different venues, but I would love to return to Dayton.
One Step at a Time: Determination through Heartache I was stationed at Wright-Patterson AFB from 1996-2001, working in the Aeronautical Systems Center Public Affairs Office when the U.S. Air Force Marathon was created in honor of the service’s 50th Anniversary. I proudly worked and supported the first four marathons before I PCSed. In 2000, our
Weight Loss Journey: From Obese to Marathoner My weight loss journey began after a routine visit to the doctor’s office. My certified Nurse Practitioner said that I was obese!! This was very unsettling for me, and I knew I needed to make some drastic changes in my life. Needless to say, I was not going
Running to Remember: Seeking to Find Meaning in Sacrifice It was the fall of 2007 and I was a freshman at the Air Force Academy in cadet squadron 20, the Tough Twenty Trolls! One of the seniors in my squadron was a tall slender young man, he had a “runners build” if you will. He
A Day in the Life … of the Air Force Marathon Volunteer Coordinator My name is Rachel Nipper and I am the Volunteer Coordinator for the Air Force Marathon. I joined the team in November 2019 with previous experience working in volunteer services at a nonprofit. Although I am relatively new to the running industry,
5 Reasons to Run, Even When No One Is Watching I used to hate running. And I mean I really, truly, unequivocally despised it. As a kid, I remember being excited to run with my older brother in a local Fourth of July fun run in Oregon only to trip and scrape my hands and
A Gold Star Mom “Jogs” Her Memory Most people do not understand at all why a person would want to run 26.2 miles. Even fewer understand running more than one marathon. My son, Joel, was one of the few people in my circle who truly understood why I would run—at this point—over 25 marathons. Perhaps
The Dog Days of Summer A few years ago while waiting around in a foyer before an appointment, I happened to notice one of those trite ‘motivational posters’ that are far more worthy of an eye-roll than they are motivational, except this one was actually pretty powerful in my opinion. “Your mind will quit 1000
Always A Runner I started running when I was 12 years old and in the 7th grade. My first run ever I got lost in a cornfield, chased by a dog and cried the entire way back to where practice started. For some reason, I thought, “YES!!! Let’s do this for another 10 years!!!!” I
Why I Run I have not always been a runner. In fact, growing up I was the musician in my family where my 3 siblings were the athletes in cross country, track and football. I never minded that because we are all unique and made in different ways. One year, knowing my siblings had been
A Day in the Life … of the Air Force Marathon Administrative Assistant When asked what the administrative assistant at the Air Force Marathon does, the better question to ask is, “What doesn’t the office administrative assistant do?” When you enter the office, the smiling face of the admin is who you will see. That
“Sometimes, you just have to start all over differently.” – Bernard Kelvin Clive These times we face right now in the midst of COVID-19 provide challenges for each person in different ways. As a whole, you have all found unique ways to maneuver these days. Some of you have taken up new hobbies, others have