Air Force Marathon Weekend

I was actually planning on doing the Air Force 5k, but it's the night before the marathon and it's at Wright State, not at the base. I kept hearing about what an amazing experience it is, running on the base, so I decided I would do the 10k. My first 10k (6.2 miles). The one problem, it was sold out. It sold out in May, 4 months before the event!

There was a transfer program where people can give their registration to someone else. It was a one-time shot with 2-week window. Thankfully when I posted on the Air Force Marathon facebook page, someone contacted me. He registered for the 5k, 10k and half marathon. (This is called the "triple crown." It's actually possible to do all three.) He decided he would be unable to do the 10k, so he transferred his registration to me.

And so the training started. I ran 2-3 miles twice a week and then would run a longer distance on Saturdays. The week before the 10k I did 5.75 miles, and I knew I was ready. The plan was to run 3 miles, walk a half a mile, run a mile, walk half a mile and then run the last mile. I had my energy Jelly Bellies, my long-sleeved technical shirt, running skort, non-cotton socks, and broken-in running shoes.

There was a runner's expo at the Nutter Center the two days before the marathon. The bib and t-shirt pick up was at the expo, along with many vendors selling everything a marathon runner might need. A friend who is new to running came with me to the expo. We had a great time looking at the t-shirts, headbands, and shoes and got quite a few freebies. I ended up getting a t-shirt that says "If I collapse, pause my Garmin." (Other favorites were "WTF - Where's The Finish," "This seemed like a good idea 3 months ago," and "If found on the ground, drag across the finish line.") I also got a headband that says "Will run for cupcakes."

The day before the race I had anticipated being nervous and excited all day and not being able to concentrate at work. Instead, the day started with an aura, a sure sign a migraine was going to hit. I quickly took some ibuprofen and asked Jason and some other friends to pray for me. I got a headache, but it never got as bad as a migraine. However, I had other symptoms like being sensitive to light and sound, and being nauseous. I ended up leaving work early and going home to nap. Not the day I had planned at all. I got some carbs at dinner and headed to bed early.


The alarm went off the day of the marathon at 5:00 am. I checked the weather and it was 49 degrees and it was going to drop 2 more degrees before the sun came up. I was so thankful to have Jason with me to hold the layer of sweats I wore over my running clothes. I call him my pit crew. (Love him!) We got out the door at 5:40 am and got to the Air Force Museum before 6am. Parking was quick, but we were in the pitch black darkness. I almost ran into someone standing next to our car. It was about a mile to the starting line (I used my Garmin), but we got there about an hour before the start.

Looking at the starting line around 6:30 am

The 10k starts at the same time as the marathon and we run with them for the first 3 miles (I think). It was so great to be there with so many expert runners. I watched them to see if I could learn anything but really, other than some of their stretches and all the gel packs around their waists, they seemed like my friends and me. I got in line with those that were planning on finishing in 5 or more hours - the very back of the pack. And yet these marathon runners still seemed so impressive to me. They were there to have fun, and to just finish.

Looking at the starting line around 7:00 am

The sun came up shortly before the opening ceremony started. Someone was talking, but we couldn't hear them. Then there was the fly-over. In Dayton this usually means some bombers flying over in formation. However, this morning it was a stealth bomber, flying slowly over the line of runners waiting to start. It was amazing to watch, and so surprisingly quiet.

The crowd moved forward to the start line and then we waited. Normally I can barely hear the gunshot at the start of the race, so I was just waiting for the group ahead of me to start running to know we had started. Not this time. I'm not sure what they use, but I'm pretty sure it was some sort of cannon. Not only could I hear it, but I could FEEL it. I waited almost 4 minutes, but finally I was across the start line and my 10k had started.

Ready to run!

I had to keep checking my Garmin to make sure I wasn't running too fast. I knew the pace I wanted to keep and was able to keep it up for most of the race. I found a group with a similar pace and stayed with them for awhile. I remember thinking that I just wanted to take in every detail, remember every moment. The morning seemed perfect - it was finally warmer and the sun was just above some of the buildings on base.

The crowd waiting to start

Some of the unexpected things - there was a juggler with 4 apples that was ahead of me until he dropped one of the apples. There were two kids running with their parents with t-shirts that said "my first 10k." Everyone was cheering them on. There were clothes strewn all along the course as people got warm and took off a layer. (People go to Goodwill to get these clothes. I wonder if someone collects all of them and gives them back to Goodwill.) There were also bands along the course which made things more fun. And the lines for the porta-potties in the first 3 miles was a bit unbelievable.

Before we got to the first mile we hit a long hill. I tried to run up it, but when everyone else around me was walking I knew it was time to take it slower and walk up the rest. Around the first mile (after another hill), I started looking for a hydration station. I was thirsty and started getting a headache. I was surprised that the first one was at 1.5 miles. After this it was about every mile. I was so thankful that they were offering water and Gator-aid, so I had both.

I remember passing a fire station, another band, and then suddenly we were at mile 2. I couldn't believe how fast it was going. When we were going up another hill I started walking again. A man next to me said he wasn't expecting to walk so much at the beginning and I agreed with him. He started telling me that he had a titanium plate in his arm and he was still freezing. He said he'd warm up around 1pm, about the time he finished the marathon. I laughed and then we started running. I really wanted to ask him why he had a titanium plate in his arm; what happened? I should have said Good Luck but then he was off running again.

There were also a group of airmen with backpacks running in formation along with us. They would do a cadence once in awhile but after I passed them I couldn't hear them anymore. Jason said a group finished in front of me, so either they found a short cut or there was another group in front of me.

Around mile 3 we started to hear "marathon to the right, 10k to the left, marathon to the right, 10k to the left." At first I was only hearing "to the right" and couldn't understand why people were still going to the left. I figured out quickly that this is where we split off and stayed to the left. I had no desire to do an addition 20 miles.

The group thinned out and we started running along 444. After this we only got water at the hydration stations. I guess only the marathoners get the Gator-aid. Around 4.5 miles a low-flying plane suddenly came flying over the trees. I was wondering if this was the fly-over for the half-marathoners who started an hour after us. Jason later told me that there were three parachutists with American flags who jumped out of the low-flying plane. And then a moment later there was that cannon shot again - I could feel it more than I could hear it.

We turned a corner and there were the half marathoners running towards us. They do a similar course to the marathoners, but backwards. I looked for my friends who were doing the half but then we parted ways before I got to where they were. (They were further back in the group of runners.) We ran around some buildings, followed the path of the first mile and saw the same band we first came across. I could hear the announcer cheering on those close to the finish line and announcing their names as they crossed. I couldn't believe it was almost over!

When there was about half a mile left I felt like I had enough energy left to pick up the pace and "finish strong." (I hate it when people say this. Normally just finishing is all I can do and there's nothing strong about it.) As I was approaching the last turn I saw a man with a sign that said "the Kenyans are drinking all the beer." I guess people call the fastest runners Kenyans. I had to laugh. As I ran the final stretch people were clapping and holding up signs and because my name was on my bib, they were also cheering me on personally. "Keep going Cynthia, almost there!"

And then there was that moment that everyone tells me about, running under the wings of the airplanes as you approach the finish line. I started sprinting and gave it everything I had. (I glanced at my Garmin, about an 8:30 pace. Woot!) I ran over one of the strips on the ground that reads your chip and was thinking that couldn't possibly be the finish line, people were still running past it. I then realized that's how they know who you are as you cross the finish line.

As I ran across the finish they announced "Cynthia Parsons has crossed the finish line!" I heard Jason yelling my name and I ran to him (he was behind a divider) and gave him a huge hug. There were so many people cheering, it was just the most amazing moment. They directed me to some queues where I received my medal and then they took my picture. I then went through the food tent and got Gator-aid, chocolate milk (it's the new thing to drink after a race), and a piece of bagel. (Unfortunately I wasn't aware that once you leave this area you're not allowed to go back, so I didn't end up getting a piece of pizza.)

At some point a headache had started, not surprising, I usually have a headache after a long run. It's usually from a sodium imbalance and drinking a bouillon cube usually helps this. So we headed back to the parking lot. We couldn't remember where we parked and the numbered flags in the parking lot weren't visible in the darkness when we arrived. We kept hitting the lock button on the key fob and finally were heard out car beeping at us. It took another half an hour to get out of the parking area even though there was little traffic. I'm still not sure what the problem was, but there was only one exit and there was no security assistance to get us out. I guess it was still too early.

We hit Tim Horton's and I got my crack, I mean coffee, and we headed home. I wasn't feeling good, I think the nausea from the previous day was still hanging around a bit. I ended up drinking the bouillon cube and then taking an hour nap and then I was finally able to eat something and drink my coffee. I took it easy the rest of the day and then that evening we headed out to the after-party at the Greene. By then thankfully my headache was mostly gone.

Yes it's a real medal

First we hit Cake, Hope and Love where I got my free cupcake for running the 10k. Yes, I was wearing my medal. Jason got a cupcake too and we put them in my purse (they were in to-go containers) and headed to meet some friends at the Pub. We parked behind the Greene and walked through the open area where the fountain is. There was a band playing the the place was packed with people wearing their Air Force Marathon t-shirts and medals. It was awesome.

One pumpkin cupcake, one chocolate pumpkin cupcake,
one cupcake headband and one Air Force 10k medal

At the Pub we hung out with some friends who also ran that day. We also got to meet others who had run the marathon, including a group of guys from California, and a local family where all five ran one of the races. It was a great ending to an incredible day.

Starting at the top left, full marathon medal, half medal, 5k medal,
10k medal (mine), half medal. Each one an amazing accomplishment!