The U.S. Air Force Wright-Patterson Air Force Base Marathon
The annual Air Force Marathon usually hosts thousands of participants to run its nationally renowned course but no longer can due in part to the coronavirus.
Athletes from around the country have waited with anticipation for the 25th annual Air Force Marathon held at the Wright Patterson Air Force Base (WPAFB) after a year-long absence in response to national coronavirus lockdown guidelines.
Since the start of summer, many public events eased their coronavirus restrictions and were eager to be open to the public again. While it seemed like The Air Force Marathon would be no different, the sharp rise in cases across the nation has forced the organizers to move to a virtual setting in order to protect over 20,000 participants and volunteers.
Where it started, why it matters
Since 1997, the Air Force Marathon has operated continuously and had a close relationship with Wright State University (WSU). Each year, the marathon holds its free Health and Fitness Expo in Wright State’s Nutter Center, hosts portions of its marathon on WSU campus and draws volunteers from WSU’s student body.
“We love doing this event and getting out into the public to help,” Caleb Matos, Cadet Battalion Commander for WSU Army ROTC, said. “Everyone has been chomping at the bit to get out there again, this is one of our biggest volunteer events each year.”
On a typical race day, crowds are expected to be in the thousands and in order to keep race stops, parking and traffic running smoothly, the marathon relies on its army of volunteers for help.
“Our job was going to be supplying detail and supplying water to various locations,” Matos said.
Without help from local volunteers the race simply could not happen.
The ultimate decision
“Our team feels the same disappointment everyone is feeling now,” Brandon Hough, Air Force Marathon Race Director, said in a statement emailed directly to all participants on Aug. 19.
Both U.S. Air Force and Air Force Marathon leadership came to the ultimate decision to suspend the race due to the uptick in local cases.
With the decision to move to a virtual environment, many student volunteers are disappointed that they will no longer be needed, yet they completely understand this hard decision.
“For us, it’s a big deal because volunteering for the marathon is one of the oldest memories we have as a [cadet] class,” Cadet Philip Bertsch, WSU Army ROTC, said. “Saying I’m disappointed doesn’t even cover it.”
While volunteers like Matos and Bertsch are disappointed in this decision, many of them completely agree with it.
“It [the decision] was made with the best intentions for all,” the WPAFB Base Commander said in the same statement released to participants.
