An official website of the United States government
Here's how you know
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

USAF Marathon's MAJCOM Challenge draws record-breaking participation

  • Published
  • By Michelle Eviston
  • Air Force Materiel Command Public Affairs
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio (AFMCNS) --  After first going to Air Education and Training Command, headquartered at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas, and then to Air Force Materiel Command, headquartered, here, the Major Command Challenge, or MAJCOM Challenge, trophy is again up for grabs at this year's United States Air Force Marathon. 

The MAJCOM Challenge is an Air Force-wide competition open to active-duty and activated Guard and Reserve service members. The challenge pits uniformed members of the service against one another in a friendly competition determined by participation points and race performance. 

The marathon and half-marathon races, whose results make up the challenge, will be run on Sept. 19. Both races will begin and end at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force. A 10K race also will take place Sept. 19, but individual results do not contribute to the MAJCOM Challenge point system. 

Now in its third year, the MAJCOM Challenge was established to boost involvement in the marathon. The point system rewards commands for their percentage growth in active-duty or activated military participation based on MAJCOM population. 

Additionally, the top male and female Air Force finishers in all age groups and both the half- and full-marathon races earn points for their commands. Even more points are awarded if the overall winner of either marathon is a uniformed Air Force runner. 

The winning command earns possession of a prestigious traveling trophy, to be presented at Fall CORONA, the annual autumn gathering of Air Force senior leaders. A plaque will be awarded to the previous year's winning command when it relinquishes the trophy to the new winner. If the same command wins again, it will keep the trophy for another year. Each winner is recognized by a nameplate engraved with its name, which is mounted on the trophy. 

As of Sept. 14, there were more than 1,200 registered MAJCOM Challenge participants for this year's marathon. In 2008, there were 1,100 total challenge participants and 900 in 2007. 

For more information on the MAJCOM Challenge, or any USAF Marathon events, log onto www.usafmarathon.com.