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Marathon looks for relay teams

  • Published
  • By James Baker
  • 88th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio --  Does the notion of running 26.2 miles seem a little daunting to you? Do you feel there is not adequate time left to train for the 2006 U.S. Air Force Marathon? The relay portion of the race may be the right choice for you.

Relay teams consist of four members with each member running a specific leg of the marathon. The team's total elapsed time will determine the winners.

If a relay team has less than four members on race day, one or more runners must run consecutive legs. Runners must also choose to either run the relay or the marathon, but can't run both.

"You don't have to run as much in the relay, but you still get the same great benefits," said Rachel Claridy, U.S. Air Force Marathon coordinator. "It is truly a team effort and can make your organization look good."

The four stages are divided up into intervals of 5 miles (leg one), 7 miles (leg two), 7.5 miles (leg three) and 6.7 miles to finish the race (leg four).

The categories of team competition for the relay include coed (with one team member from each sex); men's open; women's open; masters (all members must be at least 40 years old on race day); Reserve Officer Training Corps; and military (all members must be on active duty, Reserve or National Guard status in the United States or foreign military).

To date, 1,152 individuals have signed up for the full/individual 26.2 mile race, 1,016 for the half marathon, 312 for the 5k, 142 teams have registered for the relay and five have signed up for the wheelchair race.

Registered participants are roughly double from what the numbers were last year, according to Ms. Claridy who added that marathon officials are exceedingly pleased with the expected turnout.

Anyone interested in registering for the 2006 U.S. Air Force Marathon may sign up at http://www.usafmarathon.com. You have until Sept. 8 to register online, and you may also register at the Sports & Fitness Exposition Sept. 14-15 at the Ervin J. Nutter Center near Wright State University in Fairborn.


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