Air Force Marathon
Dayton, United States • 18 Sep 2026
2026 Air Force Marathon
The 2026 Air Force Marathon marks the event's 30th anniversary and takes place at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio on the third Saturday of September. The marathon began in 1997 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the founding of the U.S. Air Force. The featured aircraft for 2026 will be announced.
Race offerings span multiple distances and formats, including in-person and virtual options.
- Marathon
- Half Marathon
- 10K
- 5K
- Tailwind Trot 1K Kids’ Run
The event adds a RUCK division for the 10K and Half Marathon in 2026. The AIM HIGH Challenge pairs the 5K with a choice of the Full Marathon, Half Marathon, or 10K; participants receive race shirts, a finisher coin, medals for each race completed, and an AIM HIGH Challenge medal.
The marathon course is a Boston Qualifying route and passes historic aviation sites that represent over 110 years of military airpower history. The finish line is located at the National Museum of the United States Air Force.
Weekend activities include a two-day Health and Fitness Expo, a Gourmet Pasta Dinner, and a Finish Line Festival. Team registration is open to everyone; special team bibs, shirts, or awards are not provided. A military discount is offered for in-person race entries. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.