Thousands of runners, health and fitness enthusiasts and spectators are expected to attend the free, two-day event, which is open to the public. The expo offers merchandise sales opportunities, guest speakers, chair massages and more. Guest speakers will include former Army Special Forces officer and published author Ivan Castro and Beast Pacing pace team member Joe Buccino on both days.
In addition, the expo is the home of participant bib, T-shirt and pasta or breakfast ticket pickup for all approximately 15,000 participants. There will be no bib pickup on Marathon Race Day, Sept. 16. 5K participants must pick up their bib by 6 p.m. on Sept. 15.
Free yoga classes for runners, led by registered yoga instructor Jessica Carter at noon Sept. 14 and 11 a.m. Sept. 15, will be held both days on the arena floor. Participants may bring their own mat or mats will be available for use. The class focuses on strength and flexibility in the areas where runners most need it: hips, hamstrings, calves and core. Participants will learn how to keep away nagging injuries and prevent new ones, all while building the strength and flexibility to get that next race. The class can be taken with or without prior yoga experience.
Other attractions, even for non-runners, will include:
• F-22 Raptor cockpit simulator on the concourse. The F-22 is one of the featured aircraft at this year’s marathon.
• Mascot Tailwind walking around and greeting the crowd;
• New Balance store in center of arena floor, selling the only officially licensed Air Force Marathon merchandise;
• Gear from previous marathons, including shirts and coins, are available for purchase at the Marathon merchandise store.
A popular aspect of the Sports and Fitness Expo is the “Shoes for Water” collection of used shoes, from running shoes to high heels to high tops. Bins will be available outside the Nutter Center’s Gate 3 entrance. Collected shoes will be sold to an exporter and will benefit WaterStep, a non-profit that funds safe drinking water projects all over the world. Donated shoes keep hundreds of tons of waste out of landfills.
Shoes also will be collected near the Marathon starting line Sept. 16.
For more information about the Air Force Marathon and the Sports and Fitness Expo, go online to www.usafmarathon.com.
Registration still open for Air Force Marathon races
There is still an opportunity to be an active runner for the 2017 Air Force Marathon. Any open races for the Air Force Marathon may be registered for during the Air Force Marathon Sports and Fitness Expo, held at Wright State University’s Nutter Center Sept. 14 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sept. 15 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Prices are:
• Marathon – $115
• Half Marathon – $105
• 10K – sold out
• 5K – $40
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