Air Force Marathon Highlights Endurance and Legacy

On the grounds of the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, more than 7,600 runners representing 50 states and 11 foreign countries, gathered Sept. 20 to take part in the 29th annual Air Force Marathon.

Lt. Gen. Linda Hurry, Air Force Materiel Command deputy commander, welcomed participants before the start of the 10K, full and half marathons.

"I just want to say thank you to all participants of our 2025 Air Force Marathon. Let's make this memorable," she said. "Congratulations, not only on your personal achievement, but on the remarkable legacy of our Air Force. Let's have a great race. Stay safe and good luck. I'll see you at the finish line."

Perseverance defined the day.

From the opening strides of the 10K to the final push of the full marathon, the event challenged athletes of every level. No matter the distance, many participants reached points where the hill seemed too steep or the next mile too far away. In those moments, the choice was simple but difficult: stop and give up or dig deeper and press on.

Zach Kreft, winner of the men's full marathon, said one of the most poignant moments came at mile 20 along the "Tribute wear blue Mile," which honors service members with Faces of the Fallen tribute posters and ribbons. "We got to run through a bunch of veterans who put their lives on the line for the country. I loved all the American flags; 'Born in the USA' was playing out there. It was a pretty awesome race."

The marquee distance, the 26.2-mile marathon, stood out as both a Boston Marathon qualifier and the only race to feature a wheeled division. Across every distance, runners carried the same sense of endurance and celebration - a theme echoed by Col. Dorinda Mazza, 88th Air Base Wing deputy commander, who said, "The Air Force Marathon has always embodied perseverance - to fly, fight and win anytime, anywhere - through a world-class running event that challenges participants and celebrates the dedication of our Airmen."

Runners wound through Wright-Patterson's Area A and B, passing historic sites such as Huffman Prairie Flying Field, the Air Force Research Laboratory and the Air Force Institute of Technology. The route then opened into a sweeping downhill with views of the Miami Valley before flattening into a fast final mile.

The finish line carried runners down a stretch of the old flight line where their last push came beneath the wingtips of historic aircraft in the museum's Air Park, including this year's featured KC-135 Stratotanker. As they took determined steps, family, friends and spectators lined the route with encouragement, cheering them on to the accomplishment they worked so hard to achieve.

Kayla Brown, winner of the women's full marathon, was running to honor her uncle, an Air Force veteran, and two friends who work at Wright-Patterson. She said, "Just knowing that my uncle was part of the Air Force, and he was stationed here at one point, so just to be on the grounds where he and my friends work, where they support our country, is a good feeling."

Perseverance has always defined this place, a legacy first written at Wright-Patt by the Wright brothers through their innovation and resolve. Today, Airmen across the Air Force carry that same spirit forward, pushing boundaries in research, technology and global operations.

In the same way, runners at the Air Force Marathon pushed beyond their limits, embodying the drive to achieve what once seemed out of reach. For them, the finish line was more than the end of a race; it reflected the heritage and spirit at the heart of the Air Force. And whether they crossed first or last, each shared the same achievement: proving what's possible when grit meets determination.

Here are the unofficial results according to RacePenguin, the Air Force Marathon's official race tracking app: