Academy to host marathon, 10k

Published Sept. 17, 2015
By Ray Bowden
U.S. Air Force Academy Public Affairs

U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. -- The ninth annual Air Force Academy Half-Marathon and 10-Kilometer Run is scheduled to begin at 7 a.m., Sept. 19 at the 10th Civil Engineer Squadron Pavilion and features a new route.

"It will start and end at the pavilion as it always has, but this year the route will go south into Colorado Springs," said David Gray, the 10th Force Support Squadron fitness director.

The course begins on sand and gravel as the Santa Fe Trail passes through open meadows and woodland flanked by the railway and Monument Creek.

"Runners pass under Woodman road, entering more rural surroundings as the surface changes to asphalt," he said. "Crossing the bridge over Cottonwood Creek, they near the 10k turnaround point situated behind Furniture Row."

The half-marathoners will continue on the concrete city trail.

"Runner will pass under Highway 25 then Garden of the Gods Road emerging on the Pikes Peak Greenway Trail with Pikeview Reservoir on the left, eventually reaching the half-marathon turnaround at Goose Gossage Youth Sports Complex," Gray said.

Gray said the 10th FSS wanted to rival the Air Force Marathon at Wright-Patterson which occurs the same day.

"We wanted to get the local community to get involved as this is a 'win-win' situation," he said.

Visit www.usafasupport.com/fitness-center.html to view the registration form or for more information. Registration is $30.