The Wright Patterson Air Force Marathon and Half-Marathon

I love it when history turns on its head and becomes a bit ironic. If you read my post of May 5, 2012 (A Marathon in View of the Nashville Parthenon) in which the annual County Music Marathon is run in view of the Parthenon, and for which the Apostle Paul eluded to the Panhellenic Games in his letters to the church in Corinth. I thought it was a bit prophetic in a way that a modern-day marathon was being run in view of a replica of the original Parthenon in Athens, Greece.

So, recently I did a half-marathon in Dayton, Ohio. The half-marathon was one of several events at Wright Patterson Air Force Base. Because of the location I witnessed a B-2 Stealth Bomber flyover, and a memorial sculpture to the Wright Brothers. Both were memorable and both occurred within the first 30 minutes of beginning my “run” or more accurately walk. For me it was another sort of ironic twist of events since I was walking and no one had Wings even though it was being held at an Air Force base.

This time I was “running” with my son, Chad. He previously ran a half-marathon in April in Nashville.

The start time of our event was 8:30 am but we arrived just before sunrise as we were advised. Since the Start line and Finish were only 100 yards or so apart (but separated by 13.1 miles), we were able to park near the National Air Force Museum. It was a beautiful, brisk morning. I was able to capture the sunrise on my small camera.

And so we walked. The B-2 fly-over and Memorial to the Wright Brothers, Orville and Wilber, came pretty early. There were also water stations and well-spaced banks of potties. These are things that can be pretty important to a runner.



At 6 miles a couple of folks walking and jogging the half-marathon suggested that they were on pace to do it in 3 hours. That was a bit inspiring. Initially, I might do it in 3 and a half hours, figuring I would fall off my planned pace of 15-minute miles. But after hearing these the two, more fit runners just in front of me I thought I might do better than my original thought of 3 and a-half hours. I picked up my pace. Maybe I could do it in 3 hours.

Well, I did not finish my half-marathon in just over 2 and one-half hours as Chad did in April. I did, however, manage to walk thirteen (13) fifteen-minute miles, walking the 13.1 miles in just under 3 hours and ten minutes. My son beat me by 3 seconds. He said, “I couldn’t let my dad beat me.”

We had a great time. This is why; when we began our “Half” was pretty focused on finishing the run. You know the bit, “I just wanted to finish the same day I started.” I didn’t want to embarrass myself. The fact of the matter was I didn’t. And the bonus was God awed us by giving us a beautiful and wonderful day. Like the runners a few strides ahead of us (set to do 3-hour Half) I was inspired to do His will. Sometimes the rewards are greater than the goals we set out to achieve.

Another bonus came after I had finished the race. I saw a Wright-B Flyer in the air. It was very nice.

It only took a few days for my knee to feel better. Things do have a price.

Scripture:

2 Chronicles 20.4 – Seeing the army against them was overwhelming, they came together to seek help from the Lord.

Isaiah 40.31 – Those who hope in the Lord will gain new strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint.

Acts 20.24 – What is important is finishing the course that God gave me (to preach the message of God’s grace).

1 Corinthians 9.24 – Runners in a race complete that they may win.

2 Corinthians 12.10 – I delight in my weaknesses and difficulties, because when I am weak, I find strength in Him.

Galatians 2.2 – Paul writes, “I did not want to run in vain.”

2 Timothy 4.7 – Paul writes, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race.”

Hebrews 12.1 – “Run with endurance the race that is before us, keeping your eyes on Jesus.”

James 5.11- Like Job, blessed are those who preserver.