U.S. Air Force Marathon offers four-person relay race

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WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio (AFPN) --   -- Runners who are interested in participating in the 2007 U.S. Air Force Marathon here, but aren't interested in running the full 26.2-mile course, have another option: the four-person relay.

Relay team members each run a specific leg of the marathon with the team's total elapsed time determining the winners.

Leg distances include 5.1 miles for leg one, 8 miles for leg two, 6.5 miles for leg three and 6.6 miles for leg four.

According to Molly Louden, marathon director, the relay team race builds team spirit and makes the marathon more accessible to those not looking to run a full marathon.

"The relay team race fosters teamwork within a group, organization, company or family," Ms. Louden said. "Training for the relay is not as demanding as the marathon and half marathon."

Team captains decide which leg each team member runs. If a relay team has fewer than four members on race day, one or more runners must run consecutive legs.
Runners can run in either a relay or in the marathon, but they cannot participate in both.
Categories of team competition include coed (at least one team member from each sex), men's open, women's open, masters (all members must be at least 40 years old on race day), Reserve Officers' Training Corps and active-duty military.

Registration for the relay race is running approximately 50 percent ahead of last year's pace with 107 teams registered as of July 21, compared to 72 teams on the same date in 2006.

The number of relay teams is limited to 300. Priority is given on a first-come, first-served basis.

Teams come from many different places to participate in the marathon, according to Ms. Louden.

"Teams are from every group of people and from all over the United States," she said. "There are military teams who compete and sometimes will create a competition among their teams."

The event will take place Sept. 15. To register, visit the U.S. Air Force Marathon Web site.