Save money when you register now for the USAF Marathon

WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio -- Attention all marathoners and half-marathoners: If you've put off early registration for the 11th annual U.S. Air Force Marathon, Sept. 15, your time for procrastinating is running out!
If you haven't logged onto www.usafmarathon.com and registered for your race by the time the clock strikes midnight Eastern Standard Time on July 31, your procrastination is going to cost you. That's when the early registration period ends, and entry fees go up.
Through July 31, full-marathon registration is $65; half-marathon is $50; four-person relay is $180 and 5K fun run is $20. This year begins a new tradition for the 5K run, as it will be held the evening of Sept. 14, on the campus of neighboring Wright State University.
From Aug. 1 through Sept. 7, the price to register for the full marathon jumps to $70, the half-marathon increases to $60. Cost for the relay and fun run remain the same.
After Sept. 7, add another $10 to both the full- and half-marathon races, another $20 to the relay and add $5 to the fun run.
Besides the obvious financial savings, there are other reasons to register early.
"First and foremost, it's one more thing to check off on the list of 'things to do,'" said Molly Louden, marathon director. "Plus, runners' bibs that they wear on race day will be guaranteed to be personalized with runners' first names. Additionally, all runners receive a commemorative 100-percent cotton T-shirt, goodie bag, towel, patch and a special finisher's medal with the Air Force 60th Anniversary and C-5 Galaxy logos."
If you're coming in from out of town, and don't have a place to stay, there are nearby hotels offering limited discounted accommodations, Ms. Louden said.
If you're looking at the four-person relay race as a bonding experience for you and three of your friends, you won't want to delay registering, as there is a limited number of relay teams permitted.
"The max number for relay-team entry is 300," Ms. Louden said. "We are already one-third of the way to that number, well ahead of where we were last year at this time."
Preceding the marathon is the sports and fitness exposition Sept. 13-14, and a gourmet pasta dinner on Sept. 14. The expo is free and open to the public; the cost for the dinner will not increase ($20 for adults; $10 for children ages six to 12, and children five and under are free), but seating is limited.
Don't put off registering for the USAF Marathon any longer...log onto www.usafmarathon.com and be part of the race!