,
30
June
2020
|
11:54 AM
America/Chicago

Virtual Air Force Marathon Set for Sept.; CAP Enrollment Welcome

Civil Air Patrol members can register alone or with a group at a discounted rate for the U.S. Air Force Marathon, which is being held virtually this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

From Sept. 1-30 participants can compete by running or walking -in four distances – 5 kilometers (3 miles), 10K (6 miles), 21K (13 miles) and 42K (26 miles). A “Fly, Fight, Win.” package is also being offered that consists of a 5K, 10K and either half or full marathon distances in three events.

All distances garner a medal, T-shirt and patch. The Fly, Fight, Wing package also earns a quarter-zip warm-up. 

To ensure that medals and shirts are available, please register as soon as possible. While registration is open until Sept. 30, some events may close, meaning no award is available. 

CAP members and their families will receive a 15% discount off general public (which includes retired military and veterans) fees, which provides a lower cost than active-duty members pay. The promotion code is AFMCAP2020.

Registration for the marathon is open at the event website.

CAP units are authorized to promote their group activities as "the USAF Marathon (community name)."

Members will also be able to register their distances covered as part of CAP's Walk to Mars health and wellness initiative.

All members, regardless of whether they're participating in the marathon, are able to continue logging their mileage, steps and/or activities using the Walk-to-Mars form. The last entries will be posted Sept. 30.

Maj. Gen. Mark Smith, CAP National Commander, authorized the Walk to Mars deadline extension this week.

"Last August we began a campaign to promote our physical well-being with exercises and activities that would be logged and collected to propel us into a healthy future,” Smith said. “ Recently we crossed the 1-million-mile milestone, and with the National Conference on the horizon we were looking for a landing zone to complete the event.

“However, today, at the recommendation of the National Task Force for Wellness and Resilience, I'm extending the Walk to Mars through the end of September to take advantage of a wonderful opportunity to join tens of thousands of our fellow Air Force Total Force partners in the USAF Marathon running/walking events, which will now take place in a virtual format.

“The virtual format allows our units to accomplish the distances of their choice in their own communities while still being part of a world-class military fitness challenge. Please read about the opportunities to add these activities to your personal or unit calendar and their distances to our Walk-to-Mars challenge."