WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio– Every mile of a race is a physical negotiation—a stark reminder that while the human body has limits, the mind can be trained to push past them.
More than 9,000 people across 50 states registered for the 2026 Air Force Marathon, testing their mental and physical endurance across several race categories Sept. 18-19. Races were held on Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and grounds of the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force and Wright State University.
Leading the charge were full marathon champions U.S. Space Force 1st Lt. Nicholas McKenzie, Vandenburg Space Force Base, California with a time of 2:34:31 and Kayla Rice, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base employee, with a time of 2:56:39.
“I’m ecstatic – it’s a great day with super energy out on the course and beautiful weather,” McKenzie said. “This is my second time running the Air Force Marathon, and I’m super grateful for all the volunteers, the support, and all the other runners out here getting it done today.”
However, for McKenzie, the mental turning point came during the race’s most solemn stretch.
“Around mile 21, it definitely starts to get hard. But running and seeing the tributes to our fallen service members was emotional and heartwarming. It really helped me stay motivated to get to the end. Seeing that helps you realize the ultimate sacrifice they gave, and it motivated me to dig a little deeper.”
For Rice, crossing the finish line as the women’s champion marked the culmination of years of dedicated training right on her home base at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.
“I feel incredible. This has been a goal I’ve been working toward for the past few years, and it’s great to finally achieve it,” Rice said. “This is my fourth time running it, so every year it’s been my goal to just get a little bit faster and eventually get where I am today. It was a big personal record for me, and getting to see all my friends, family, coworkers, and teammates out on the course was amazing.”
Sharing that spotlight of sheer determination were half-marathon champions Simon Heys, a civilian runner at 1:05:45 and 2nd Lt. Allyson Peterson, Ramstein Air Base, with a time of 1:19:10.
For Heys, pushing through the half-marathon course was a personal way to show gratitude for military service members.
“It was special,” Heys said. “I really wanted to come here and just run as hard as I could. I wanted to put the grind out there, like the men and women who fight for this country do every day.”
Peterson, competing in her first half marathon, relied on strategic pacing and late-race momentum to secure her victory.
“I’ve been looking forward to this race,” she said. “I had a great group of guys to chase coming down for the last like six miles. So, I was just focusing on closing that gap.”
Beyond individual determination on the course, Department of the Air Force leadership underscored how physical discipline and community support directly reinforce the strength and readiness of the joint force.
“If I have one message for you today, thank you for showing up to do hard things,” said Matthew L. Lohmeier, 29th Under Secretary of the Air Force. “Thank you for working together as a community, both to support the 30th Air Force Marathon and to make the Department of the Air Force and the entire joint force a better place to work, a more lethal, ready force. And thank you for taking care of yourselves to be a part of our ready force.”
As the cheers from the finish line festival filled the air and the champions took their places at the awards ceremony, the legacy of the 2026 race extended beyond the trophy stands. For the thousands who crossed the finish line, the race was more than an athletic showcase. It was a masterclass in mental readiness, proving that when the mission demands endurance, disciplined preparation will always carry us through.
Here’s a look at the top three men’s and women’s finishers in the full marathon and half marathon:
*Unofficial times according to RacePenguin, the Air Force Marathon’s race tracker*
MEN’S FULL MARATHON 1st: — Nick McKenzie 2 hours, 34 minutes, 31 seconds 2nd: — Hunter Boyer 2:40:01 3rd: — Jack Walker 2:41:24
WOMEN’S FULL MARATHON 1st: — Kayla Rice 2:56:39 2nd: — Lindsay Babish 3:09:12 3rd: — Kristen Petrosky 3:14:06
MEN’S HALF-MARATHON 1st: — Simon Heys 1:05:45 2nd: — Peter Allegre 1:11:01 3rd: — Patrick Konecny 1:11:13
WOMEN’S HALF-MARATHON 1st: — Allyson Peterson 1:19:10 2nd: — Kelsi Harris 1:24:52 3rd: — Corinne Yorkman 1:26:26
To see more race results including 10K, 5K, wheeled hand-crank full marathon, wheeled push-rim full marathon, visit www.usafmarathon.com.
More imagery will be available in the coming days at https://www.dvidshub.net/unit/88ABW or https://www.flickr.com/photos/wrightpattafb/.