DAYTON, Ohio — The Air Force Marathon is back for the first time in three years after a hiatus during the pandemic, with runners from all over preparing for the race on Saturday.
What You Need To Know
- The Air Force Marathon is held on Saturday
- The marathon is returning after a three-year hiatus during the pandemic
- 8,000 runners will be participating in the race
- Two-time paralympian and medalist Grace Norman-Taylor is one of the participants
One of those is Grace Norman-Taylor, a two-time Paralympics competitor in paratriathlon. She won the gold medal in 2016 and took home silver in 2020.
Norman-Taylor, an amputee, will be competing at this year’s Air Force Marathon in the 10K for the first time.
“Running was my first love,” said Norman-Taylor. “It’s what I’ve done in high school and college so being able to put on a clinic at the Air Force Marathon, I figured I might as well run a 10K.”
A lot of training has gone in to getting prepared for the race.
“I run anywhere from 20 to 30 miles a week and that’s supplemental with triathlon training,” she said.
But running in marathons is nothing new to the award-winning triathlete. She’s just excited to do something she loves.
“I love being around athletes and the energy is always contagious and just excited to be a part of the event,” she said.
Norman-Taylor is one of 8,000 runners who will be participating in Saturday’s marathon. This is the first time the event has been in person since 2019. Marathon director Rachael Ferguson said this event is very important to the community,
“We’re just privileged to have that here in the Dayton area and be able to showcase what the Air Force does as a whole by bringing the community together and not just the Dayton community, but also the Air Force community,” said Ferguson.
What makes this event so special to Norman is that she gets to help other amputees prepare for the race through a mobile clinic.
“Running has been a huge part of my life and seeing how I can help other people get into the right equipment and give them tips and tricks and then advice — anything I can help just to see people succeed in their own life is so important to me,” said Norman-Taylor.
