Alex Ferrari's Staging Area

I am going to copy paste what happened to everyone in pacer groups 6:15 to 7:00 hr on race day from a friend’s account to illustrate why you should never do this race ever again:
“When we got near the gate at mile 14, we were told we were the last group. Anyone behind us would be picked up. That immediately ignited a war of words when the pacers told the bus driver that there was still another pace group behind us. We kept going. The Air Force Security folks had already shut the first gate. We were told that if we weren’t back in the gate at 11:30 we would be swept. It turns out every pace group from the 5:00 hour group back was told that. So every pacer was stressed. We remined Air Force Security that we were the official pace groups but it didn’t have an effect. We ran mile 14 and 15 and 16 through Fairborn. Its a cute little town. Lots of Halloween decorations. As we were on our way back toward the gate (near mile 15.5,) the “struggle bus” pulled up. They started telling people to get on the bus and they were being swept. I was a bit behind the pace group and heard what was going on. I started running to catch up to them. The worst feeling in the world is yelling to the pacers, “We got burned.” and they all knew what I meant. I kept running a bit further to the gate on an off chance that our luck would change. That didn’t happen. The gate was locked and the day was over. (almost). There would be no marathon completion. After about 15 minutes of a lot of words being said and pacers trying to get a hold of the race director with no result, we were all loaded on the bus to be taken back to the Air Force Museum. And then this happened. When we got there, a member of the race logistics team came onto the bus and said that the race director felt really badly about what happened. We were being dropped at the 25 mile point to get a chance to run in the last mile and still have that experience instead of a true DNF. They took our numbers to make sure we reflected as half marathoners later in the timing system. Our pace group got back together. We ran the last mile in and crossed the line together. They tried to give us the full marathon medals. We all took the half marathon medals on principal The biggest takeaway with this race is, if you are not a true 6 hour marathoner, reconsider this race.

I am also just going to copy paste the email that I sent the RD regarding what happened to us and my personal experience:

(dated 9/19/23)

Good afternoon,

as of this email, I heard there was an email sent to ppl who were picked up on the bus during saturday’s race: Where is this email as I was not cc’d on it? I read thanks to one of the pacer what was said and basically that’s the biggest issue with what occurred. The website/emails had multiple conflicting info especially for people like myself who specifically signed up for the full fly fight win challenge.

Also, we were promised finish times when we gave our bibs and got off the bus to be given the “full race experience” as the person was quoted verbatim saying. Yet as of today, we are nowhere on the results page. I signed up for the 3 races (coast guard, air force and space force) and without an official finish time because of your miscommunication now I won’t get a challenge medal for doing all 3 races?

Also, I signed up for the challenge specifically because YOUR AMBASSADOR at the columbus expo last year october 2022 specifically said that as long as you finish the 10k in 72 mins or so you will start the full. Yet, the website also says and the reminder emails confirmed that your starting line remains open until 7:55am. I stressed about this and trained specifically to be able to do 72 or so mins which I did. I verified with everyone at the information desk at your expo that yes as long as I remained within the 72 mins and then went into the full I would be allowed the full 7h time limit as long as I maintained with the pacers. My 7h pacer was actually ahead of schedule when we weren’t allowed out the gate to go to the fly zone. Why would I even sign up for your challenge if this is based on gun time the whole time? I would’ve had to finish mile 16 in 3:30mins per your gun time rule after running a 10k just to make it thru both gates. THAT SENTENCE is nowhere on your website nor did your information ppl or ambassadors know.

Now, an email went out today that I didn’t receive (bib 7538); my time is nowhere on the results for the marathon and I also noticed that most of the photos taken that I saw there yesterday have also been pulled yet I paid $70 for all of them. Your “email” to the ppl on the bus and pacers stated you are allowing us a free entry for next year’s race. Well, unfortunately, I am on a cruise during that time frame because it falls on my bday. Your race usually does fall on my bday and on Mexican Independence day and as a proud Mexican citizen and american citizen I have done your race before and never has this sort of nonsense happened. And to make matters worse, this was my 262nd time running 26.2 miles or more. At least I got the medals and had to endure running addiitonal miles around WSU just to justify to myself that I did 26.2 miles. I am emailing you because unless this is property remedied – you lost another runner that loved your race. & while suing the USAF and your race for punitive damages and attorney fees and costs seems pointless….making it my mission to NOT recommend your race as a local Ohioan and runner will go along way in making sure this doesn’t happen again and more and more awareness is given to the shady underhanded tactics your race pulls.

sincerely,

Alex Feria bib #7538

Only did 27 miles in Cheyenne – All I needed to for me to get the ultra distance in this state. Later, went scavenger hunting the big boots lol. There are 19 boots total for those who wanna do a good WY race and then have something fun to do around town later. Numbers 14-18 are downtown by the museum. Some are far and inside buildings. Others, like at the airport or on campus.

This was on my bucket list just because of the grandeur of finishing in the same stadium as PreFontaine and many other Run Gods have finished. The race starts and ends at Hayward stadium. The Stadium in itself is so nice that it alone would have made this race worth while but everything from the race swag to the race production to the sights made it by far the best marathon in Oregon. The only slight knock I would say is the medal isn’t as grandious as the event itself but it will do. The course has some hills but for Oregon it has a lot of flat areas and the crowd support is great. The entire city shuts down for this event.

Queretaro is kind of on a hill so the race follows the path of the huge wall and back. So be prepared for a hilly course. It is usually already hot in March so make sure you hydrate. The race swag is kinda cool and the tracking app works decently well.

this is part of a 5 race challenge where you run 5 cities, this race was for the city of New York. You can do any distance you choose and receive your bib at the same time as the others.

this is part of a 5 race challenge where you run 5 cities, this race was for the city of New York. You can do any distance you choose and receive your bib at the same time as the others.

Another marathon another Mexican state, this time Monterrey, Nuevo Leon for those who were wondering where this is. Continuing my quest to do 26.2 miles in each Mexican State.

Really wanted to come to this monument. Navajo nation has been on lockdown. Parking is cash only. You can either fly into SLC, Phoenix, Denver, Albuquerque or even Vegas and drive up it’s a 7-9h drive. Course isn’t flat at all, def cooler for the time of year.

ultra race but chose to do the marathon race. Hot and Humid. Leon Guanajuato for those who were wondering where this is. Continuing my quest to do 26.2 miles in each Mexican State.

my 118th marathon overall and 34th for the year as I finish my KB 32 challenge in memory of Kobe Bryant RIP. The race was done up and down the strip. It was nice and cool.

First time doing this race. It is in Zacatecas, ZCA, Mexico. 4th Mexican State of 32 for SuperMeX. Definitely easier course than what I thought it would be like. Virtual Option available.

parking at the finish line will make it easier for you. Shuttles take you to the 1st. The weather can be unpredictable especially in February so pack accordingly. The race has aid stations every 2 miles, medical tents every so often and port-a-potties everywhere.