The Challenge Factory discussion

The United States Air Force Marathon is an annual event held on the third Saturday in September at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, home to the National Museum of the United States Air Force. It was established in 1997 to celebrate the Air Force's 50th anniversary.

2017 Air Force Marathon

Duration: September 1 - 30, 2018
Books must be at least 200 pages.
Rereads and audio books are okay.
mc = main character

To finish your marathon, you must run at least 26.2 miles.
To go 8 miles, read a book:
that is 200+ pages
that is set during a war
with a mostly blue cover
where the mc wears a uniform
where the mc flies in an airplane
whose author's name starts with the letter 'A'

To go 10 miles, read a book:
that is 300+ pages
with a mostly white cover
where the mc carries a gun
where the mc is part of a team
where the mc used to serve in the military
whose author's name starts with the letter 'I'

To go 13 miles, read a book: (you can only read 1 of these)
that is 400+ pages
with a star or stars on the cover
with an aircraft on the cover
where the mc flies in a helicopter
where the mc is currently serving in the military
whose author's name starts with the letter 'R'

My son was stationed at Wright-Patterson AFB for several years. The Air Force Museum was one of my grandson's favorite places to go. Here they are playing with a helicopter simulator. Logan wants to be a pilot when he grows up.

Duration: 9/1/18-9/30/18
Word Count Minimum: 200
Progress: 55/26.2

To finish your marathon, you must run at least 26.2 miles.

To go 8 miles, read a book:
that is 200+ pages - The Kick-Ass Writer: 1001 Ways to Write Great Fiction, Get Published, and Earn Your Audience (9/2/18)
that is set during a war
with a mostly blue cover - Quantum Zoo (9/6/18)
where the mc wears a uniform - The Penultimate Peril (9/9/18)
where the mc flies in an airplane
whose author's name starts with the letter 'A' - Heart of the City: Nine Stories of Love and Serendipity on the Streets of New York by Ariel Sabar (9/12/18)

To go 10 miles, read a book:
that is 300+ pages
with a mostly white cover - Zac and Mia (9/8/18)
where the mc carries a gun
where the mc is part of a team
where the mc used to serve in the military
whose author's name starts with the letter 'I'

To go 13 miles, read a book: (you can only read 1 of these)
whose author's name starts with the letter 'R' - The Order of Time by Carlo Rovelli (9/6/18)

This runs in my hometown, not too far from where I currently live, so I am in!

Book it to the Finish Line! - United States Air Force Marathon September 2018
Duration: 9/1/18 - 9/30/18
Miles Run: 77/26.2

To go 8 miles, read a book:
that is 200+ pages: Mess Me Up by Lani Lynn Vale-9/2/18
that is set during a war
with a mostly blue cover: Taking a Shot by Taryn Leigh Taylor-9/4/18
where the MC wears a uniform: Always Ready by Susan Page Davis-9/2/18
where the MC flies in an airplane
whose author's name starts with the letter 'A'

To go 10 miles, read a book:
that is 300+ pages: Leverage in Death by J.D. Robb-9/15/18
with a mostly white cover
where the MC carries a gun: What I've Done by Melinda Leigh-9/15/18
where the MC is part of a team: Taking a Shot by Taryn Leigh Taylor-9/4/18
where the MC used to serve in the military: Cowboy, Cross My Heart by Donna Grant-9/1/18
whose author's name starts with the letter 'I'

To go 13 miles, read a book: (you can only read 1 of these)
that is 400+ pages
with a star or stars on the cover
with an aircraft on the cover
where the MC flies in a helicopter
where the MC is currently serving in the military:
whose author's name starts with the letter 'R': Through the Fire by Katie Ruggle-9/10/18

Book It To The Finish Line! - U.S. Air Force Marathon

83/26.2 miles run

To finish your marathon, you must run at least 26.2 miles.

To go 8 miles, read a book:
that is 200+ pages: Everything Is Illuminated by Jonathan Safran Foer (02/09) ★★★ - 288 pages
with a mostly blue cover: Good Girl by Jana Aston (28/09) ★★★★
where the mc wears a uniform: Smart Tass by Mimi Jean Pamfiloff (14/09) ★★★
where the mc flies in an airplane: The Hardest Fall by Ella Maise (15/09) ★★★★
whose author's name starts with the letter 'A': Surrender by Amy Daws (13/09) ★★★

To go 10 miles, read a book:
that is 300+ pages: See Jane Score by Rachel Gibson (08/09) ★★★ - 324 pages (Kindle Edition)
where the mc is part of a team: Dominate by Amy Daws (13/09) ★★★
where the mc used to serve in the military: Runaway Girl by Tessa Bailey (26/09) ★★★★

To go 13 miles, read a book: (you can only read 1 of these)
that is 400+ pages: The One You Can't Forget by Roni Loren (04/09) ★★★★ - 416 pages (Kindle Edition)

Book It To the Finish Line - AIR FORCE MARATHON
Begins: 01Sep18 / Ends: 30Sept18


3 books read
31 miles run


To finish your marathon, you must run at least 26.2 miles.
To go 8 miles, read a book:
that is 200+ pages
that is set during a war - The Chilbury Ladies' Choir ✔ – 09Sep18
with a mostly blue cover
where the mc wears a uniform
where the mc flies in an airplane
whose author's name starts with the letter 'A'

To go 10 miles, read a book
that is 300+ pages - The Little French Bistro ✔ – 05Sep18
with a mostly white cover
where the mc carries a gun
where the mc is part of a team
where the mc used to serve in the military
whose author's name starts with the letter 'I'

To go 13 miles, read a book: (you can only read 1 of these)
that is 400+ pages - 438 p - Shelter in Place ✔ – 06Sep18
with a star or stars on the cover
with an aircraft on the cover
where the mc flies in a helicopter
where the mc is currently serving in the military
whose author's name starts with the letter 'R'

Lanelle wrote: "

The United States Air Force Marathon is an annual event held on the third Saturday in September at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, home to the National Museum of the United States Air Forc..."

Hi, there. I'm still wiped out from a hard-working weekend so my mind just really isn't processing right now. I apologize in advance for what will prob be a silly question. So, here goes: do we just need to read enough books to add up to the 26.2 miles? IOW, not all the books under the first two listings, plus one from the third?

Meg wrote: "do we just need to read enough books to add up to the 26.2 miles?"

You read any books from the first two categories and one book from the third category to total over 26.2 miles. (You don't have to use a task from the third category if you don't want to.)

I try to set up my BOOK It challenges so that it can be accomplished with three books. It seems like a lot of my marathoners tend to run quite a bit further than 26.2 miles ;)

⚜️Trea wrote: "This runs in my hometown, not too far from where I currently live, so I am in!"

Trea, do you have any experiences with the Air Force Marathon? My son told that he avoided anything to do with it!

Book It To The Finish Line! - U.S. Air Force Marathon
Duration: 9/1/18-9/30/18
Word Count Minimum: 200
Progress: 0/26.2

To finish your marathon, you must run at least 26.2 miles.

To go 8 miles, read a book:
that is 200+ pages
that is set during a war
with a mostly blue cover
where the mc wears a uniform
where the mc flies in an airplane
whose author's name starts with the letter 'A'

To go 10 miles, read a book:
that is 300+ pages
with a mostly white cover
where the mc carries a gun
where the mc is part of a team
where the mc used to serve in the military
whose author's name starts with the letter 'I'

To go 13 miles, read a book: (you can only read 1 of these)
that is 400+ pages
with a star or stars on the cover
with an aircraft on the cover
where the mc flies in a helicopter
where the mc is currently serving in the military
whose author's name starts with the letter 'R'

Lanelle wrote: "⚜️Trea wrote: "This runs in my hometown, not too far from where I currently live, so I am in!"

Trea, do you have any experiences with the Air Force Marathon? My son told that he avoided anything to do with it!"

I've never participated in it, but I can tell you what I know of it, because I was looking at participating in it last year.

They start it at Wright State University, which is less than 5 minutes by car from my home. They shut down the roads on this side of town, in Riverside to the Air Force Museum (finish line for the marathon), and the center of Fairborn (where they hold closing ceremonies), in order to give the runners their course. It becomes a traffic nightmare when they run it! I usually don't make any plans to go out of the house on race day, and neither does my family. My husband has to leave earlier than normal for work so he can detour around the marathon course.

Businesses are still open, but customers have a hard time getting to them on the day of the race. We get runners from all over and I've heard it's a great boost to city economy.

Lanelle wrote: "Meg wrote: "do we just need to read enough books to add up to the 26.2 miles?"

You read any books from the first two categories and one book from the third category to total over 26.2 miles. (You ..."

Thanks for the info, Lanelle. Working on a list now...

September 1 - 30, 2018
At least 200 pages; rereads and audio books are okay.
At least 26.2 miles to finish

To go 8 miles, read a book:

✔ that is 200+ pages

Death by Scones 9/7

✔ that is set during a war

A Bicycle Built for Murder 9/30

✔ with a mostly blue cover

Deadly Summer

✔ where the mc wears a uniform (Police chief/second mc)

Morning Glory Circle 9/23

✔ where the mc flies in an airplane

Apple Strudel Alibi 9/11

✔ whose author's name starts with the letter 'A'

Pancakes and Corpses (Agatha Frost)

To go 10 miles, read a book:

✔ that is 300+ pages

Twisted Threads 9/18

✔ with a mostly white cover

Tea Cups and Carnage 9/5

✔ where the mc carries a gun

Give Em Pumpkin To Talk About 9/5

✔ where the mc is part of a team (team of computer engineers & coders working on new product)

Executive Dirt 9/9

where the mc used to serve in the military
whose author's name starts with the letter 'I'

To go 13 miles, read a book: (you can only read 1 of these)
that is 400+ pages
with a star or stars on the cover
with an aircraft on the cover
where the mc flies in a helicopter
where the mc is currently serving in the military
whose author's name starts with the letter 'R'

Book it to the Finish Line - Air Force Marathon
Duration: 1 - 30 Sept

113 Miles!

To finish your marathon, you must run at least 26.2 miles.
To go 8 miles, read a book:
that is 200+ pages The Art of Breathing 9/2
that is set during a war Phoenix Unbound 9/24
with a mostly blue cover Dex in Blue 9/7
where the mc wears a uniform Ride Along 9/2
where the mc flies in an airplane
whose author's name starts with the letter 'A' Saddle Up 9/9

To go 10 miles, read a book:
that is 300+ pages Phoenix Unbound 9/24
with a mostly white cover Ice, Snow, & Mistletoe 9/15
where the mc carries a gun Hunting Danger 9/21
where the mc is part of a team In the Blood 9/16
where the mc used to serve in the military Midnight Quest 9/15
whose author's name starts with the letter 'I' Magic Triumphs 9/26

To go 13 miles, read a book: (you can only read 1 of these)
that is 400+ pages
with a star or stars on the cover
with an aircraft on the cover
where the mc flies in a helicopter
where the mc is currently serving in the military
whose author's name starts with the letter 'R' Shipped 9/8

2017 Air Force Marathon
September 1 - 30, 2018


To finish your marathon, you must run at least 26.2 miles.

To go 8 miles, read a book:
where the mc wears a uniform Burning Ridge 9/19
whose author's name starts with the letter 'A' Allison Pang A Brush of Darkness 9/22

To go 10 miles, read a book:
that is 300+ pages 371 Not Tonight, Josephine: A Road Trip Through Small-Town America 9/9
with a mostly white cover 9/12

where the mc carries a gun Casino Girl 9/15
where the mc is part of a team Robert B. Parker's Colorblind 9/23
whose author's name starts with the letter 'I' Ilona Andrews Magic Triumphs 9/1

To go 13 miles, read a book:
that is 400+ pages 432 Halloween Murder 9/15

To finish your marathon, you must run at least 26.2 miles.

39 mi
1 marathon completed

To go 8 miles, read a book:
✔that is 200+ pages
Ordeal by Innocence by Agatha Christie (269 pages) (9/3)
that is set during a war
with a mostly blue cover
where the mc wears a uniform
where the mc flies in an airplane
✔whose author's name starts with the letter 'A'
The God of Small Things

To go 10 miles, read a book:
that is 300+ pages
with a mostly white cover
where the mc carries a gun
where the mc is part of a team
✔One of Us Is Lying by Karen McManus (9/15)
where the mc used to serve in the military
whose author's name starts with the letter 'I'

To go 13 miles, read a book: (you can only read 1 of these)
that is 400+ pages
with a star or stars on the cover
with an aircraft on the cover
where the mc flies in a helicopter
where the mc is currently serving in the military
✔Purple Heart by Patricia McCormick (9/5)
whose author's name starts with the letter 'R'

2017 Air Force Marathon

Duration: September 1 - 30, 2018
Books must be at least 200 pages.
Rereads and audio books are okay.
mc = main character

To finish your marathon, you must run at least 26.2 miles.
To go 8 miles, read a book:
that is 200+ pages
that is set during a war
with a mostly blue cover
where the mc wears a uniform
where the mc flies in an airplane
whose author's name starts with the letter 'A'

To go 10 miles, read a book:
that is 300+ pages
with a mostly white cover
where the mc carries a gun
where the mc is part of a team
where the mc used to serve in the military
whose author's name starts with the letter 'I'

To go 13 miles, read a book: (you can only read 1 of these)
that is 400+ pages
with a star or stars on the cover
with an aircraft on the cover
where the mc flies in a helicopter
where the mc is currently serving in the military
whose author's name starts with the letter 'R'

31/ 26.2

To finish your marathon, you must run at least 26.2 miles.
To go 8 miles, read a book:
that is 200+ pages- Camino Island
that is set during a war
with a mostly blue cover
where the mc wears a uniform
where the mc flies in an airplane-
whose author's name starts with the letter 'A'

To go 10 miles, read a book:
that is 300+ pages
with a mostly white cover
where the mc carries a gun-The Summons
where the mc is part of a team
where the mc used to serve in the military
whose author's name starts with the letter 'I'

To go 13 miles, read a book: (you can only read 1 of these)
that is 400+ pages- Strange the Dreamer
with a star or stars on the cover
with an aircraft on the cover
where the mc flies in a helicopter
where the mc is currently serving in the military
whose author's name starts with the letter 'R'

Update Message # 7 - Finished


Book It To the Finish Line - AIR FORCE MARATHON
Begins: 01Sep18 / Ends: 30Sept18


3 books read
31 miles run


To finish your marathon, you must run at least 26.2 miles.
To go 8 miles, read a book: that is set during a war - The Chilbury Ladies' Choir ✔ – 09Sep18


To go 10 miles, read a book that is 300+ pages - The Little French Bistro ✔ – 05Sep18


To go 13 miles, read a book: that is 400+ pages - 438 p - Shelter in Place ✔ – 06Sep18

At least 26.2 miles to finish

Finished with 88 miles =)

I managed to do 83 miles :) Message 6

Book it to the Finish Line! September 2018
United States Air Force Marathon
Duration: 9/1/18 - 9/30/18
Progress: 95 of 26.2 miles (32+50+13)

Books must be at least 200 pages.

To finish your marathon, you must run at least 26.2 miles.
To go 8 miles, read a book:
that is 200+ pages
Kiss of Steel by Bec McMaster (9/29/18)
that is set during a war
with a mostly blue cover
where the mc wears a uniform
Fan the Flames by Katie Ruggle (9/18/18)
where the mc flies in an airplane
Midnight Awakening by Lara Adrian (9/9/18)
whose author's name starts with the letter 'A'
Magic Slays by Ilona Andrews (9/12/18)

To go 10 miles, read a book:
that is 300+ pages
Destined for an Early Grave by Jeaniene Frost (9/24/18)
with a mostly white cover
Dreams of Gods & Monsters by Laini Taylor (9/24/18)
where the mc carries a gun
Stillhouse Lake by Rachel Caine (9/26/18)
where the mc is part of a team
Red Rising by Pierce Brown (9/21/18)
where the mc used to serve in the military
whose author's name starts with the letter 'I'
And Then You Die by Iris Johansen (9/3/18)

To go 13 miles, read a book: (you can only read 1 of these)
that is 400+ pages
with a star or stars on the cover
with an aircraft on the cover
where the mc flies in a helicopter
where the mc is currently serving in the military
whose author's name starts with the letter 'R'
Code by Kathy Reichs (9/11/18)