Community News
Going the distance: Okinawa Marathon 2025
By
18 Wing Public Affairs February 24, 2025
Senior Airman Luis E. Rios Calderon
18 Wing Public Affairs February 24, 2025
Runners pass a U.S. Army 1st Battalion, 1st Air Defense Artillery MIM-104 Patriot static display during the Okinawa Marathon portion held at Kadena Air Base, Japan, Feb. 16, 2025. Members of the 18th Wing have supported and strengthened relations with the local community through the Okinawa Marathon since 1993. (Photo by Senior Airman Luis E. Rios Calderon)
KADENA AIR BASE, Japan. -- Team Kadena continued its decades-long tradition of support for the Okinawa Marathon on February 16, 2025.
Refreshed by a rainy start, service members and their families cheered on the participants, offering encouragement and much-needed supplies along the course. Volunteers stationed at various checkpoints along the route provided water, fruit, motivation, and medical support, ensuring the athletes had all they needed to continue.
This year, team Kadena set up static displays along the route to include fire trucks from the 18 Civil Engineer Squadron and a Patriot missile system from the 1st Battalion, 1st Air Defense Artillery Regiment.
“It’s inspiring to see so many service members and families come out to support this incredible event,” said U.S. Air Force Col. Robinson Mata, 18th Mission Support Group commander. “The Okinawa Marathon is not only a celebration of physical fitness, but a way for locals to see parts of the U.S. military they may not have otherwise experienced.”
Since its inception in 1993, the Okinawa Marathon has grown into a hallmark event designed to promote fitness across the island, foster community, and encourage residents to get involved however they can. More than 9,000 participants ran the 1.7-mile stretch this year on Kadena Air Base, marking the 30th year the base has supported the marathon.
“The Okinawa Marathon is a perfect example of how our service members and the people of Okinawa can come together and strengthen our ties through a decades-long tradition,” said U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Nicholas Evans, 18th Wing commander.
The Okinawa Marathon is not just a race; it’s a testament to the power of collaboration, the importance of physical fitness, and the enduring partnership between the U.S. military and the people of Okinawa.