Greenfield long-distance runner Carol Grate wins Women's 5K race at 16th annual Air Force Marathon

Greenfield long-distance runner Carol Grate was the winner of this year's Women's 5K race during Wright-Patterson's 16th annual Air Force Marathon.

Grate, 61, who works at the Hillsboro Frisch's restaurant, completed her race in a times of 21:25.

As previously reported by The Highland County Press, Grate participated in the Boston Marathon in 2001 and 2006.

Grate, who was a member of the track team in high school, started running in marathons when she was 48 years old and has since qualified for the Boston Marathon twice.

"All of our long runs are out there by yourself, running 26 miles," said Grate. "It can get pretty lonely, and you have to stay motivated, no matter what the weather."

Grate said that the most difficult part of the Boston Marathon is the process of transporting all of the runners to the field and lining them up, which takes about five hours.

According to http://www.af.mil/news, the official website of the U.S. Air Force, the 2012 running of the Air Force Marathon was the largest ever.

"The race has grown to a field of more than 15,000 runners, doubling in size since 2008, representing all 50 states, 15 countries, all military services, and a diversity that included world-class marathoners, spirited amateurs and those running their first marathon ever," the Air Force said.

Participants had the choice of competing in the full marathon, a half marathon, 5K and 10K runs, as well as a wheeled division.

The 2012 event, held Sept. 15, was opened by Gen. Janet Wolfenbarger, Air Force Materiel Command commander.

This year's full marathon winner was Capt. Brian Dumm, 29, an English instructor at the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo. His time was 2:28:58.

The women's full marathon was won by Heidi Hamilton, 29, of Trophy Club, Texas, in a time of 3:01:09.