WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE — Former US Army Special Forces officer and author Ivan Castro will be the guest speaker for the 21st Air Force Marathon slated for Saturday, Sept. 16 at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.
Castro is a highly decorated U.S. Army officer who lost his eyesight in a mortar blast while deployed to Iraq in 2006. After a 17-month rehabilitation, he returned to duty and until his retirement in 2016 was the only blind Special Forces soldier in the service.
Castro has completed more than 80 marathons, including the Chicago, New York, Marine Corps and Air Force Marathons. He has also cycled across America and hiked 200 miles across Antarctica. He co-authored a book on his life titled “Fighting Blind: A Green Beret’s Story of Extraordinary Courage.”
“We are so excited to have Ivan as our guest for this year’s race,” said Race Director Rob Aguiar. “He has such an inspirational story and has overcome so much. I think runners are going to enjoy hearing what he has to say.”
Castro will speak at the Sports and Fitness Expo, Breakfast of Champions and at the Gourmet Pasta dinner.
The Air Force Marathon will be held Saturday, Sept. 16. The Sports & Fitness Expo is held at Wright State University’s Nutter Center and will be Thursday, Sept. 14, and Friday, Sept. 15. The event will also feature a Gourmet Pasta Dinner and Breakfast of Champions on Sept.15. For more information about the race, visit www.usafmarathon.com.
