← Air Force Marathon·1 night

Yellow Springs: A Village Night After the Race

A village with a small hotel, a brewery, a bakery and a nature preserve, with a working dairy on the way, for one night after the Air Force Marathon.

Duration1 night
TransitCar east of Dayton; check the drive time on the day
DepartsDayton

After the Air Force Marathon: Yellow Springs

The Route: Wright-Patterson finish → Yellow Springs → Young's Jersey Dairy → home Logistics: Car. No public transport has been listed, and the drive time should be checked on the day. Marathon Month: September Duration: 1 night

Museum finish ──(drive)──> Yellow Springs (night one)
                                  │
                                  ▼
                  Glen Helen / Clifton Gorge, then Young's Jersey Dairy

The Air Force Marathon finishes on a Saturday morning, and Yellow Springs is a village a drive east of Dayton, so the bag collection, a shower and a late lunch come first. The village suits a runner who wants somewhere small and walkable for the night after 42.195 km. A car is the only option that has been listed, so allow for the drive on tired legs and check the time before leaving.

September in Yellow Springs: Daytime highs run to about 25.9°C and nights fall to about 13.8°C, based on Dayton averages. A light layer is enough for an evening, and conditions vary.

Night one: Yellow Springs

The Mills Park Hotel, at 321 Xenia Avenue, has 28 rooms and a restaurant, Ellie's. It is the main place to stay in the village, so book early. The village centre is compact, and the streets around Xenia Avenue are flat, which suits an evening stroll after a race.

Yellow Springs Brewery, at 305 N Walnut Street, is open on Saturday from 13:00 to 22:00 and on Sunday from 13:00 to 18:00. Ye Olde Trail Tavern, at 228 Xenia Avenue, is the other option for a Saturday dinner. Check its hours before setting out.

Sunday: the walk and the dairy

Glen Helen Nature Preserve and Clifton Gorge are the walking assets. Trail surfaces and gradients vary, so choose a short, flat path first and check the trail map at the entrance. Stairs and roots are hard on legs the day after a marathon, so turn round when the quads say so.

Winds Cafe and Bakery is the breakfast option; check its hours before going. Young's Jersey Dairy, at 6880 Springfield-Xenia Road, serves dine-in meals on Sunday from 09:00 to 21:00. It has a petting area and Udders & Putters mini-golf, so it suits a group with children, and the ice cream is a fair reward for the morning.

Getting back

Drive back to your airport or hotel in daylight, and leave a margin before any flight. Check the drive time from Yellow Springs on the day, because it is not published here.