AREA 13.1 is an Out of this World Running Event. This is a night race in Roswell, GA and one of the most popular courses to run in the State of Georgia. The course is OUT OF THIS WORLD FLAT & FAST with a total elevation gain of 224 feet …
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AREA 13.1 is an Out of this World Running Event. This is a night race in Roswell, GA and one of the most popular courses to run in the State of Georgia. The course is OUT OF THIS WORLD FLAT & FAST with a total elevation gain of 224 feet for the Half marathon at 240 feet!! WE are talking PR TIME!!
All finishers will receive an AWESOME alien medal, coveted Area 13.1 tri blend shirt that will be your new GO TO SHIRT, and for runners 21 and over a free beer donated by Gate City Brewing Company!! Come for the run and stay for the FUN !! Live -DJ – Food trucks- Vendors- Gate City Brewing Company!!
NEW 13.1 COURSE for 2026: Due to Riverside Park being under construction for renovations until July of 2027.. For 2026 the race will start and finish from Chattahoochee Nature Center. Unfortunately due to size constraints in 2026 there will only be a half marathon and that will be limited to 1500 half marathon runners. The 10k and 5K along with the 13.1 will return in 2027 when we go back to the newly renovated Riverside Park. The course can be found under the “Course” tab. This will be a fast, flat, and fun two-loop course along the river and boardwalks, featuring only 240 feet of elevation gain!
Sorry, no jog strollers or pets will be allowed on the race course. Headlamps or running lights are a must have and HIGHLY suggested to all runners, as there are some dark spots along the course. The race starts at 7pm and it gets dark at 8:45 ish. All participants will have 3 hours 45 min to complete this race. The Finish Line WILL CLOSE at 11pm .
AREA 13.1 Time Limit: All participants will have 3 hours 45 min (17:00 min per mile pace) to complete this race.
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Gorgeous Scenery, Atrocious First Half
I did this race in 2016 and then again in 2025. It was a couple days after my 40th birthday, so I wanted to celebrate with a big race and … MORE
I did this race in 2016 and then again in 2025. It was a couple days after my 40th birthday, so I wanted to celebrate with a big race and some alien swag.
Pros:
-Excellent communication ahead of time. We received several emails with lots of excellent information. I emailed the RD and they gave a very detailed and personalized response, so this is a passion project of theirs for sure.
-Host hotel had the race packets on site, so we got our shirts/bibs when we checked in. Super convenient since we drove in from South Carolina and meant we didn’t have to get to the race hours early to get our packets and get items back to the car
-Shirt is fantastic – super soft, a little long, but I’ve definitely worn mine like four times since the race
-Good quality medal
-GORGEOUS SCENERY. Lots of trees, hillsides of kudzu, got to see the Chattahoochee river from several points, and circled wetlands in the later half. Absolutely stunning and a nice exploration of Southern ecosystem.
-Photographers on course. My husband and I both had our numbers on our stomachs and they didn’t get any of him and only one of me at the start. So I guess try to run as close to their side of the road as possible if you want professional pics
-After party – tons of booths, music, vendors
Not a pro or con:
-there’s MINIMAL parking at and around the park. The RD explains this several times in their emails, so your best bet is to go ahead and park at the shopping center that has a bus running between the shopping center and the start line. My husband was worried that we were leaving the car to get broken into since the shopping center looks a little run down on google maps, but it was literally full of runner vehicles and the bus was constantly running back and forth, so the car was safe and it saved us having to walk back in the dark
-tons of water stops, like every couple miles. I actually couldn’t drink any more water by mile 9 b/c my stomach hurt so much from all the hydration.
Re parking: I wish the host hotel had a shuttle to take runners to the race and or the race would send a bus or two our way. That would’ve helped with traffic flow and helped reduce maybe 100 cars from the event.
YOU DO NEED A LIGHT. IT IS PITCH BLACK ON THE COURSE, BRING A LIGHT. THEY ARE NOT EXAGGERATING IN THE EMAILS. BRING A LIGHT. BRING A LIGHT.
Cons:
– Idk if there were portajohns at the start, but the park bathrooms were minimal. I actually just went into the men’s restroom with my husband and used one of the stalls before the race started. It was cool because nobody said anything and it saved me having to stand in line for an hour. ::shrug::
– It was super hot at the start. Like over 90* still. That’s not really a con since it’s Atlanta in August, but just a heads up for anybody looking to do a summer half who may not be acclimated to the heat and humidity. This is NOT the race to fly down from Vermont for unless you want to have a bad time (literally and emotionally).
– The first few miles were on a SLANTED road (it’s by design, most roads in the South are severely slanted to prevent flooding – I’ve had similar issues in Athens, Columbia, and Chattanooga). Like my left hip was hiked for maybe two miles and there wasn’t any way to get level. It was bad enough that it knocked my SI joint out of alignment for a couple days/threw me out of alignment for the rest of the race. That part of the course could absolutely be changed.
– several different terrains – road, clay (?), woods (but the ground was hard and the course was super easy to follow/flat, so ideal trail running), sidewalk, road, boardwalk (ugh), a different kind of boardwalk (less ugh), then sidewalk with some wood bridges. My Asics Superblast 2s were fine for the terrain changes, but something to consider for shoe choice.
-minimal portajohns on the course, too many people to go in the woods without everyone seeing all of glory
-they will not call the race for weather. A storm blew in and it was ferocious – thunder, lightning, flooding, and they didn’t call the race or ask people to step off. We were at mile 6 when it hit and there was no communication or advisement. So, idk, keep your phone and car keys in a ziplock bag and decide in your heart what your decision for racing in severe weather is. I think some people stopped and sheltered in place, but unfortunately they were back out on the course when the road was opening back up and were behind the sweepers/in the pitch black.
-The overhead lights along the second half of the course are designed to help, but they actually just mess with night vision and created more problems. If we’re running in the dark, let us run in the dark with head/chest lights. Having monster stadium lights randomly along the course actually makes it worse.
– There was one parking lot away from the race that didn’t have a shuttle, so there were hundreds of people walking IN the road (IN TRAFFIC) getting to and from the race. Super dangerous, that needs to be addressed.
Overall, I really liked the scenery and getting a half marathon in August. Aspects of the race are done really well and with passion, other parts have room for improvement or are limited by outside forces (parking, the weather, etc). I don’t regret doing it but I wouldn’t fly across the country for this race.
Melting the swimming
Started very hot which made a flat course difficult. About the 1 hour mark, the sky opened up with a torrential downpour for 10-15 minutes. Once it cooled off, the … MORE
Started very hot which made a flat course difficult. About the 1 hour mark, the sky opened up with a torrential downpour for 10-15 minutes. Once it cooled off, the race was fun and easy. There are a couple decent hills around mile 9 and mile 10 on is in complete darkness, so if you run next year, definitely bring headlamps. Friendly help along the way but the spacing of the aid stations were a little odd. It was my first half marathon and it is doable for beginners but pace yourself in that heat!
Race is dangerous and not wellplanned
The race started out okay. But I immediately noticed lack of planning. The race starts on the road and they didn't close the road on the other side which was … MORE
The race started out okay. But I immediately noticed lack of planning. The race starts on the road and they didn’t close the road on the other side which was concerning because it took place on a winding road. Some of the faster runners were coming back as we were running forward and many of them had to kind of squeeze because there was not enough space for all of us.
There was also a lack of porta potties on this race. So if you had to go to the bathroom, you had one porta potties for 5 miles.
Things got genuinely dangerous though at the 5 mile point. It began to torentially downpour to the point that it was raining sideways. The sky cracked open with thunder and lightning. They did not mention that we had to go through a woodsy unpaved area. It was flooded and there were NO SIGNS telling you to go right or left only random strings on trees that we didn’t even know if they had to do with the race. I got so lost. Thankfully, I had a random stranger running with me to figure it out but I felt very unsafe. As a single woman, this part of the race was very precarious for me.
Overall, this race was very poorly planned and I would not recommend running it unless you have a partner. Also, check the weather! Because it has had torrential downpour 2 years in a row and they do not stop the rain for lightning.
We got rained and thundered out
They tried so hard to make this a race but the weather had other ideas. The parking was awful too arrive super early for that one . Iam sure it’s … MORE
They tried so hard to make this a race but the weather had other ideas. The parking was awful too arrive super early for that one . Iam sure it’s a super fun race and will try again next year
Totally fun!
This course is great! Despite the hills you drive over to get there, it is pretty flat - and, on top of that, it's got a lot of soft flat … MORE
This course is great! Despite the hills you drive over to get there, it is pretty flat – and, on top of that, it’s got a lot of soft flat trail and soft boardwalk. Although there’s some doubling back and sharing with the 10k folks, it’s not bad at all. Even the road lanes were nice and wide and well policed.
It’s well marked/blocked off, though I wouldn’t want to do the forested trail section after dark. The last half is well lit (complete with alien sounds!), but if you know you’ll be on after dark, a headlamp/bodylamp is no-joke required, not just recommended.
The festival was great in that there was food, drink, and swag available before the start (I highly recommend a shaved ice before the start, to beat the heat). I crossed the line at 3:30, and there were still food, medals, and beer/spirits available, though some tents were packing up. The band had just finished.
The *only* beef I had at all was that there were a couple of people (non racer families) who chose to walk their dogs/strollers/kids with bikes while us slowpokes were going around the festival and between miles 7-8. C’mon, y’all – I paid to be on a course with no dogs or strollers. Couldn’t you just hold off until the sweeper goes through?
All in all, I really enjoyed the event. Great job to everyone.
Fun Theme
Great course, mostly flat. Loved running with blinking lights guiding the path, gave it an added aspect the the alien theme. Well organized, very fun atmosphere! MORE
Great course, mostly flat. Loved running with blinking lights guiding the path, gave it an added aspect the the alien theme. Well organized, very fun atmosphere!
Hot, Humid, Hills
Race starts and ends in a park. There are some restrooms and plenty of portapots. Course is mostly asphalt and cement but a portion near the beginning is on a … MORE
Race starts and ends in a park. There are some restrooms and plenty of portapots. Course is mostly asphalt and cement but a portion near the beginning is on a packed dirt trail through woods, there is also some boardwalk. There are pacers, plenty of water stops, mile markers. Ice pops about halfway. It gets dark if you take more than 1:45 to complete, so good idea to wear a headlamp. Skimpy free refreshments after race, but this year they did give a beer coupon. Women got a tank, men got tshirt. Large medal. Results posted fast. Free photos.
Nice race - usually very hot
Race starts out on asphalt road, then does about a mile on a trail through woods, then back to asphalt and cement. Mile markers at most miles. Race is in … MORE
Race starts out on asphalt road, then does about a mile on a trail through woods, then back to asphalt and cement. Mile markers at most miles. Race is in August at night, so usually very hot. Bring a headlight because it is really dark in some areas. It rained prior to race this year, so that cooled it down. Plenty of water/gatorade stops on the route and ice pops at one stop. Usual refreshments after race and icy wet alien towel. Results posted quickly. Free photos also. Short sleeve blended T-shirt and nice medal.
Nice alien medal
Race starts and ends in the Riverside Park. On asphalt, then trail for a little, then back to asphalt, boardwalk, and cement. If it is going to take more than … MORE
Race starts and ends in the Riverside Park. On asphalt, then trail for a little, then back to asphalt, boardwalk, and cement. If it is going to take more than 1:45 you should really have a light with you because it is dark. Coming back into the park there are lights shining in your eyes that sort of disorient/blind you (maybe for the Alien invasion). Plenty of water stops along the route.
Inaugural Race
This was the first time for the race. It was done at night. It was very warm and they ran out of water during the race. It was mostly on … MORE
This was the first time for the race. It was done at night.
It was very warm and they ran out of water during the race.
It was mostly on the river and the bugs were plentiful.
Medal was great but I would not run this race again.