| 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | |
| H (°F) | 64 | 84 | 72 | 64 | 57 |
| L (°F) | 41 | 66 | 44 | 41 | 43 |
Inspiring purpose. Very well organized. Fun course. AMAZING crowd support and funniest signs I've seen. Fireworks at the start. Downhill finish. This race is a must for midwesterners near Columbus. MORE
Inspiring purpose. Very well organized. Fun course. AMAZING crowd support and funniest signs I’ve seen. Fireworks at the start. Downhill finish. This race is a must for midwesterners near Columbus.
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Well organized and supported race. Perfect weather and beautiful fall folliage. I noticed the downhills but not the uphills so it was wonderful. Ran faster than I had a right … MORE
Well organized and supported race. Perfect weather and beautiful fall folliage. I noticed the downhills but not the uphills so it was wonderful. Ran faster than I had a right too – given my lack of training.
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I ran the half marathon here yesterday and overall it was a good experience. This is only my 3rd half, to go along with 1 full, so I don't have … MORE
I ran the half marathon here yesterday and overall it was a good experience. This is only my 3rd half, to go along with 1 full, so I don’t have a lot to compare it against but here are my thoughts.
The course is nice and flat so I was able to knock almost 3 minutes off my PR. There are some slight inclines but my other two halves were the Flying Pig and Heart Mini in Cincinnati which both have some decent hills. Compared to those, this was a piece of cake.
On-course entertainment was good. There were a bunch of bands and DJ’s spread throughout the 13.1 miles. I’d guess there were probably at least 6, all with nice, loud speakers so you could hear them. There were spots that had better crowd support than others but overall that was a positive. The scenery is kind of hit or miss. I’d say the highlights are the Franklin Park Conservatory/Wolfe Park area and Bexley. Some of the downtown views are decent and Germantown was cool as well.
As another reviewer noted, the swag is pretty much non-existent – just a t-shirt – and I thought the expo was kind of small. But again, it’s hard to really complain about that since the race benefits Nationwide Children’s Hospital. Which brings me to probably the coolest aspect – the children’s champions that are stationed as most miles. It gives you a good reminder of what the race is about and the high fives definitely give you a boost of motivation to keep powering through!
The after party, much like the expo, was kind of on the small side. It wasn’t bad and there were the usual post-race things – 13.1 & 26.2 mile props for pictures, PR gongs, a merch tent and a few food truck/vendors. I hung around with my family until nearly 11, around 3.5 hours after the race began, and some of the food trucks were closing up and it just generally had a feeling that it was winding down even though a lot of the full runners were still on the course.
Overall it was a good experience that I’d recommend!
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The energy was amazing! There were fireworks at the beginning and a ton of people cheering. I started out a little too strong because of how amped up I was … MORE
The energy was amazing! There were fireworks at the beginning and a ton of people cheering. I started out a little too strong because of how amped up I was and ended up dropping 12 minutes off my previous pr, but that did bite me in the butt around mile 11 when i started to get pretty tired so the rest of the course was tough. Scenery was pretty for being a city run. I recommend it!
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This race has a lot of crowd support and entertainment on the course. I really enjoyed the patient champions on the course. Loved running by the hospital and were kids … MORE
This race has a lot of crowd support and entertainment on the course. I really enjoyed the patient champions on the course. Loved running by the hospital and were kids holding signs from rooms and waving. Very well organized race from corrals to finish line. Loved how they gave everyone a bag to put goodies in as they hand post race food out. Also really liked the fireworks at the beginning of the race. Highly recommend this race. Had runners around me at all times which is not always the case for me.
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This was great race with awesome support. The Patient sponsors were super inspiring and gave the runners a great boost. Not my best performance. Columbus is a beautiful vibrant city … MORE
This was great race with awesome support. The Patient sponsors were super inspiring and gave the runners a great boost. Not my best performance. Columbus is a beautiful vibrant city with great neighborhoods who support the race really well.
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This was my first time running this race - the Half Marathon. I enthusiastically recommend it to others who are looking for an enjoyable and fulfilling experience. Large expo held … MORE
This was my first time running this race – the Half Marathon. I enthusiastically recommend it to others who are looking for an enjoyable and fulfilling experience.
Large expo held the day before – be prepared to walk through the expo to get to registration. Registration ran smoothly as did the race itself.
Course is very flat with just some graded inclines. Be prepared for large crowds when walking to the corrals as there are around 17,000 runners as the Half and Full Marathon start together using the same corrals. There were A thru E corrals, but they went off fairly quickly – maybe 5 minutes between each with some fireworks.
On course support was very good with lots of hydration stands and huge trash cans to catch the cups of both Gatorade and water. The Half Marathon course managed to stay within the confines of the city of Columbus with lots of spectators.
The end of the race featured lots of food and drink options (water, banana, protein bar, goldfish, chocolate milk, apples, chips, Doritos, and bagel). Heavy colorful medal was worthy as race bling.
One caution after the race is the crowds leaving the city. If you’re running the Half, there will still be hours of marathon runners still blocking streets. I stayed at the Courtyard Marriott on Spring Street which was surrounded by runners and it took about 30 minutes to get out of the city through clogged streets. You might consider parking in a lot that is outside of the race routes, but you will have lots of company for a number of hours after the Half.
All in all, I greatly enjoyed the race experience and achieved a time I haven’t had in 5 years.
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Every mile has a survivor child w their family that you hi five on the way by! What an inspiration! The start is awesome w fireworks and Thunderstruck by Ac/Dc … MORE
Every mile has a survivor child w their family that you hi five on the way by! What an inspiration! The start is awesome w fireworks and Thunderstruck by Ac/Dc blaring followed by Born RK Run by The Boss!!
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Every mile has a survivor child w their family that you hi five on the way by! What an inspiration! The start is awesome w fireworks and Thunderstruck by Ac/Dc … MORE
Every mile has a survivor child w their family that you hi five on the way by! What an inspiration! The start is awesome w fireworks and Thunderstruck by Ac/Dc blaring followed by Born RK Run by The Boss!!
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I ran this race as my first half. Course was very supportive, crowds were out for most of course. Swag is tops. Very well run. Finish line chow was more … MORE
I ran this race as my first half. Course was very supportive, crowds were out for most of course. Swag is tops. Very well run. Finish line chow was more than I expected. Also being back of packer I never felt pressure to move off course.
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I have run the Columbus Marathon 9 times in my marathon career. The course has its challenges-lots of turns and not a ton of crowd support in the second half … MORE
I have run the Columbus Marathon 9 times in my marathon career. The course has its challenges-lots of turns and not a ton of crowd support in the second half of the race. But those things are made up for by a great organization, nice expo, and a cool post race experience. One of the cool things about the race is that each mile has a children’s champion. It is a child that has overcome some health issue in their life and it really puts things in perspective. The post race food is decent, and the area for the post race is nice.
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The big Columbus races are generally well supported and this is no exception. It was very warm and humid. I struggled early in this one. They seemed to add additional … MORE
The big Columbus races are generally well supported and this is no exception. It was very warm and humid. I struggled early in this one. They seemed to add additional water stops due to the weather. At this time of the year, you never know what you might get. The second half of the course gets more difficult and a lot less spectators. Organization and start of the race is great. Swag is pretty good as well.
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On a good weather day, this would be a terrific marathon to run! The temperatures at the start of the race were 70 degrees and slowly climbing to 75. On … MORE
On a good weather day, this would be a terrific marathon to run! The temperatures at the start of the race were 70 degrees and slowly climbing to 75. On top of that, there was a strong headwind in the last 3 miles that blew away some garbage cans off the course, some debris that blew in some runner’s faces in the last mile. This is stuff that’s out of the race director’s control. They at least issued a red alert advisory for the runners at that point (around mile 21 for me).
I didn’t run the time I would’ve liked but I still appreciated the course volunteers, the organizers, and the Patient Champions that were on the course offering high-fives. Thank you Columbus!
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The course is flat and fast which is a nice change from the Cincinnati races I normally run. The patient champions are also a really cool and motivating aspect. Swag … MORE
The course is flat and fast which is a nice change from the Cincinnati races I normally run. The patient champions are also a really cool and motivating aspect. Swag is non-existent. I feel bad complaining since the money goes to a children’s hospital, but all you get is a shirt and medal. I’ve run 5Ks with better packets. Plus I can’t wear my shirt from either of the two races I’ve run due to crazy inconsistent sizing and their refusal to allow exchanges.
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This was my third year running in the Columbus Marathon. I did the half in 2012, the full in 2013, then came back for the 2016 half. This is a … MORE
This was my third year running in the Columbus Marathon. I did the half in 2012, the full in 2013, then came back for the 2016 half. This is a great race. They really work hard so that the participants really enjoy themselves. I would say the biggest pro is all the crowd support. Each mile is dedicated to a patient at the Nationwide Children’s Medical Center. Often the patient, friends, and family line the course during that mile to cheer on the runners. It adds a really meaningful, unique aspect to running a half marathon. The course is also fantastic since it’s flat and the weather is usually very mild. The only real cons for me in 2016 were the shirts (the sizing was way off) and some confusion getting to the start line. Otherwise, I had a fantastic time and highly recommend it!
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This was my second year in a row completing this race. It is a fun half marathon and a pretty easy course in my opinion since it is relatively flat. … MORE
This was my second year in a row completing this race. It is a fun half marathon and a pretty easy course in my opinion since it is relatively flat. To support the Children’s Hospital and to see the kid’s on the course and read about their stories, is truly fabulous!
The good parts about the race:
*It is super organized! This year we were upgraded to Corral B and were through the start line in just a couple minutes.
*They have 350 bathrooms in the corrals. Each corral has their own bathrooms
*The shirts- they are awesome quality, but make sure to order the right size because they don’t always offer an exchange
*How motivating the course is- the kids and their families
*They have fireworks in the beginning and do this several times so even if you are in a back corral you have the same experience. And the beginning of the race feels like a party; its hard not to get all excited
*The course is an easy one to PR on- it’s primarily downhill
*The crowd support is awesome
*The medals were so great
*They give you a bag to put all of the food in, they have plenty and it’s all wrapped so there are no germs on it
*Quick turnaround with photos and results
*The responsiveness from the race on social media! And how they promote their race and send out info
There aren’t many things that I didn’t like or wish that would be improved and most of them have nothing to do with the race itself:
*Columbus downtown having more places that are open. Staying here we often have trouble finding places to eat
*Having to spend money on a hotel for the night – wishing our local race was this fabulous
*The expo this year just felt confusing and not easy to navigate
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I loved this race. Weather started out cool and was perfect. There were a lot of spectators and the half ran through some great neighborhoods. There was chocolate milk at … MORE
I loved this race. Weather started out cool and was perfect. There were a lot of spectators and the half ran through some great neighborhoods. There was chocolate milk at the finish along with other snacks and free hoagies. The only problem was with the bag drop pick-up. It was chaotic and even though I waited in line, people that came up from the finish were pushing to the front of the line so it took me an hour to get my bag. It has deterred me from bag drops for bigger races.
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I really liked that each mile is dedicated to a child from the children's hospital, gives each mile a little more purpose. The course is pancake flat (at least to … MORE
I really liked that each mile is dedicated to a child from the children’s hospital, gives each mile a little more purpose. The course is pancake flat (at least to me, folks talked about “hills”) and I was able to get my PR at the time. There was good crowd support, although I didn’t know the area very well. Expo and processes were smooth and well organized!
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I ran this in 2003, so maybe things have changed since then. It was nicely organized and enjoyable to run! The weather is perfect in Columbus that time of year. MORE
I ran this in 2003, so maybe things have changed since then. It was nicely organized and enjoyable to run! The weather is perfect in Columbus that time of year.
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This is a class act all around. Definitely one to add to your list and Columbus is a good town too. This was my first marathon and one I would … MORE
This is a class act all around. Definitely one to add to your list and Columbus is a good town too. This was my first marathon and one I would recommend for 50 Staters too.
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Can't miss race! Well ran in every facet
Inspiring purpose. Very well organized. Fun course. AMAZING crowd support and funniest signs I've seen. Fireworks at the start. Downhill finish. This race is a must for midwesterners near Columbus. MORE
Inspiring purpose. Very well organized. Fun course. AMAZING crowd support and funniest signs I’ve seen. Fireworks at the start. Downhill finish. This race is a must for midwesterners near Columbus.
Beautiful Fall Half Marathon
Well organized and supported race. Perfect weather and beautiful fall folliage. I noticed the downhills but not the uphills so it was wonderful. Ran faster than I had a right … MORE
Well organized and supported race. Perfect weather and beautiful fall folliage. I noticed the downhills but not the uphills so it was wonderful. Ran faster than I had a right too – given my lack of training.
Good Course to PR
I ran the half marathon here yesterday and overall it was a good experience. This is only my 3rd half, to go along with 1 full, so I don't have … MORE
I ran the half marathon here yesterday and overall it was a good experience. This is only my 3rd half, to go along with 1 full, so I don’t have a lot to compare it against but here are my thoughts.
The course is nice and flat so I was able to knock almost 3 minutes off my PR. There are some slight inclines but my other two halves were the Flying Pig and Heart Mini in Cincinnati which both have some decent hills. Compared to those, this was a piece of cake.
On-course entertainment was good. There were a bunch of bands and DJ’s spread throughout the 13.1 miles. I’d guess there were probably at least 6, all with nice, loud speakers so you could hear them. There were spots that had better crowd support than others but overall that was a positive. The scenery is kind of hit or miss. I’d say the highlights are the Franklin Park Conservatory/Wolfe Park area and Bexley. Some of the downtown views are decent and Germantown was cool as well.
As another reviewer noted, the swag is pretty much non-existent – just a t-shirt – and I thought the expo was kind of small. But again, it’s hard to really complain about that since the race benefits Nationwide Children’s Hospital. Which brings me to probably the coolest aspect – the children’s champions that are stationed as most miles. It gives you a good reminder of what the race is about and the high fives definitely give you a boost of motivation to keep powering through!
The after party, much like the expo, was kind of on the small side. It wasn’t bad and there were the usual post-race things – 13.1 & 26.2 mile props for pictures, PR gongs, a merch tent and a few food truck/vendors. I hung around with my family until nearly 11, around 3.5 hours after the race began, and some of the food trucks were closing up and it just generally had a feeling that it was winding down even though a lot of the full runners were still on the course.
Overall it was a good experience that I’d recommend!
Great energy! Great course!
The energy was amazing! There were fireworks at the beginning and a ton of people cheering. I started out a little too strong because of how amped up I was … MORE
The energy was amazing! There were fireworks at the beginning and a ton of people cheering. I started out a little too strong because of how amped up I was and ended up dropping 12 minutes off my previous pr, but that did bite me in the butt around mile 11 when i started to get pretty tired so the rest of the course was tough. Scenery was pretty for being a city run. I recommend it!
A very well organized and supported race
This race has a lot of crowd support and entertainment on the course. I really enjoyed the patient champions on the course. Loved running by the hospital and were kids … MORE
This race has a lot of crowd support and entertainment on the course. I really enjoyed the patient champions on the course. Loved running by the hospital and were kids holding signs from rooms and waving. Very well organized race from corrals to finish line. Loved how they gave everyone a bag to put goodies in as they hand post race food out. Also really liked the fireworks at the beginning of the race. Highly recommend this race. Had runners around me at all times which is not always the case for me.
A great race with great support.
This was great race with awesome support. The Patient sponsors were super inspiring and gave the runners a great boost. Not my best performance. Columbus is a beautiful vibrant city … MORE
This was great race with awesome support. The Patient sponsors were super inspiring and gave the runners a great boost. Not my best performance. Columbus is a beautiful vibrant city with great neighborhoods who support the race really well.
Great experience as First Timer
This was my first time running this race - the Half Marathon. I enthusiastically recommend it to others who are looking for an enjoyable and fulfilling experience. Large expo held … MORE
This was my first time running this race – the Half Marathon. I enthusiastically recommend it to others who are looking for an enjoyable and fulfilling experience.
Large expo held the day before – be prepared to walk through the expo to get to registration. Registration ran smoothly as did the race itself.
Course is very flat with just some graded inclines. Be prepared for large crowds when walking to the corrals as there are around 17,000 runners as the Half and Full Marathon start together using the same corrals. There were A thru E corrals, but they went off fairly quickly – maybe 5 minutes between each with some fireworks.
On course support was very good with lots of hydration stands and huge trash cans to catch the cups of both Gatorade and water. The Half Marathon course managed to stay within the confines of the city of Columbus with lots of spectators.
The end of the race featured lots of food and drink options (water, banana, protein bar, goldfish, chocolate milk, apples, chips, Doritos, and bagel). Heavy colorful medal was worthy as race bling.
One caution after the race is the crowds leaving the city. If you’re running the Half, there will still be hours of marathon runners still blocking streets. I stayed at the Courtyard Marriott on Spring Street which was surrounded by runners and it took about 30 minutes to get out of the city through clogged streets. You might consider parking in a lot that is outside of the race routes, but you will have lots of company for a number of hours after the Half.
All in all, I greatly enjoyed the race experience and achieved a time I haven’t had in 5 years.
The best run event for an great cause
Every mile has a survivor child w their family that you hi five on the way by! What an inspiration! The start is awesome w fireworks and Thunderstruck by Ac/Dc … MORE
Every mile has a survivor child w their family that you hi five on the way by! What an inspiration! The start is awesome w fireworks and Thunderstruck by Ac/Dc blaring followed by Born RK Run by The Boss!!
The best run event for an great cause
Every mile has a survivor child w their family that you hi five on the way by! What an inspiration! The start is awesome w fireworks and Thunderstruck by Ac/Dc … MORE
Every mile has a survivor child w their family that you hi five on the way by! What an inspiration! The start is awesome w fireworks and Thunderstruck by Ac/Dc blaring followed by Born RK Run by The Boss!!
Very first time friendly
I ran this race as my first half. Course was very supportive, crowds were out for most of course. Swag is tops. Very well run. Finish line chow was more … MORE
I ran this race as my first half. Course was very supportive, crowds were out for most of course. Swag is tops. Very well run. Finish line chow was more than I expected. Also being back of packer I never felt pressure to move off course.
Great organization and for a great cause
I have run the Columbus Marathon 9 times in my marathon career. The course has its challenges-lots of turns and not a ton of crowd support in the second half … MORE
I have run the Columbus Marathon 9 times in my marathon career. The course has its challenges-lots of turns and not a ton of crowd support in the second half of the race. But those things are made up for by a great organization, nice expo, and a cool post race experience. One of the cool things about the race is that each mile has a children’s champion. It is a child that has overcome some health issue in their life and it really puts things in perspective. The post race food is decent, and the area for the post race is nice.
Well supported race in my hometown
The big Columbus races are generally well supported and this is no exception. It was very warm and humid. I struggled early in this one. They seemed to add additional … MORE
The big Columbus races are generally well supported and this is no exception. It was very warm and humid. I struggled early in this one. They seemed to add additional water stops due to the weather. At this time of the year, you never know what you might get. The second half of the course gets more difficult and a lot less spectators. Organization and start of the race is great. Swag is pretty good as well.
Tough Day - Blame the Weather!
On a good weather day, this would be a terrific marathon to run! The temperatures at the start of the race were 70 degrees and slowly climbing to 75. On … MORE
On a good weather day, this would be a terrific marathon to run! The temperatures at the start of the race were 70 degrees and slowly climbing to 75. On top of that, there was a strong headwind in the last 3 miles that blew away some garbage cans off the course, some debris that blew in some runner’s faces in the last mile. This is stuff that’s out of the race director’s control. They at least issued a red alert advisory for the runners at that point (around mile 21 for me).
I didn’t run the time I would’ve liked but I still appreciated the course volunteers, the organizers, and the Patient Champions that were on the course offering high-fives. Thank you Columbus!
Good not great
The course is flat and fast which is a nice change from the Cincinnati races I normally run. The patient champions are also a really cool and motivating aspect. Swag … MORE
The course is flat and fast which is a nice change from the Cincinnati races I normally run. The patient champions are also a really cool and motivating aspect. Swag is non-existent. I feel bad complaining since the money goes to a children’s hospital, but all you get is a shirt and medal. I’ve run 5Ks with better packets. Plus I can’t wear my shirt from either of the two races I’ve run due to crazy inconsistent sizing and their refusal to allow exchanges.
Fast half marathon with great crowds!
This was my third year running in the Columbus Marathon. I did the half in 2012, the full in 2013, then came back for the 2016 half. This is a … MORE
This was my third year running in the Columbus Marathon. I did the half in 2012, the full in 2013, then came back for the 2016 half. This is a great race. They really work hard so that the participants really enjoy themselves. I would say the biggest pro is all the crowd support. Each mile is dedicated to a patient at the Nationwide Children’s Medical Center. Often the patient, friends, and family line the course during that mile to cheer on the runners. It adds a really meaningful, unique aspect to running a half marathon. The course is also fantastic since it’s flat and the weather is usually very mild. The only real cons for me in 2016 were the shirts (the sizing was way off) and some confusion getting to the start line. Otherwise, I had a fantastic time and highly recommend it!
Such a great race and an amazing cause!
This was my second year in a row completing this race. It is a fun half marathon and a pretty easy course in my opinion since it is relatively flat. … MORE
This was my second year in a row completing this race. It is a fun half marathon and a pretty easy course in my opinion since it is relatively flat. To support the Children’s Hospital and to see the kid’s on the course and read about their stories, is truly fabulous!
The good parts about the race:
*It is super organized! This year we were upgraded to Corral B and were through the start line in just a couple minutes.
*They have 350 bathrooms in the corrals. Each corral has their own bathrooms
*The shirts- they are awesome quality, but make sure to order the right size because they don’t always offer an exchange
*How motivating the course is- the kids and their families
*They have fireworks in the beginning and do this several times so even if you are in a back corral you have the same experience. And the beginning of the race feels like a party; its hard not to get all excited
*The course is an easy one to PR on- it’s primarily downhill
*The crowd support is awesome
*The medals were so great
*They give you a bag to put all of the food in, they have plenty and it’s all wrapped so there are no germs on it
*Quick turnaround with photos and results
*The responsiveness from the race on social media! And how they promote their race and send out info
There aren’t many things that I didn’t like or wish that would be improved and most of them have nothing to do with the race itself:
*Columbus downtown having more places that are open. Staying here we often have trouble finding places to eat
*Having to spend money on a hotel for the night – wishing our local race was this fabulous
*The expo this year just felt confusing and not easy to navigate
My PR!
I loved this race. Weather started out cool and was perfect. There were a lot of spectators and the half ran through some great neighborhoods. There was chocolate milk at … MORE
I loved this race. Weather started out cool and was perfect. There were a lot of spectators and the half ran through some great neighborhoods. There was chocolate milk at the finish along with other snacks and free hoagies. The only problem was with the bag drop pick-up. It was chaotic and even though I waited in line, people that came up from the finish were pushing to the front of the line so it took me an hour to get my bag. It has deterred me from bag drops for bigger races.
Fun, Fast, and Flat!
I really liked that each mile is dedicated to a child from the children's hospital, gives each mile a little more purpose. The course is pancake flat (at least to … MORE
I really liked that each mile is dedicated to a child from the children’s hospital, gives each mile a little more purpose. The course is pancake flat (at least to me, folks talked about “hills”) and I was able to get my PR at the time. There was good crowd support, although I didn’t know the area very well. Expo and processes were smooth and well organized!
FIrst marathon. Very well organized.
I ran this in 2003, so maybe things have changed since then. It was nicely organized and enjoyable to run! The weather is perfect in Columbus that time of year. MORE
I ran this in 2003, so maybe things have changed since then. It was nicely organized and enjoyable to run! The weather is perfect in Columbus that time of year.
Awesome All Around
This is a class act all around. Definitely one to add to your list and Columbus is a good town too. This was my first marathon and one I would … MORE
This is a class act all around. Definitely one to add to your list and Columbus is a good town too. This was my first marathon and one I would recommend for 50 Staters too.