Entry through the organiser
Entry details on the organiser’s site →
The organiser, a third party. We take no entries and have no part in the race.
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Columbus Marathon
At a glance
- Race day
- The 2026 race
- Next race
- Date not out yet
- Last run Sun 18 Oct
- Start
- 07:307:30 AM
- Distance
- 42.2 km26.2 mi
- Marathon · 5K
- Time limit
- 6 h 30 min
The course
The organiser describes a course with minimal elevation changes that tours downtown Columbus, the Ohio Statehouse, Nationwide Children's Hospital, German Village, Bexley, Upper Arlington, Grandview Heights and The Ohio State University.
- Downtown, German Village and four neighbourhoods on minimal climbingMinimal elevation change; downtown, German Village, Bexley, Upper Arlington, Grandview, Ohio State.
- Every mile has a face, and a gong at the end24 patient miles, one inspirational mile, one alumni mile, and a PR gong.
- Pace teams from 3:00 to 5:30, a 6:30 limit and gels at miles 15.5 and 20.7Pace teams 3:00 to 5:30; 6:30 limit; GU gel at miles 15.5 and 20.7.
Course notes 3 short reads on the course
Whole courseGeometryDowntown, German Village and four neighbourhoods on minimal climbingMinimal elevation change; downtown, German Village, Bexley, Upper Arlington, Grandview, Ohio State.
The organiser’s course description starts with the climbing, which it calls minimal, and then lists the places: local landmarks in downtown Columbus including the Ohio Statehouse, Nationwide Children’s Hospital and historic German Village, then tours of Bexley, Upper Arlington, Grandview Heights and The Ohio State University. The start and finish are at North Bank Park, 311 W Long St.
Sourced
Whole courseCrowdEvery mile has a face, and a gong at the end24 patient miles, one inspirational mile, one alumni mile, and a PR gong.
Per the organiser, patients and their families stand beside every mile of the course to cheer on runners and show how the marathon helps ill and injured children. The page also lists bands and DJs, a memorable finish line and a PR gong to hit at the end. It bills the race as America’s Most Meaningful Race.
Sourced
Whole courseTacticsPace teams from 3:00 to 5:30, a 6:30 limit and gels at miles 15.5 and 20.7Pace teams 3:00 to 5:30; 6:30 limit; GU gel at miles 15.5 and 20.7.
The Striding Sliders Pace Team leads the marathon at 3:00, 3:10, 3:20, 3:30, 3:40, 3:50, 4:00, 4:15, 4:30, 4:45, 5:00 and 5:30, lining up by 7:00 am on the right side of the street facing the start line. The organiser’s limit is 6:30 and it says walking is welcome. GU energy gel is provided at miles 15.5 and 20.7, with Vanilla Bean and Chocolate Outrage containing caffeine.
Sourced
Race weekend
Friday 16 October Expo
-
12:0012:00 PM–19:007:00 PM
Health and fitness expo, packet pickup Hall D, Greater Columbus Convention Center, 400 N. High Street. Race numbers are not mailed; photo ID is needed.
Saturday 17 October Bib pickup
-
07:307:30 AM
Jesse Owens 5K, 1 Mile and Kids Run packet pickup at the race site North Bank Park. The 5K and 1 Mile start at 9:00 am and the kids run at 11:00 am. -
09:009:00 AM–18:006:00 PM
Health and fitness expo, packet pickup Hall D, Greater Columbus Convention Center.
Bib in hand?A number belt holds it without pins through your race top. Clip it on tonight.
Number belt on AmazonAmazon partner link
Sunday 18 October Race day
-
06:006:00 AM
Corrals open North Bank Park, 311 W Long St. -
Time not published
Marathon course limit 6 hours 30 minutes, a 14:53 minute per mile pace. 6:30 limit: 9:14/km for 42.195 km6:30 limit: 14:52/mi for 26.2 mi
Other races (2)
-
07:257:25 AM
Wheelchair division start -
07:307:30 AM
Marathon and half marathon start
Times as published by the organiser, in Columbus time, checked . Confirm on their site before you travel.
The forecast for Sunday
Race morning, on the record
We hold no start time for this race, so the record is read at 09:009:00 AM, local time.
Add to calendar .ics file, times in Columbus time
Entry
Race fuel
Energy gel
5 gels for Columbus, plus 1 spare
Finish
One every 40 minutes, by the clock:
Under about 75 minutes most runners need no gel: water at the aid stations does it.
- km 7mile 4.4
- km 14.1mile 8.7
- km 21.1mile 13.1
- km 28.1mile 17.5
- km 35.2mile 21.8
For your long training runs:
Our pick: SiS BETA Fuel gel, box of 6, strawberry and lime. 40 g of carbohydrate a gel, about twice a usual gel, from two kinds of sugar your body takes up side by side. Enough for race day and two test long runs.
Easy to forget on race morning: pack them with your bib the night before.
Only the gel you trained with. Nothing new on race day.
Get it on Amazon
We earn a small fee if you buy through these links. The price is the same.
In Canada the button opens GU Energy Gel, Salted Caramel, 24-pack, the best seller there.
Outside the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Austria and Switzerland, the UK and Ireland, Spain and Portugal, Italy, the rest of the EU and Canada the button opens GU Energy Gel, Chocolate Outrage, 24-pack on Amazon.com, the best seller there.
Anti-chafe
Compeed anti-blister stick, 8 ml
An invisible layer before the start keeps seams, straps and shoes from rubbing skin raw.
Put it on before you leave for the start: heels and toes, inner thighs, under a bra or heart-rate strap.
Try it on a long run first, like everything you use on race day.
Get it on Amazon
We earn a small fee if you buy through these links. The price is the same.
Number belt
Compressport Race Belt
Holds your bib without safety pins through your top, with loops for up to 8 gels.
Clip the bib on the night before, so it goes on with your shorts in the morning.
Keep the number on the front, where officials and photographers can see it.
Get it on Amazon
We earn a small fee if you buy through these links. The price is the same.
Electrolytes
SiS Hydro electrolyte tablets, tube of 20
One tablet in a bottle puts back some of the salt you sweat out.
One tablet in 500 ml of water in the hour before the start.
Only if you have used them in training: nothing new on race day.
Get it on Amazon
We earn a small fee if you buy through these links. The price is the same.
Blister plasters
Compeed blister plasters, medium, 6
One in a pocket cushions a blister if one starts.
Put it on clean, dry skin and leave it until it comes off by itself.
Give a couple to whoever comes to cheer, so they are there at the km you need them.
Get it on Amazon
We earn a small fee if you buy through these links. The price is the same.
Keep exploring
More races to look at after the Columbus Marathon.
