Heroes of America Marathon

Description

The Heroes of America Marathon and Half Marathon Saturday, March 23, 2024 race starts and finishes at the intersection of West 10th St and Bay Ave in front of Woodruff Park, Columbus, Ga two blocks north of the Columbus Marriott. The full marathon runs both north and south of the convention center utilizing some streets including the 14th street Pedestrian Bridge onto the beautiful Riverwalk, going down and looping inside Fort Benning.  The course will then exit Fort Moore (formally Fort Benning) at mile 17 and return to finish line at West 10th and Bay Ave. The awards ceremony and post race festivites will be in the ajoining Woodruff Park. The course is reasonably flat with some lower inclines.  The Heroes of America 5k also starts at West 1oth and Bay Ave immediately after the Half Marathon start. Because of the width of the Riverwalk the Heroes of America Marathon does not allow participants who use hand-cranks.

Event details and schedule

Friday, March 22, 2024 at the Columbus Marriott 800 Front Avenue, Columbus, GA 3901 (directly across from the Iron Works Convention and Trade Center):

11:00 am to 4:00 pm - Packet Pickup, Registration and Expo

Saturday, March 23, 2024 at the Columbus Marriott

6:00 am to 7:45 am - Packet Pickup, Registration and Expo 8:00 am - Start of Marathon & Half Marathon

8:10 am - Start of 5k

12:00 pm - Close of Half Marathon

3:00 pm - Close of Marathon

MARATHON

The Heroes of America Marathon course is a 26.2 mile course that starts and finishes in front of Woodruff Park in the intersection of Bay Ave and West 10th Street. The start line and finish line are two blocks north of bib pickup at the Columbus Marriott.  The full marathon runs both north and south of the convention center utilizing some streets including the 14th Street Pedestrian Bridge onto the beautiful Riverwalk going down and looping inside Fort Moore (formerly Fort Benning).  The course then exits Fort Moore at mile 17 and returns on the riverwalk exiting just past the Convention and Trade Center going back to West 10th street. 

Minimum Age Restriction for Marathon

The minimum age to register for the Heroes of America Marathon is 16 years old.  Most experts believe that training for and running a 26.2 mile race is best done after a runner has matured both physically and mentally.  Age 16 is the minimum age our race committee has decided for the 26.2 mile marathon

Start Time: 8:00am EST

End Time: 3:00pm EST 

HALF MARATHON
 

The Heroes of America Half Marathon course is a 13.1 mile course that starts and finishes in the intersection of Bay Street and West !0th street. The start line and finish line are at 2 blocks North of the Columbus Marriott.

Minimum Age Restriction for Half Marathon

The minimum age to register for the Heroes of America Half Marathon is 10 years old.  Most experts believe that training for and running a 13.1 mile race is best done after a runner has reached at least the age of 10.  Age 10 is the minimum age our race committee has decided for the 13.1 mile Heroes of America Half Marathon.

Start Time: 8:00am EST

End Time: 12:00pm EST 

RELAY MARATHON
 

Each team will consist of no less than 2 runners and no more than 4 runners. The relay teams start at the same start line as the other runners. There are three exchange points on the course: mile 7.1, mile 13.1 and mile 20.2. The first and third legs of the relay are longer at over 7 miles long while the second and fourth legs of the relay are shorter at a little over 6 miles long (basically a 10k). The lead runner on the Relay Team will wear a slap bracelet on his/her wrist. At each exchange point the runner removes the slap bracelet and hands it to the next runner. The last runner receives the slap bracelet and a race bib with a timing chip to get a finishing time. Each runner wears a Race Bib with the same Relay Team number (e.g. 5001A, lB, lC and 1D).  The relay exchange points are accessible by car. Transportation for relay team members will not be provided by the Heroes of America Marathon. 

5K
 

The 5K race starts right after the start of the marathon and half marathon races. Runners for the 5K race will queue up behind the marathon and half marathon runners. After the start of the marathon and half marathon race, the 5K runners will move up to the same start line to begin the 5K race.

The Heroes of America 5K course is a 3.1 mile course that starts and finishes at the same start and finish line for the marathon and half marathon. 

Minimum Age for 5K

The minimum age to register for the Heroes of America 5k Race is 6 years old.

Start Time: 8:10am EST

End Time: 9:30am EST 

CERTIFICATION:
 

Marathon course is certified as a Boston Marathon qualifier. The USATF Certification Number is USATF GAWC.

AWARDS:
 

Race finishers will receive a race t-shirt and a finisher’s medal. Overall winners and age-group winners will also receive awards for each event.  

Each member of the relay team will receive a finisher’s t-shirt and a finisher’s medal.

PACKET PICKUP:

Packet pickup will be at the Columbus Marriott, 800 Front Avenue, Columbus GA 31901, on Friday, March 22, 2024 from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and Saturday, March 23, 2024 from 6:00 a.m. to 7:45 a.m.  A team representative may pick up the registration packet with a bib for each member of the relay team.

PARKING:

Parking is available at 801 Front Avenue deck garage across from W. 8th street or the lots at Bay Avenue and Dillingham Street at 901 Bay Avenue, Columbus, GA (this lot will fill up quickly).