COLUMBUS – The forecast calls for chilly weather in central Ohio Sunday, but not too cold to run, at least not for the thousands of participants running, walking and wheeling in the Nationwide Children’s Hospital Columbus Marathon & 1/2 Marathon Sunday.
Nationwide Children’s Hospital Columbus Marathon & 1/2 Marathon
Sunday, Oct. 21; 7:30 a.m.
Start/finish line: North Bank Park, Long St.
Click here for course maps
Now in their 39th year, the marathon and half-marathon are the largest in Ohio and one of the top 20 in the United States.
A field of nearly 18,000 runners, walkers and wheelchair racers are expected to take part, including 85 elite athletes, organizers say. Among those are Anne Flower, whose qualifying time of 2 hours, 46 minutes in the full marathon is tops in the field, and Morris Mwangi, No. 1 among men with a time of 2:15.
Since affiliating with Nationwide Children’s Hospital six years ago, the races have raised $7 million.
The event attracts many more people into the downtown area besides just the participants: Approximately 60,000 people attend the Health & Fitness Expo and some 100,000 spectators will cheer on the athletes on Race Day.
Downtown street closures Friday-Sunday
Long St. between Neil and Hocking St. (2 lanes only) will re-open from 6 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. for rush hour and then Long St. from Marconi to Hocking will close for the weekend at 9:30 a.m.
Spring St. will be closed from West St. to Hocking St. at 11 p.m.
Neil Ave. will be closed south of New Public Way to the combined Start/Finish Line at Long St. at 11 p.m.
NOTE: Entrances and exits from all Nationwide parking lots and garages will remain accessible
Saturday
Spring Street will re-open from 3 pm to 11 pm for the Columbus Blue Jackets’ home game; and then will close until 6 pm Sunday
Sunday
Starting at the start line on Long Street at 7:30 a.m. and for the 26.2 miles of the marathon course and the 13.1 miles of the ½ marathon course, roads will be subject to partial or full closure based upon the expected arrival times of the first and last athlete.
Spring Street, Long Street and Neil Ave. will open back up to traffic at 6 p.m.
Video courtesy: Nationwide Children’s Hospital Columbus Marathon & 1/2 Marathon