Starting Line Corrals
To provide the best experience at YOUR Nationwide Children's Hospital Columbus Marathon & 1/2 Marathon, we will continue to employ starting line corrals in 2012. In addition, we will utilize a two-wave start beginning in 2012.
Runners and walkers for both races will be positioned in the starting area based upon estimated finishing times. To ensure the safest, smoothest start possible with an even distribution of people, corral and wave assignments will be determined during the bib number assignment process. Information regarding your specific corral and wave will be available in September.
PLEASE NOTE: CORRAL AND WAVE ASSIGNMENTS WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE BEFORE SEPTEMBER.
Athletes will only be permitted into the corral that corresponds with the letter on their bibs, but may freely move around within their designated corrals. Athletes should plan to arrive in the starting area a full 30 minutes before the start to make sure they can enter the correct corral.
Athletes wanting to participate with other athletes that are friends and/or training partners may do so. However, if these participants are assigned to different corrals, they must start in the corral with the athlete that has the later letter on their bib (i.e., slowest runner/walker). There will be no exceptions to this provision.
Note: The course closes at 11:30 a.m. for the 1/2 Marathon, and 3 p.m. for the Marathon. You must be able to maintain a 16-minute-mile pace throughout the race.
If you are competing in the Marathon and are not at Mile 13 by 11:28 a.m. (a 16-minute-per-mile pace if you were to cross the start line as late as 8 a.m.), you will be directed to the Finish Line and given a 1/2 Marathon medal and 1/2 Marathon finishing time.
If you are competing in the Marathon and are not at Mile 17.5 by 12:40 p.m. (a 16-minute-per-mile-pace if you were to cross the Start Line as late as 8 a.m.), you will be asked to get into a race support vehicle for transport to the finish line.
These time limits are in place to provide a safe event as well as to comply with city, police and facility contracts, rules and regulations.
