Race Day Info!
Special Offers
In an effort to make you feel as welcome as possible, we have coordinated with area businesses and organizations to offer Race Day/Weekend specials. Please check out the following offers:
- COSI: The Center of Science and Industry is the #1 rated science center in the country by Parents Magazine and will be open starting at noon on Race Day. Check out this flyer on how marathon participants and their families can save on admission on Race Day.
- Katzinger's (at approximately mile 12; Livingston and Third in German Village) Nothing loads carbs like a Katzinger’s sandwich on thick-cut, hand sliced slow rise crusty bread. Add a pasta salad and you could easily run a marathon. And, in honor of Katzinger’s 25th anniversary, October 18 is free cake with purchase day! Open 9 am -8:30 pm on Oct .17 and 18.
- Cotter’s (at the finish line) will be offering a carb loading special of Pasta Primavera with choice of chicken, shrimp, or flat iron steak for $15. Open 4 pm to 10 pm on Saturday, Oct. 17.
- Rigsby's (at approximately mile 13; in the Short North) will be serving a 3-course price fixed carb loading meal on Friday and Saturday for $25.
More than 60 bands on course!
To help you along your way, more 60 bands, entertainers, and radio stations will be lining the course (approximately every half-mile). From the OSU brass band, heavy rockers, to bagpipers, we’ve got the tunes to keep you moving’. If you like what your hearing, please let our bands know, They love the encouragement too!
To get the day started, ‘The Danger Brothers’ (of OSU Football’s HineyGate fame) will be at the start line again this year to get you warmed up and ready for your run.
Where to Watch
The Nationwide Better Health Columbus Marathon's trademark is its thousands of spectators lined along city and suburban streets throughout the race. In addition to the numerous bands that line the routes, many families and friends in Columbus make a day-long celebration of the event in front yards and driveways, encouraging participants along the way. Check out this map to plan the best places to wait for your athlete along the course on Oct. 18, 2009. Remember, there is NO parking on the course (for a listing of street closures, check here). Following is a description of what you'll see along the way:
- E. Broad and Third Streets is where you'll catch the start of the 2009 Nationwide Better Health Columbus Marathon and its runners and walkers as they embark on their journey.
- Drexel and Main Streets in Bexley is a perfect place to take in the fall colors and amazing homes as the runners pass by.
- Bryden and Third Streets is a great spot to greet runners as they turn the corner to head south to German Village.
- Schiller Park in German Village is bordered by Reinhard, Jaeger and Deshler Streets. This is one of Columbus's oldest and most scenic parks — you'll enjoy walking from one side to the other to cheer on your athlete and take part in the German Village Neighborhood Party.
- Short North Arts District on High Street — between Nationwide Blvd. and Fifth Ave. — enjoy window shopping at the art galleries and boutique shops and have a cup of joe from one of the local coffee shops while you wait for your athlete.
- South Campus Gateway at High and E. 11th: This will be our first Cheer Zone from 8 am to noon. Tim Hortons will be giving out free coffee and donut vouchers to the first 150 students who come and cheer. Additionally, each student group is challenged to bring canned goods for the Mid-Ohio Food Bank. The groups with the most canned goods win great prizes.
- High and Chittenden Streets and High and E. 15th takes you through the east side of campus, including a trek down sorority and fraternity row. Additionally, this area has easy access to the highway, so you have time to see your athlete and get to the finish line.
- Grandview Ave. is when the athletes are really starting to experience the strain of a marathon and need maximum encouragement — this beautiful area has great boutiques, restaurants and coffee shops and plentiful seating for spectators.
- Across from Pierce Park on First: This will be our second Cheer Zone hosted by FrontRunner. There will be free bagels and coffee and it will be open from 8:30 am and on.
- 5th and Neil Avenues is at approximately the 24.5-mile-mark — you can enjoy the beautiful homes of Victorian Village while you cheer your athlete toward the finish line.
- Goodale Park in the Short North is bordered by Buttles and Park Streets, is the 25-mile mark and is a great place to set up camp to cheer athletes through their last mile.
- Nationwide Blvd. by Nationwide Arena is where thousands of spectators line the streets to cheer runners to the finish line.
Parking
There will be more than 15,000 people making their way to the start line on Sunday – so please plan ahead! Review this map produced by the Greater Columbus Sports Commission and make your plan for parking
Start Area
- Columbus City Center parking garages
- Statehouse Parking Garage
- Parking lots/garages on the corner of Third and Gay Streets
- Parking lots/garages on the corner of Long and Third Streets
- Parking lot on the corner of Parkview and Main Streets
- Residential streets in the vicinity
- Old Engine House #5 Lot on the corner of Thurman and Fourth Streets
- Residential streets in the vicinity
- Ohio Funeral Directors Association on the corner of College Hill Drive and N. Starr Road
- Businesses on the South side of Lane Avenue, East of Starr Road
Finish Area
There are more than 15,000 parking spaces available within a 10-minute walk of Nationwide Arena, including the following Arena District lots and garages:
- Front Street Garage
- Chestnut Street Garage
- Arena Crossing Garage
- Neil Ave. Garage
- Marconi Blvd. Garage
- Arena West surface parking lot
- Vine Street surface parking lot
- Front Street surface parking lot
°The Columbus Marathon cannot guarantee parking availability in any of these lots due to changing schedules and lack of ownership. These are suggested places to park in order to help out those wishing to watch the Columbus Marathon for the first time. Also, spectators and participants are responsible for any parking fee charged by those who own the lot.
Meet your friends and family in Celebration Village
Tell your family and friends to meet you in Celebration Village! Relax, stretch, and enjoy the tunes provided by regional artists ‘The Ark Band’ and ‘Buzzcrush’. There will be plenty of venders, a big screen camera of the finish line, and even a kids area with bouncy games.
Celebrate your experience with us at the afterparty!
Come join us later that evening for the official post race afterparty at Park Street Patio in the Arena District from 6-9pm. Share your ‘war stories’ from the morning with friends of new and old. Controversy will be there to keep the party going with their blend of old school R&B funk…what a better way to get those legs rejuvenated than by tearing it up on the dance floor! There will be great drink specials, including $1 drafts and well drinks, as well as free appetizers and great door prizes. We hope to see you there!
