Testimonials
The weather was absolutely PERFECT for running and I cannot say enough about how wonderful the Marathon was organized and supported! I was PROUD of Nationwide and my running partners expressed how impressed they were (none had ran Columbus in the past). Everyone on my team reached their PR's which was the icing on the cake! I want to express my thanks and gratitude to the Nationwide Better Health and all who worked hard to make the Marathon a huge success!
Kimberly Schuh, Esq.
Nationwide Senior Claims Legal Counsel
Kentucky
I can't stress enough how supportive the volunteers and the spectators were!! We were so busy thanking them for their support, it made the miles fly by! 3 Nights stay in Columbus-350$ New Running shoes-85$ Completing the Columbus Marathon with my sister-PRICELESS!!!!
Thank you!
Lisa Salsburey,PT
I was part of a curb crew in 2007. I was inspired by what I saw and decided I was going to do it myself in 2008. This was a HUGE decision because I was 100 lbs overweight! I went home and began to train. I walked all winter, started losing weight and feeling better. I did the Kentucky Derby ∏ Marathon in April, but still was training and excited for Columbus. The weekend finally arrives and my dear friend (and inspiration) packed the car and brought our daughters to Columbus for a girls weekend. Sunday was an amazing day! We had great weather and the volunteers were awesome. For my second ∏ marathon I think I did pretty good. I finished in 3:33:15! I will always remember the Columbus Marathon for the way it changed my life. I know my daughters see that anything is possible with hard work and dedication. Thanks Columbus for a great marathon that values it's walkers!
Sincerely,
Lisa Stuthard
Uniontown, Ohio
This is my third Columbus Marathon and i have to say, everything happened the way i wanted it to but whole lot better. The new course was amazing. The course was the most runner friendly course i have ever ran. The people, the bands, and the stations, wow, amazing. My goal this year was to shoot for three hours and thirty minutes, but i ended up being three hours and twenty three minutes. This has inspired me to shoot for Boston next year ( I am 23 years old). Thanks Columbus for making a difference.</p>
Jason Casey
This was my first marathon ever!! I live close to Columbus and I have always heard how wonderful the entire atmosphere/experience is...well there simply are no words to describe it. The course was great, the volunteers were so nice and encouraging, the bands were all awesome and very motivating. The weather was great, the scenery along the 26 miles was different and pretty too. The best part for me was relying on complete strangers to get me through the most mentally, emotionally, and phsically obstacle in my life. I have never been this proud of myself ever! Thanks for making this such a wonderful experience! It was all and more of what I was told. I cannot wait until next year!!!
Jessica Thomas, Newark, OH
Darla Hampton
Nationwide
I ran the Chicago Marathon two weeks prior to the Columbus Marathon. It was going to be my first marathon. Needless to say, Chicago was very disappointing…After I returned home from Chicago, a friend had mentioned that the Columbus Marathon was in two weeks. I signed up and had a great experience yesterday.
Hats off to your management team.You had plenty of resources on hand, the people were friendly, and the course was appealing. If I do another marathon, it will definitely be the Columbus Marathon.
Thank you,
Captain Paul F. Broxterman, Jr.
Cincinnati Police Department
Training Section Commander
We had a great time in Columbus. There were probably 30-plus runners from my club here in Oakville (plus, traveling companions). We all found it to be a first-class race. Outstanding race support, great run expo, tremendous aid stations, fantastic race marshals and volunteers and a great finishers’ area and meet up spot for families. The finish line was something else – awesome.
I know I will be back. Thanks for everything.
Dave Patrick
Oakville ON Canada
I would like to compliment the marathon staff for a world-class, exceptional experience! This was my first half-marathon and I used your training schedule and my finish (my goal was to do just that) was better than I expected. I went into this to do once, but I was hooked. From what I hear from other runners – the Columbus half was the best to begin with as the spectators were so inspiring and the entire day was very well organized. I have high expectations and you exceeded them! Thank you!!!
Jay Clark
It is now official. I have run my first marathon, and I can honestly say that it was......enjoyable! The first 13.1 was surprisingly quick and painless. I hit the wall late at around 22-23 miles and trudged in the last few miles for a finish time of 3:38:34. It was a beautiful day and an absolutely wonderful environment. I think I might have just gotten hooked to this whole marathon thing.
Farris Sheikh
Nationwide
I ran my first half marathon Sunday, my birthday. I had a great time! I loved everything about this race. The military helicopter flyover was amazing. The song "Simply the Best" was blasting out the stereo as we crossed the starting line… Other highlights: seeing the Governor cheer us on from his driveway, so many people cheering us on, the pace team doing military cheers at mile 11 and 12, the great bands--folk, R&B, rock, jazz. Running into someone from Jersey (my home state), a lady who has the same birthday as me, joking with some of the runners when someone's pace alarm went off in Bexley. This half marathon was everything I hoped it would be and more. And, to top it off, the poster and medal I got for finishing have my birthday on them! I'm really glad I chose Columbus for my first half. I can’t wait to recover and run my next one. I plan on running the New Jersey Marathon (my first) next May. I’m excited about building on the success I had in Columbus!
Chris Zawodniak
Nationwide
