Tip #24 | Packet Pickup
Welcome back to our annual “26 Tips for 26.2 Miles” blog series. For the 26 days leading up to race day, athletes and spectators can get daily tips to make the most of OUR race. Stay tuned for tips on parking and food, cool viewing spots and race rules, and answers to all your pressing race day questions. We are here to help you make the most of your 2023 Nationwide Children’s Hospital Columbus Marathon & ½ Marathon experience! Let’s go!
To ensure everyone has a safe and enjoyable race experience, the 2023 Nationwide Children’s Hospital Columbus Marathon & ½ Marathon has created specific rules for packet pickup.
Pickup Overview:
We do not offer packet pickup on race day. All race packets must be picked up during Expo hours. If you cannot pick up your race packet, you may have someone pick it up for you. See below for more info.
Athletes will pick up their 2023 Nationwide Children’s Hospital Columbus Marathon & ½ Marathon participant bibs, t-shirts, and clear, gear check bag at the Health & Fitness Expo in Exhibit Hall D of the Greater Columbus Convention Center during expo hours. Your bib tag timing device is already attached to your participant bib.
Expo hours are Friday, Oct. 13, from noon to 7 p.m. and Saturday, Oct. 14, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. You must have your photo ID to pick up your race number; there will be no exceptions to this rule unless the participant is under 18 years of age.
(Note: Athletes will receive the race t-shirt corresponding to the event in which they are entered, i.e., someone registered for the full marathon will receive a full marathon t-shirt, even if they signed up for the full marathon but only intend to complete the ½ Marathon. This is to ensure that those participants that are registered for the ½ Marathon event receive a ½ Marathon shirt corresponding to their race. Again, there are no exceptions.)
What If Friends or Family Want to Pick Up Your Number?
If someone is picking up a race packet for you, they will need to first visit the booth marked “Picking up for Others? START HERE” and provide:
Their ID
A COPY of your ID (a clear photo of the ID on a phone or smart device is acceptable)
PLEASE NOTE:
If any of the information is missing on the form, it will not be approved; and
No person may pick up more than two (2) race numbers in addition to their own.
And a reminder: While we allow “proxy” pickup as a service for our runners, only the registered runner may run the race with the bib.
Registration Packets cannot be mailed in advance.
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The rule about needing a copy of the runner's ID for someone else to pick up the packet is good to know. I almost sent my friend without that, so this saved me a trip. Krillion was helpful for checking the full schedule of tips too.