Tip #7 | Volunteer!

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!

All the fun without the run! More than 3,000 people help make the Nationwide Children’s Hospital Columbus Marathon & 1/2 Marathon possible every year. Volunteers are needed across the course prior to, during, and after the race. From the Expo to the start line to the aid stations to the finish, volunteers make OUR race possible.

Being a volunteer for the Nationwide Children’s Hospital Columbus Marathon & 1/2 Marathon is a great way to give back to the community and support an event that has raised more than $12 million for Nationwide Children’s Hospital to date. All volunteers get a long-sleeved shirt and gratitude from thousands of participants!

We welcome all volunteers ages 16 and older. For volunteers ages 12 to 16, we ask that they volunteer with a trusted adult in a 6 (or fewer) to 1 ratio.

Groups of volunteers are welcome. All members of a group will still need to register individually, and volunteer spaces are available on a first-come, first-serve basis—so act fast! If interested in volunteering with a group, please email volunteer@columbusmarathon.com and we will do our best to find a great volunteer opportunity for you and your group.

You can make a profound difference to this event and all the runners and walkers involved, not to mention the families that rely on Nationwide Children’s Hospital. Consider becoming a volunteer today.

Have additional questions? Let us know in the comments below, or share with us on Facebook and Instagram, and we’ll be sure to get them answered!