Columbus Marathon

Last updated
Columbus Marathon
Columbus Marathon.jpg
Marathon finish line in 2010
DateThird Sunday in October [1]
Location Columbus, Ohio
Event typeRoad
Distance Marathon
26.2 mi (42.2 km) or 13.1 mi
(half marathon) [2]
Primary sponsor Nationwide Children's Hospital
BeneficiaryNationwide Children's Hospital
Established1980
Course recordsMen: 2:11:02 (1980)
Tommy Persson
Women: 2:28:15 (2003)
Lyudmyla Pushkina
Official site www.columbusmarathon.com

The Nationwide Children's Hospital Columbus Marathon is a marathon held in Columbus, Ohio, United States. First run in 1978 and held annually since 1980, it features a flat, fast course which saw nearly 20 percent of finishers qualify for the Boston Marathon in 2010. The event has sold-out in mid-August the past eight years. There are 7,000 runners in the full marathon and 11,000 in the half marathon, making it one of the largest running events in the United States. Proceeds go to Nationwide Children's Hospital. 2023 marks the twelfth year of this partnership; so far more than $12 million has been raised for the Hospital. This includes more than $1 million contributed since 2012 by the Columbus Marathon Board of Directors. [3]

Contents

History

The concept of the Columbus Marathon was the brainchild of former Mayors Tom Moody and Greg Lashutka as a way to put Columbus on the map and showcase the city at the same time. The inaugural race was held on June 4, 1978. The 1980 race, on November 16, hosted 2,500 runners. Tommy Persson of Sweden set a course record of 2:11:02 that year which remains unbroken (as of 2017).

The 2020 edition of the race was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic, with all registrants automatically receiving full refunds. [4]

Course

The cloverleaf design of the course also makes it easy for spectators to see their athletes at several different points – all within a block walking distance. The course begins in downtown Columbus and takes athletes east through Bexley, Ohio, past the Governor's Mansion and Capital University; back through the historic Franklin Park Neighborhood and the festive neighborhood of Old Town East; south through German Village; up High Street through downtown Columbus and the Short North Arts District; a jaunt through Ohio State University, including past The Oval and through Ohio Stadium, home of the football Buckeyes, and through Upper Arlington, through the tree-lined streets of Victorian Village and back to a huge crowd awaiting finishers outside Nationwide Arena in the Arena District.

Event records

Columbus to Boston

Columbus remains one of the top marathons to qualify runners for the Boston Marathon. The Columbus Marathon has affected Columbus and Central Ohio. More than 250,000 runners have come from 37 countries and all 50 states to participate in the Columbus Marathon. The Columbus Marathon is also one of the last qualifying marathons before registration opens for the Boston Marathon.

Olympics qualification

More than 50 Olympians have run in Columbus, including the 1980 men's Silver Medalist, Gerard Nigboer, 1984 Women's Gold Medalist, Joan Benoit, 1984 Men's Fourth Place Finisher, Joseph Nzau and 1984 Women's 6th Place Finisher, Priscilla Welch. In 1983, seven women qualified for the Women's U.S. Olympic Trials event, six of them were from the state of Ohio. The top 10 males also qualified for their Olympic Trials events. Seven of them men ran in the 1984 Olympics for their respective countries. The following year, eight Olympians competed in the Columbus Marathon. In 1992, 109 of the country's top runners came to Columbus. Only 3 would qualify for the team and their quest for a medal at the Summer Olympics: Steve Spence, Ed Eyestone, and Bob Kempainen.

Since then, more and more athletes have come to Columbus to qualify for the Olympic Marathon Trials.

Designations

The Columbus Marathon has been designated by Runner's World as one of the Top 20 marathons in the nation and by USA Today as one of the top 10 Fall marathons.

Race directors

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">London Marathon</span> Annual race held in London, England

The London Marathon is an annual marathon held in London, England. It is the largest marathon in the world, with over 53,700 finishers in 2024, and 840,318 applicants for the 2025 event. Founded by athletes Chris Brasher and John Disley in 1981, it is typically held in April, although it moved to October for 2020, 2021, and 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The largely flat course is set around the River Thames, starting in Blackheath and finishing at The Mall. Hugh Brasher is the current race director and Nick Bitel its chief executive.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marathon</span> Long-distance running event of 42.195 kilometres

The marathon is a long-distance foot race with a distance of 42.195 km, usually run as a road race, but the distance can be covered on trail routes. The marathon can be completed by running or with a run/walk strategy. There are also wheelchair divisions. More than 800 marathons are held throughout the world each year, with the vast majority of competitors being recreational athletes, as larger marathons can have tens of thousands of participants.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boston Marathon</span> Worlds oldest regularly run marathon

The Boston Marathon is an annual marathon race hosted by several cities and towns in greater Boston in eastern Massachusetts, United States. It is traditionally held on Patriots' Day, the third Monday of April. Begun in 1897, the event was inspired by the success of the first marathon competition in the 1896 Summer Olympics. The Boston Marathon is the world's oldest annual marathon and ranks as one of the world's best-known road racing events. It is one of six World Marathon Majors. Its course runs from Hopkinton in southern Middlesex County to Copley Square in Boston.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New York City Marathon</span> American race

The New York City Marathon, currently branded as the TCS New York City Marathon for sponsorship reasons, is an annual marathon that courses through the five boroughs of New York City. It is the largest marathon in the world, with 53,627 finishers in 2019 and 98,247 applicants for the 2017 race. Along with the Boston Marathon and Chicago Marathon, it is among the pre-eminent long-distance annual running events in the United States and is one of the World Marathon Majors.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joan Benoit</span> American distance runner

Joan Benoit Samuelson is an American marathon runner who was the first women's Olympic Games marathon champion, winning the gold medal at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. She held the fastest time for an American woman at the Chicago Marathon for 32 years after winning the race in 1985. Her time at the Boston Marathon was the fastest time by an American woman at that race for 28 years. She was inducted into the Maine Women's Hall of Fame in 2000.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paris Marathon</span> Annual race in France held since 1976

The Paris Marathon is an annual marathon hosted by the city of Paris, France. It is the largest running event in France in terms of finishers and the marathon with the second-most finishers in the world, behind the New York City Marathon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Berlin Marathon</span> Annual race in Germany since 1974

The Berlin Marathon is a marathon event held annually on the streets of Berlin, Germany on the last weekend of September. Held annually since 1974, the event includes multiple races over the marathon distance of 42.195 kilometres (26.219 mi), including elite level road running competitions for men and women, a race for the public, an inline skating race, a wheelchair race, and a handcycle race.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Miami Marathon</span> American race

The Miami Marathon is an annual marathon racing event hosted by Miami, Florida, since 2003. The marathon course also runs through the city of Miami Beach, Florida. The 42.195-kilometre (26.219 mi) race is typically run on the last Sunday in January or the first Sunday in February, at approximately 6:00 am. The event also includes a half marathon, and a wheelchair division for both races. Marathon finish times can be used to qualify for the Boston Marathon. Shifting Gears United is partner for the disability division.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2019 Tokyo Marathon</span>

The 2019 Tokyo Marathon was the thirteenth edition of the annual marathon race in Tokyo and was held on Sunday, 3 March. An IAAF Gold Label Road Race, it was the first World Marathon Majors event to be held that year. The men's race was won by Birhanu Legese in 2:04:48 hours while the women's race was won by Ruti Aga in 2:20:40.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Athletics at the 2020 Summer Olympics – Men's marathon</span> Olympic athletics event

The men's marathon event at the 2020 Summer Olympics started at 07:00 on 8 August 2021 in Sapporo, Japan. 106 athletes from 46 nations competed. The previous Olympic champion, Kenyan Eliud Kipchoge, successfully defended his title, with Dutch and Belgian athletes Abdi Nageeye and Bashir Abdi gaining silver and bronze, respectively. Kipchoge was the third man to repeat as Olympic marathon champion, after Abebe Bikila and Waldemar Cierpinski. The Netherlands and Belgium earned their first men's marathon medals since 1980 and 1976, respectively.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Athletics at the 2020 Summer Olympics – Women's marathon</span> Olympic athletics event

The women's marathon event at the 2020 Summer Olympics started at 06:00 on 7 August 2021 in Sapporo. Peres Jepchirchir of Kenya won gold in 2:27:20 followed by world record holder and Kenyan teammate Brigid Kosgei with silver, and American Molly Seidel winning the bronze medal in her third-ever marathon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2020 London Marathon</span> 40th annual marathon race in London

The 2020 London Marathon was the 40th running of the annual marathon race in London, United Kingdom, which took place on 4 October 2020. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the race was postponed from 26 April and only allowed elite participants; the mass participation event was cancelled. The event used a different course from usual, consisting of multiple laps around St James's Park.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2021 New York City Marathon</span> 50th running of the marathon

The 2021 New York City Marathon, the 50th running of that city's premier long-distance race, was held on November 7, 2021. Around 30,000 people ran in the event, of whom 25,020 finished. The race followed its traditional route, which passes through all five boroughs of New York City.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2021 London Marathon</span> 41st annual marathon race in London

The 2021 London Marathon was the 41st running of the annual London Marathon on 3 October 2021. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the race was postponed from April until October to maximise the chances of a mass participation event.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2021 Boston Marathon</span> 2021 running of the Boston Marathon

The 2021 Boston Marathon was the 125th official running of the annual marathon race held in Boston, Massachusetts, and 123rd time it was run on course. It took place on October 11, 2021.

The 2021 British Athletics Marathon and 20 km Walk Trial was held on 26 March 2021 as a trial event for British athletes to qualify for the delayed 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. It was the first time since 1980 that a dedicated marathon trial event was held, and the courses consisted of multiple laps around Kew Gardens in London.

The 2022 London Marathon was the 42nd running of the annual London Marathon on 2 October 2022. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic the race was postponed from April until October to maximise the chances of a mass participation event. The elite men's and women's event were won by Kenyan Amos Kipruto and Ethiopian Yalemzerf Yehualaw respectively. The wheelchair races were won by Swiss athletes Marcel Hug and Catherine Debrunner respectively, both in course record times. Over 40,000 people finished the mass participation event.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022 New York City Marathon</span> 51st running of the marathon

The 2022 New York City Marathon, the 51st running of that city's premier long-distance race, was held on November 6, 2022. The race followed its traditional route, which passes through all five boroughs of New York City. 47,839 people finished the event. It was the warmest New York City Marathon on record, with peak temperatures of 75 °F (24 °C).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Athletics at the 2024 Summer Olympics</span> 2024 Paris Olympic event

Athletics at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris are scheduled to run on 1 to 11 August 2024, featuring a total of 48 medal events across three distinct sets: track and field, road running, and racewalking. Four venues are to be used: Pont d'Iéna for race walking, Hôtel de Ville and Les Invalides for the start and end points of the marathon races, and Stade de France for the track and field events.

References

  1. "Nationwide Children's Hospital Columbus Marathon | Media". NCHCM 2019 A.
  2. Price, Rita. "Commuters, as well as runners, need to prepare for Columbus Marathon". The Columbus Dispatch.
  3. "The Nationwide Children's Hospital Columbus Marathon & 1/2 Marathon" . Retrieved 28 October 2018.
  4. "The Nationwide Children's Hospital Columbus Marathon & 1/2 Marathon". www.columbusmarathon.com. Archived from the original on 1 July 2020. Retrieved 15 January 2022.