Heroes of America Marathon/Half Marathon/5K

🏃‍♂️ Race Overview

The Heroes of America Marathon and Half Marathon on Saturday, March 22, 2025, race starts and finishes at the intersection of West 10th St and Bay Ave in front of Woodruff Park, Columbus, GA, two blocks north of the Columbus Marriott.

• Marathon Route: Full marathon runs both north and south of Woodruff Park utilizing some streets including the 14th Street Pedestrian Bridge onto the beautiful Riverwalk, looping inside Fort Moore (AKA Benning).
• Mile 17 Exit: The course will exit Fort Moore (AKA Benning) at mile 17 and returns passing the Iron Works Convention Center, exiting to Bay Ave to W. 9th under the train trestle back to the start/finish line.
• Course Difficulty: The course is reasonably flat with some smaller inclines.
• 5K Start Time: The Heroes of America 5K also starts at W 10th and Bay Ave immediately after the Half Marathon start.

📅 Event Schedule

• Friday, March 21, 2025: Packet Pickup, Registration and Expo at Columbus Marriott from Noon to 1:30 pm and 4:30-6:30 pm.
• Saturday, March 22, 2025: Packet Pickup and Registration from 6:00 am to 7:45 am.
• Marathon & Half Marathon Start Time: 8:00 am.
• 5K Start Time: 8:10 am.

🏅 Course Details

Marathon

• Distance: The Heroes of America Marathon is a 26.2 mile course.
• Minimum Age: The minimum age to register is 16 years old.
• Start & End Time: Start Time: 8:00 am EST: End Time: 3:00 pm EST.

Half Marathon

• Distance: The Heroes of America Half Marathon is a 13.1 mile course.
• Minimum Age: The minimum age to register is 10 years old.
• Start & End Time: Start Time: 8:00 am EST: End Time: 12:00 pm EST.

Ranger Challenge Relay Marathon

• Team Composition: Each team consists of 2 to 4 runners.
• Exchange Points: There are three exchange points on the course: mile 8, mile 13.1, and mile 20.5.
• Relay Length: The first leg is 8 miles, while the second and fourth legs are just over 6 miles long.
• Security Clearance: The 13.1 relay requires security clearance to access: ensure to get badges the day before.

5K

• Distance: The 5K race is a 3.1 mile course that starts and finishes at the same location as the marathon and half marathon.
• Start Time: 8:10 am.
• Minimum Age: The minimum age to register for the 5K is 6 years old.
• End Time: End Time: 9:30 am.

🏨 Accommodation

• Host Hotel: Columbus Marriott, 800 Front Ave. Columbus, GA 31901
• Rate: Fairfield Inn & Suites - Columbus at 119.00 USD per night.
• Last Booking Day: Thursday, February 20, 2025.

🏆 Awards

• Finisher Awards: Race finishers will receive a race t-shirt and a finisher’s medal.
• Overall Winners: Awards for both male and female overall winners and overall masters.
• Age Group Awards: For the 5K & Half: 14 and under, 15-19, 20-25, etc.
• Relay Team Awards: Each member of the relay team will receive a finisher’s t-shirt and a finisher’s medal.

📦 Packet Pickup

Packet pickup will be at the Columbus Marriott, 800 Front Avenue, Columbus GA 31901, on Friday, March 21, 2025, from Noon-1:30 pm and 4:30 to 6:30 pm and Saturday, March 22, 2025, from 6:00 am to 7:45 am. A team representative may pick up the registration packet with a bib for each member of the relay team.

🅿️ Parking

Parking is available at 801 Front Avenue deck garage across from W. 8th street or the lots at Bay Avenue and Dillingham Street at 901 Bay Avenue, Columbus, GA (this lot will fill up quickly).

📑 Certification

The marathon course is certified as a Boston Marathon qualifier. The USATF Certification Number is USATF GA17085WC.

🗓️ Additional Information

For more details, visit the official race page: Heroes of America Marathon.