WHAT
Atlanta’s only official marathon is the Publix Georgia Marathon & Half Marathon, which is sponsored by the Atlanta Track Club. Distance runners flock to this major and hugely popular event in the south, so it’s important to register as soon as possible. The course takes participants through some of the hottest spots in this charming southern city.
The race begins at Atlanta’s Centennial Olympic Park and through the Five Points neighborhood. Next, runners go north up Piedmont Avenue into Midtown. The course follows the area right next to the city’s Central Park and takes Auburn Avenue right into the heart of the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site. Then, runners will make their way into the Little Five Points neighborhood near the Carter Center. They will get glimpses of Candler Park and Deepdene Park along the way. As the route turns, they will also run alongside Emory University’s campus and into the Druid Hills neighborhood. The race will wind down with detours through Piedmont Park and near Georgia Tech before finishing back at Centennial Olympic Park.
The official marathon and half marathon start at 7:00 am for all racers. The wheelchair race begins at 6:40 am, and there is a 5K race that starts at 7:30 am. Awards will be handed out at 10:30 am, and everything will shut down by 2:00 pm. Kids are welcome to participate in the 5K, for ages 8 and up, the one mile for ages 6-14 or the 50m dash, for ages 6 and under.
The marathon weekend also hosts the 8th Annual Be Healthy Georgia Festival. Marathoners and their families can enjoy the festivities at Pemberton Place for the event, which is completely free. Kids and grownups can enjoy the schedule of fun and games throughout the marathon weekend at the festival.
The Atlanta Track Club also sponsors a dedicated training program to help novice and even experienced runners get into fighting shape for the race of their lives. Training typically begins the fall before the race and requires participants to commit to an 18-week training schedule of regular runs. Those who have never attempted a marathon or half marathon can increase their chances of finishing with the right running routine.
When: March 18, 2018
Where: Atlanta, GA
How: Register here: https://www.athlinks.com/event/28438
WHAT ELSE
Once you’ve tired yourself out from all of the running and healthy festivities, take a break by exploring even more of this incredible city. The breathtaking Georgia Aquarium exhibit will offer discount tickets to race participants throughout the weekend. Additionally, many visitors to the city enjoy seeing the World of Coca-Cola exhibit.
While there will be plenty of water stops along the entire length of the course, you can also expect to see unique opportunities for quick energy snacks. Race organizers have made it a point to offer fun and tasty race treats for participants in various parts of the course, such as pretzels, jelly beans, oranges and more.
