Heroes of America Marathon/Half Marathon/5K

🏃‍♂️ Race Overview

The Heroes of America Marathon and Half Marathon Saturday, March 21, 2026 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. The full marathon runs both north and south of Woodruff Park (1000 Bay Ave) utilizing some streets including the 14th street Pedestrian Bridge onto the beautiful Riverwalk, going down and looping inside Fort Moore (AKA Benning). The course will then 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 and back to the start/finish line. The course is reasonably flat with some smaller inclines. The Heroes of America 5k also starts at W 10th and Bay Ave immediately after the Half Marathon start. Because of the width of the Riverwalk, the Heroes of America Marathon does not allow participants who use hand-cranks.

🗓️ Event Schedule

• Date: March 21, 2026
• Location: Columbus Marriott, 800 Front Avenue, Columbus, GA
• Packet Pickup:
  • March 20, Noon to 1:30 pm
  • March 20, 4:30 to 6:30 pm
  • March 21, 6:00 am to 7:45 am
• Start Times:
  • 8:00 am - Marathon & Half Marathon
  • 8:10 am - 5K

🏅 Race Distances

📏 Marathon

• Course Length: 26.2 miles
• Start/Finish: West 10th St and Bay Ave in front of Woodruff Park
• Minimum Age: 16 years
• Start Time: 8:00 am EST

🏃‍♀️ Half Marathon

• Course Length: 13.1 miles
• Minimum Age: 10 years
• Start Time: 8:00 am EST
• Finish Time: 12:00 pm EST

🔄 Ranger Challenge Relay Marathon

• Team Composition: No more than 2 runners
• Exchange Point: At 13.1 miles inside Ft Benning
• Transportation: Not provided: make sure to get your badge on site

🏃 5K

• Course Length: 3.1 miles
• Minimum Age: 6 years
• Start Time: 8:10 am EST
• Finish Time: 9:30 am EST

🏆 Awards

Race finishers will receive a race t-shirt and a finisher’s medal.

• Overall Winners: Male and Female
• Overall Masters: Male and Female
• Age Group Awards:
  • 5K & Half: 14 and under, 15-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, 75 up
  • Marathon: 19 and under, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, 75 up
• Relay 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 on March 20, 2026, from Noon to 1:30 pm and 4:30 to 6:30 pm and on March 21, 2026, 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

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

🌐 More Information

For more details and registration, visit Heroes of America Marathon.