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The complete, course-first guide

Columbus Marathon

Sunday, October 18, 2026 · 7:30 a.m.; corrals open 6:00 a.m.
North Bank Park, 311 W Long St, Columbus, OH 43215 (finish also at North Bank Park)

Marathon26.2 miles
Register for the 2026 Columbus Marathon →on RunSignUp
Aerial course portraitColumbusPublished course model · 26.2 miles
Gold marks the published course model. Public-domain aerial photography: USGS and USDA.

The race in 60 seconds

Marathon
Sunday, October 18, 20267:30 a.m.; corrals open 6:00 a.m.
Start line
North Bank Park, 311 W Long St, Columbus, OH 43215 (finish also at North Bank Park)Columbus, OH
Modeled elevation
About 595 ft of climbroughly 710 to 836 ft
Course shape
Loop coursestart and finish stay close
Race week weather
46°F to 64°F2016-2025 average, 30% of days wet
Published course limit
6.5 hours14:52 per mile

First run in 1980, Columbus Marathon has had time to become part of the city's running calendar. The route is a loop, keeping the start and finish in the same part of the city. The modeled line carries about 595 feet of total climb and ranges from roughly 710 to 836 feet above sea level. Look for Rhodes State Office Tower, Ohio Statehouse, Franklin Park Conservatory (John F. Wolfe Palm House), Nationwide Children's Hospital Main Tower in the flyover, with recognizable forms modeled from architectural records.

Fly the course

The whole course, built from the best available published route trace and an extruded model of Columbus. Scrub it, change the camera, or let it play. Nothing here is a video: it is drawing the city live.

Route statusCurrent community course trace cross-checked against the published route. 'Columbus Marathon course', created 2026-08-10; https://ridewithgps.com/routes/56595670.json returns HTTP 200 without login with 1,481 track points, 42,697 m (26.53 mi plotted). Cross-validated against the official Oct 18, 2026 course-map PDF: start/finish at North Bank Park (39.9654,-83.0096 = W Long St at Neil Ave), mile 5 E Main St Bexley, mile 9 Livingston Ave at Nationwide Children's Hospital, mile 13 Nationwide Blvd, mile 17 Woody Hayes Dr/Ohio Stadium, mile 21 King Ave, mile 25 Park/Front, and all four geographic extremes (Bexley/Drexel east at mi 4.1, German Village south at mi 10.7, OSU/Woodruff north at mi 18.4, Upper Arlington/Mallway west at mi 19.8) all match the official 2026 map.

The route line uses the best published course trace available. Public-domain USGS and USDA aerial photography plus USGS 3DEP elevation are baked into RunRace USA, so the flyover makes no paid map API or third-party runtime requests. Buildings, roads, parks and water use OpenStreetMap, ODbL. This is photographic terrain with modeled architecture, not photogrammetry. Bridge approaches, elevations and facade details are approximations; the organizer's published route remains the reference.

The elevation profile

Marathon elevation26.2 miles · about 595 ft of climb
660 680 700 720 740 760 780 800 820 840 860 880 Mile 0.0 to 0.2: +0.1% Mile 0.2 to 0.4: +1.7% Mile 0.4 to 0.6: +0.8% Mile 0.6 to 0.8: +0.3% Mile 0.8 to 1.0: -0.0% Mile 1.0 to 1.2: +0.6% Mile 1.2 to 1.4: +1.1% Mile 1.4 to 1.6: +0.7% Mile 1.6 to 1.8: +0.5% Mile 1.8 to 2.0: -0.2% Mile 2.0 to 2.2: +0.0% Mile 2.2 to 2.4: +0.4% Mile 2.4 to 2.6: +0.2% Mile 2.6 to 2.8: -0.9% Mile 2.8 to 3.0: -1.9% Mile 3.0 to 3.2: +0.2% Mile 3.2 to 3.4: -1.7% Mile 3.4 to 3.6: +0.4% Mile 3.6 to 3.8: +1.9% Mile 3.8 to 4.0: +0.4% Mile 4.0 to 4.2: +0.0% Mile 4.2 to 4.4: -0.3% Mile 4.4 to 4.6: +0.0% Mile 4.6 to 4.8: -0.3% Mile 4.8 to 5.0: -0.6% Mile 5.0 to 5.2: -1.8% Mile 5.2 to 5.4: +0.7% Mile 5.4 to 5.6: +0.2% Mile 5.6 to 5.8: +0.1% Mile 5.8 to 6.0: -0.3% Mile 6.0 to 6.2: +0.9% Mile 6.2 to 6.4: +0.1% Mile 6.4 to 6.6: +1.3% Mile 6.6 to 6.8: +1.2% Mile 6.8 to 7.0: -0.2% Mile 7.0 to 7.2: -0.3% Mile 7.2 to 7.4: -0.0% Mile 7.4 to 7.6: +0.0% Mile 7.6 to 7.8: -0.2% Mile 7.8 to 8.0: -0.2% Mile 8.0 to 8.2: -0.5% Mile 8.2 to 8.4: -0.0% Mile 8.4 to 8.6: -0.3% Mile 8.6 to 8.8: -0.3% Mile 8.8 to 9.0: -0.4% Mile 9.0 to 9.2: -0.7% Mile 9.2 to 9.4: -0.7% Mile 9.4 to 9.6: -0.1% Mile 9.6 to 9.8: -0.2% Mile 9.8 to 10.0: +0.4% Mile 10.0 to 10.2: +0.2% Mile 10.2 to 10.4: -0.1% Mile 10.4 to 10.6: +0.1% Mile 10.6 to 10.8: -0.2% Mile 10.8 to 11.0: +0.2% Mile 11.0 to 11.2: -0.3% Mile 11.2 to 11.4: +0.1% Mile 11.4 to 11.6: -0.7% Mile 11.6 to 11.8: +1.5% Mile 11.8 to 12.0: -0.8% Mile 12.0 to 12.2: +0.1% Mile 12.2 to 12.4: -0.3% Mile 12.4 to 12.6: -1.3% Mile 12.6 to 12.8: +0.7% Mile 12.8 to 13.0: +0.3% Mile 13.0 to 13.2: +0.4% Mile 13.2 to 13.4: +0.0% Mile 13.4 to 13.6: +0.1% Mile 13.6 to 13.8: -1.1% Mile 13.8 to 14.0: -0.1% Mile 14.0 to 14.2: +0.6% Mile 14.2 to 14.4: +0.4% Mile 14.4 to 14.6: +0.3% Mile 14.6 to 14.8: -0.3% Mile 14.8 to 15.0: +0.2% Mile 15.0 to 15.2: +0.1% Mile 15.2 to 15.4: -0.3% Mile 15.4 to 15.6: -1.0% Mile 15.6 to 15.8: +0.9% Mile 15.8 to 16.0: +0.2% Mile 16.0 to 16.2: +0.2% Mile 16.2 to 16.4: -0.5% Mile 16.4 to 16.6: -1.3% Mile 16.6 to 16.8: -0.1% Mile 16.8 to 17.0: -0.3% Mile 17.0 to 17.2: +0.9% Mile 17.2 to 17.4: +0.1% Mile 17.4 to 17.6: +1.1% Mile 17.6 to 17.8: +0.4% Mile 17.8 to 18.0: +1.3% Mile 18.0 to 18.2: +1.7% Mile 18.2 to 18.4: +1.7% Mile 18.4 to 18.6: +0.4% Mile 18.6 to 18.8: -0.4% Mile 18.8 to 19.0: +0.6% Mile 19.0 to 19.2: -0.1% Mile 19.2 to 19.4: +0.5% Mile 19.4 to 19.6: -0.2% Mile 19.6 to 19.8: -0.4% Mile 19.8 to 20.0: -0.4% Mile 20.0 to 20.2: -0.2% Mile 20.2 to 20.4: -0.0% Mile 20.4 to 20.6: -0.4% Mile 20.6 to 20.8: -0.7% Mile 20.8 to 21.0: -0.6% Mile 21.0 to 21.2: -0.1% Mile 21.2 to 21.4: -0.3% Mile 21.4 to 21.6: -0.2% Mile 21.6 to 21.8: -0.8% Mile 21.8 to 22.0: -1.0% Mile 22.0 to 22.2: -3.4% Mile 22.2 to 22.4: +0.0% Mile 22.4 to 22.6: +0.1% Mile 22.6 to 22.8: +0.7% Mile 22.8 to 23.0: +0.2% Mile 23.0 to 23.2: -0.4% Mile 23.2 to 23.4: -0.3% Mile 23.4 to 23.6: +0.8% Mile 23.6 to 23.8: -0.1% Mile 23.8 to 24.0: +0.1% Mile 24.0 to 24.2: +0.2% Mile 24.2 to 24.4: -0.4% Mile 24.4 to 24.6: +0.2% Mile 24.6 to 24.8: +1.3% Mile 24.8 to 25.0: -0.1% Mile 25.0 to 25.2: -0.0% Mile 25.2 to 25.4: -0.0% Mile 25.4 to 25.6: -0.7% Mile 25.6 to 25.8: +0.1% Mile 25.8 to 26.0: -1.8% Mile 26.0 to 26.2: -0.8% 5 10 15 20 25 mile +45 ft
steep up up flat down steep down

This Marathon profile covers 26.2 miles, ranges from roughly 710 to 836 feet, and contains about 595 feet of modeled climb.

  • , mile 5.88 to 6.93: 45 feet up, 0.8% average.

Open the full course breakdown →

The route at a glance

1 5 10 13 15 20 25 26
Marathon route26.2 miles
course featured climb start/finish

Gold is the selected modeled course; route provenance is stated beside the flyover.

Race-week weather, measured

At the start line, October 14-22 averaged a low of 46°F and a high of 64°F across 2016-2025. The same window reached 83°F at its warmest and 32°F at its coldest. Measurable rain appeared on about 30% of sampled days. Treat the range, not just the average, as the packing list.

Pace it by effort

The profile and grade strip come from the same route currently loaded in the flyover. Use even pace as a baseline, then protect effort on the highlighted climbs and exposed sections.

FinishEven paceHalfway
3:006:52 /mi1:30
3:308:01 /mi1:45
4:009:09 /mi2:00
4:3010:18 /mi2:15
5:0011:27 /mi2:30
Published course limit, 6:3014:52 /mi3:15

Build your race weekend

The course

Live 3D flyover, synchronized elevation, route map, mile-by-mile shape and local landmarks.

Where to stay

24 mapped places to stay, compared by the endpoint that matters.

Expo and logistics

Packet pickup, the published weekend schedule, transit, parking and current entry tiers.

Spectators

Route-aware viewing anchors and a plan that respects the actual course geography.

The weekend

A city guide built around the places modeled beside the course.

Race listing

Dates, distances and the official registration link.

Common questions

How do I get into the Columbus Marathon, and does it sell out?

Registration is open through RunSignUp for the October 17-18, 2026 weekend, with the marathon on Sunday. Early bird is $110 full and $95 half, rising on March 1, May 1, July 1 and September 1. Events can sell out, and a RunSignUp waitlist is offered.

Can I get a refund, defer, or transfer my entry?

No. The race states plainly that it does not offer refunds, and no deferrals, carry-overs or transfers to future years are permitted. The one exception: waitlist entrants pulled before September 30, 2026 receive a refund.

Are there start corrals, and can I change mine?

Corrals are assigned from the estimated finish time you provide at registration. The race is explicit that there will be no corral changes during race weekend, so submit a realistic estimate when you register. Whether corrals are enforced at the line is not documented.

What is the course time limit?

The marathon has a 6:30 limit, roughly a 14:53 per mile pace. The half marathon limit is 4:00, roughly 18:20 per mile. Walking is explicitly encouraged and welcome. What happens to runners who fall behind is not stated on the race's own pages.

Where and when do I pick up my packet?

Packet pickup is at the Greater Columbus Convention Center, Hall D, 400 N. High Street: Friday October 16 from noon to 7 p.m. and Saturday October 17 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Proxy pickup allows a maximum of two packets plus your own, with ID copies.

What are the Mile Champions?

The race spotlights Nationwide Children's Hospital patients as Marathon Mile Champions, with a brand new group featured in 2026 and past champions returning for an Alumni Mile. Runners may also fundraise for the hospital as Children's Champions athletes.

Ready to commit? Registration is open on RunSignUp. As of 2026-08-26 the marathon was $110, and the price only moves one direction.

Register for the 2026 Columbus Marathon →on RunSignUp

Course geometry provenance is stated beside the player; elevation profiles always use the same route loaded there. City geometry is OpenStreetMap, ODbL. Aerial imagery is from USGS and USDA; other images carry their own source credits. Weather figures use Open-Meteo reanalysis for October 14-22 across 2016-2025 at the start line. Schedule, prices and expo hours were checked in 2026-08-26 and are the fields most likely to move: confirm them on www.columbusmarathon.com before you book anything. Spot an error? Tell us and we'll fix it fast.