Section Three: 2012 Columbus Marathon Course Overview from dan farkas on Vimeo.

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FOR PARTICIPANTS:

Marathoners, you are now at the halfway point! But be mentally prepared that you will be passing close to the finish line at this point. Even though there will be 7,000 of you in our event, things can get a little subdued once our 11,000 athletes in the 1/2 Marathon make the turn toward the Finish Line and you get on with the business of completing 26.2 miles. Added bonus: Gender-specific bathrooms stocked with supplies.

At miles 13 and 14, marathoners pass through the Short North and under its 17 arches. This is a mostly flat stretch until you reach the South Campus Gateway on the OSU Campus.

The course continues North on High Street, with a slight uphill to Lane Avenue. Here, at approximately 16 miles, the course heads West, across the stunning Lane Avenue Bridge, then turns off Lane Avenue onto Fyffe Road, then East onto Woody Hayes Drive. This newly-added section of the course has quickly become a favorite  – on Woody Hayes, participants will pass by each other as they head to, through and away from Ohio Stadium.

At approximately mile 18 marathoners will be headed toward West Campus, the hilliest section of the course, and then to Upper Arlington, where the elevation tops out at about 850 feet. Overall there is just over 100 feet of elevation difference throughout the entire 26.2 miles.​
 

The portion of the course through Upper Arlington is also slightly different this year, but still affords great views of beautiful homes and tree-lined streets. After going through Upper Arlington, the course picks up from previous years on King Avenue, then travels through the fast, mainly downhill section of Grandview Heights, and back toward Downtown Columbus and the finish line.​
 

​FOR SPECTATORS:
Fans have a diverse group of viewing choices in the second-half of the race.​
 

The Short North is lined with one-of-a-kind boutiques, art galleries, restaurants and coffee shops.



Guests from outside Columbus will definitely want to see the nightlife prior to the race.
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This year, Marathon spectators will be able to add a new location to their list of vantage points along the course - the South stands at Ohio Stadium! There will be free shuttles looping from the Finish to The ‘Shoe from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. This is Mile 17.5 - as the athletes walk or run approximately nine more miles back Downtown, you simply board a shuttle and meet them back at the finish.
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Upper Arlington also has wonderful vantage points along different residential streets, while the retail area along Grandview Avenue is a fun spot from which to watch.
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Closer to Downtown, Victorian Village at around Mile 25 usually features a robust crowd, while the section between Goodale Park to Mile 26 is a great place to see marathoners making their final push to the finish.
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Of course, the final 0.2 mile down Nationwide Boulevard is wonderful, as participants let loose with their emotions and celebrate their achievement!