Nothing “halfway” about it.
Finishing a half marathon is no joke! We know what it takes to aim for speed, and we know what it’s like to slog one aching foot in front of the other for 13.1 long miles. We are here to support everyone who wants to try.
Course Information
Downtown Athens, historic neighborhoods, vibrant communities, university campuses, stunning riverside greenways, and, yes, the hills of our beloved North-Georgia Piedmont region. Our USATF certified half marathon course (#GA23072WC) allows you to enjoy everything Athens has to offer.
Need more course details? See our Course Information page for maps and Strava links, or see our long-form narrative description of the course.
Six Hours on the Course, Seven Hours at the Finish Line
The Classic City Half Marathon is ideally suited to those of us who run patiently, run-walk, or are committed walkers. Because the half marathon course overlaps with the later miles of the full marathon course, the time limit for the half is the same as the time limit for the full, giving slower half marathon participants 6 whole hours of support – and plenty of company.
The Home-Stretch Mile
Be ready to finish strong! The final mile of your half marathon is your Home-Stretch Mile. Watch for signs and banners at 12.1! Special Home-Stretch Half Marathoner Awards will be presented to the male half marathoner and female half marathoner who cover the Home-Stretch Mile in the fastest time.
Training
Training for a half marathon is hard work. See our separate Training webpage for information and support, including free organized long runs in Athens for all registered runners, every Saturday during the weeks before race day. No matter where you are, you can share your efforts by tagging our social media accounts, or connect with your local running groups or running stores for their group runs (in Athens, try the Athens Road Runners, the Athens Running Company, and Fleet Feet Athens).
Water and Nutrition on the Course
We offer plenty of water and nutrition along the course.
Water and Powerade will be provided every 2-3 miles throughout the half marathon course.
GU energy gels and real bananas will also be provided on the course! We usually have salted caramel with caffeine, vanilla with caffeine, caffeine-free raspberry lemonade, and caffeine-free strawberry banana.
Look for more details about the exact placement of water stops and nutrition stops on the Race Day page and in our complete Participants’ Guide. We also suggest that you carry plenty of whatever fuel has worked for you in your training. Don’t surprise your stomach in the middle of a half marathon!
Minimum Age Requirements
We love families running together, and we want to encourage younger runners, but we also follow Road Runners Club of America guidelines that focus on safe, gradual progression in youth distance running. Our minimum age for marathon participants is 14 years old on race day. Our minimum age for half marathon participants is 10 years old on race day. Children of any age who are prepared to complete the 6- to 7-mile distance of a relay leg are welcome to run as part of a relay team.
We encourage relay teams to arrange for an experienced older adolescent or adult to register and run with the child. Please contact our Race Director if your relay team needs help navigating this complexity. All runners who are on the course at any time must be registered.
Bicycle Escorts, Port-a-Potties, Medical Support, Bands and Entertainment, Safety Preparation, and Everything Else We Could Think Of
See our Course Information page and our Race Day page for more information about the many supports we provide to all runners. We are runners ourselves, and we really have tried to think of everything.
More questions about the Classic City Half Marathon? Try the Details link at the top of this page, or email us!
