On your mark…

Race Weekend is the Celebration.

RACE DAY

SATURDAY, JANUARY 25, 2025

7:30 A.M.

510 North Thomas Street, Athens

You are ready!

Find the Starting Line with all your details in place, and be ready to celebrate at the Finish Line!

Here’s what to expect on Race Day.

  • Friday, January 24, 4:00 - 8:00 PM, or Saturday, January 25, 6:00 - 7:00 AM, in Grand Hall 8 at the Classic Center (300 North Thomas Street, Athens)

  • We suggest staying in one of our partner hotels. If you are driving to downtown Athens on race day, try the Classic Center Parking Deck (enter from Foundry Street on race day), the College Avenue Parking Deck, or parking on the University of Georgia campus (mostly free on weekends, but read carefully).

  • All races start near 510 North Thomas Street, in downtown Athens (on the west side of the Classic Center)

  • Relay teams, be sure you understand when and where to meet your shuttle!

  • All races start together at 7:30 AM, including the first segment of the relay. We suggest arriving to the downtown area by 7:00 AM and being in your assigned corral by 7:15 AM.

  • Gear check will be available in Grand Hall 8, inside the Classic Center, starting at 6:00 AM.

  • Restrooms are available inside the Classic Center. Port-a-potties will also be set up near the Starting Line, near the Finish Line, and at aid stations and water stops along the course.

  • The final mile of the marathon (from 25.2 to the Finish Line) and the final mile of the half marathon (from 12.1 to the Finish Line) is your Home-Stretch Mile! Special awards for the fastest male and fastest female full marathoner, and fastest male and fastest female half marathoner, to finish this mile.

  • The finish line is at the corner of Foundry Street and East Dougherty Street, near the north-east corner of the Classic Center.

  • Race results, plus post-race relaxation, celebrations, food, drinks, and other activities, will all be in Grand Hall 8, inside the Classic Center.

  • Overall awards for the Half Marathon, and the Home-Stretch Half Marathoner awards, will be presented in Grand Hall 8 at 9:30 a.m. Overall awards for the Marathon and Marathon Relay, and the Home-Stretch Marathoner awards, will be presented in Grand Hall 8 at 11:30 a.m. Age-group awards will be announced or available in Grand Hall 8 after overall winners have been finalized.

  • At Creature Comforts Brewery, featuring The Original Splitz Band, Saturday, January 25, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.! Bring the “beer” tab from your bib to the After Party to exchange for a beer or a keepsake glass.

Other Race Day Details

Marathon Water Stops

Marathon water stops are at Miles 2.2, 4.8, 6.5, 8.4 (+ GU), 10.1, 11.3, 13.4 (+ GU), 15.7, 17.4, 19.8 (+ Bananas), 22.75 (+ GU), 23.8, 24.8, and 25.8. All water stops have water and lemon-lime Powerade.

Marathon Nutrition

GU energy gels will be available at approximately Miles 8.4, 13.4, and 22.75 of the marathon course (salted caramel, with caffeine; vanilla, with caffeine; raspberry lemonade, no caffeine; and strawberry banana, no caffeine). Real bananas will be provided at approximately Mile 19.8 of the marathon. We suggest that you also carry plenty of whatever fuel has worked for you in your training.

Half Marathon Water Stops

Half Marathon Water Stops are at Miles 3.3, 4.2, 6.5 (+ Bananas), 9.5 (+ GU), 10.7, 11.5, and 12.6. All water stops have water and lemon-lime Powerade.Safety on the Course

Medical tents, medical personnel, aid tents, police and sheriff’s officers, and volunteer HAM radio operators will all be easily identifiable along the course. Please familiarize yourself ahead of time with the safety details presented in the Participants’ Guide.

Half Marathon Nutrition

Bananas will be available at approximately the half-way point of the half marathon (Mile 6.5). GU energy gels will be available at Mile 9.5 of the half marathon (salted caramel, with caffeine; vanilla, with caffeine; raspberry lemonade, no caffeine; and strawberry banana, no caffeine). We suggest that you also carry plenty of whatever fuel has worked for you in your training.

Relay Details

See the Relay Teams page or the Relay Guide for Relay Leg maps, details about the Relay Exchange Zones and Relay Shuttles, and other information for the marathon relay.

Bands and Entertainment

Lots! See the list on our Bands and Entertainment page.

Home-Stretch Mile

Watch for signs marking the final mile of the course! Special Home-Stretch Marathoner and Home-Stretch Half Marathoner Awards will be presented to the male and female marathoner, and the male and female half marathoner, who cover the Home-Stretch Mile in the fastest time. The Home-Stretch Mile Awards are $150 cash and a generous allowance toward a new pair of shoes. Runners whose amateur or student-athlete status would be hurt by accepting such an award may designate a charity to receive a donation in your name.

Course Finish Time

The course will be fully supported until 1:30 PM. The Finish Line will be fully supported until 2:30 PM.

Partner Restaurants

Try one of our partner restaurants for food and drink Friday evening, Saturday after your race, or Sunday morning!

Celebrate the Finish.

Post-Race Celebrations Indoors!

Come inside the Classic Center after your race to find race results and awards — and water, snacks, food, family, friends, photo opportunities, fun activities, a band, and more. You did it. You deserve to celebrate.

Then join us again from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Creature Comforts Brewery, 271 West Hancock Avenue, for an after-party featuring Athens favorite The Original Splitz Band! Can you still dance after finishing your marathon?

The beer ticket from your race bib will be redeemable at the After Party for your choice of either a special edition Creature Comforts Brewery Classic City Marathon Finishers beer (for runners age 21 or older, with ID) or a Classic City Marathon engraved pint glass to keep. Other drinks and snacks will also be for sale during the After Party.

Crossing the finish line is a significant moment that deserves a medal - if you want one! You will let us know when you register if you want a medal to keep or if you’d rather have us save it (we will donate to the Firefly Trail project instead).

The lululemon Classic City Marathon has already developed a tradition about our medals: They are designed every year by a different Clarke County School District student! Our 2025 medal will be revealed just before race day!

A Note from our 2024 Artist

Hello, my name is Zachary Jarrett, I am a senior artist at Cedar Shoals High School. When I created these designs, I was heavily inspired by the athletic components of the race itself but also the Greek-inspired style, aesthetic, and atmosphere of Athens. I am grateful for this opportunity to create this design; for, having real-life connections in creating art expanded my own artistic vision and interest.

🛡️ Can I Do This?

Yes! Trust your training. You have been working hard! Lay out everything you will need the night before, eat whatever you have been eating before your training runs, and have a plan in your head for your race. Racers tell each other “Don’t go out too fast,” which means not to let the excitement at the starting line sweep you up into running a pace that you will not be able to maintain. Racers also tell each other “Run your own race,” “Have a great run,” and (our local favorite, here in Athens) “Have a good race, and have a safe race!”

If you are looking for any other details about your race, try the Course Information page, read the Detailed Guides, use the navigation options at the top of the page to find many more details about our races, or try our Instagram account or our Facebook page.

Or email us!