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.

  • Post-race relaxation, celebrations, food, drinks, and other activities will be in Grand Hall 8, inside the Classic Center.

  • Overall awards for the Half Marathon, and the Home-Stretch Half Marathoner award, will be presented in Grand Hall 8 at 9:30 AM. Overall awards for the Marathon and Marathon Relay, and the Home-Stretch Marathoner awards, will be presented in Grand Hall 8 at 11:00 a.m. Age-group awards may be picked up 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.!

Other Race Day Details

Marathon Water Stops

Marathon Water Stops and Port-a-Potties are located at Miles 1.7, 3.0, 6.7, 8.1, 10.0, 11.0, 13.2, 15.3, 16.4, 19.5, 22.5, 23.7, 24.6, and 25.4. All water stops have water and lemon-lime Powerade.

Marathon Nutrition

GU energy gels will be available at approximately Miles 8, 13, and 22 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 20 of the marathon. We suggest that you also carry plenty of whatever fuel has worked for you in your training.

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 (to be circulated by January 1).

Half Marathon Water Stops

Half marathon Water Stops and Port-a-Potties are located at Miles 3.3, 6.3, 9.3, 10.6, 11.5, and 12.3. All water stops have water and lemon-lime Powerade.

Half Marathon Nutrition

GU energy gels will be available at two half-marathon water stops (salted caramel, with caffeine; vanilla, with caffeine; raspberry lemonade, no caffeine; and strawberry banana, no caffeine). Real bananas will be provided at approximately Mile 7 of the half marathon. We suggest that you also carry plenty of whatever fuel has worked for you in your training.

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?

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! Watch for more information soon about the 2025 medal.

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, 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. And watch for the detailed Participant Guide, Relay Guide, and Spectator Guide that will be circulated by January 1.

Or email us!