Athens Ohio Marathon

Policies, Race Rules, and FAQs

Athens Ohio Marathon: Official Race Rules and Policies

To ensure a safe and fair experience for everyone, please adhere to the following rules for the Athens Ohio Marathon and Half Marathon. During registration you are required to agree that you understand all race rules and policies.

Rain or Shine: The event will be held regardless of rain or cold temperatures. Please dress appropriately for the conditions.
Safety Delays & Cancellations: The Race Director, in coordination with local emergency services, reserves the right to delay the start, shorten the course, or cancel the event entirely in the case of “extreme” weather. This includes, but is not limited to:
- Lightning strikes within a 10-mile radius.
- Sustained high winds or dangerous gusts.
- Flash flooding or unsafe trail conditions.
- Extreme heat/humidity levels.
Communication: In the event of a change to the race schedule, updates will be communicated via the official Facebook page, email, and on-site public address systems.
No Refunds: Like most outdoor endurance events, we cannot offer refunds, transfers, or deferrals if the race is altered or cancelled due to weather or other “Acts of God.” All proceeds are already committed to race costs (permits, police, shirts, medals, and rentals) prior to race day.

All swag items and/or awards that go unclaimed (once packet pickup ends) will revert to the ownership of the the Athens Ohio Marathon. This includes items that were purchased as add-ons.

If you know you are going to be unable to attend Packet Pickup (Saturday) we do offer a Race Morning Packet Pickup.

Any awards that go unclaimed after the race on race day will revert to the ownership of the the Athens Ohio Marathon. If you do not grab your medal on race day, you will not get one later in the mail.

There will be no shipping of items. There will be no meeting up for items after the race.

Shipping of items is not factored into your price as an entrant, and it is not the responsibility of the race to pay this cost if you forget to pick up your award. Please see all information about awards on the awards page.

Non-registered pacers (runners not entered in the race) are strictly prohibited. Runners without a bib are considered bandits and it is strictly prohibited. Wearing a bib that does not belong to you is strictly prohibited and puts a major safety risk to you and the organizers. Do not sell or give your bib to someone else. View the “Transfer Policy” below for how to exchange/transfer your bib.

Your race bib must be worn on the front of your outermost layer and remain visible at all times (this also ensures you are tagged in our photos!).

Participants must stay on the marked course at all times. Leaving the course or “short-cutting” is grounds for immediate disqualification. I agree to complete the entire course as it is laid out and not take any shortcuts or skip any portion of the course. I agree that the course is open to the public and that I must respect all other users on the course, and that there may be traffic at road crossings, and that I must use my own caution at all times. I agree to not run with my dog or with a running stroller. By agreeing to this I am releasing all service providers (Athens Ohio Marathon, SEOTR Events) and all others involved with the race from liability for injuries resulting from any negligence of the provider.

Cheating in any form will not be tolerated. Cheating will result in a disqualification and could lead to a permenant ban from all future events.

Official timing is conducted via RFID chips adhered to the back of the bib. You must cross the start and finish line timing mats for your time to be recorded.

The course is open for 6 hours (2:00PM). This gives runners 5 hours to complete the course. Participants must maintain a pace that allows them to finish within this window to receive official support and a finish time.

The pace needed to complete a full marathon in 6 hours is 13:44 per mile. The pace needed to complete a half marathon in 6 hours is 27:29 per mile. Walking is welcome, but we recommend the half marathon at a awalking pace, and not the full marathon, unless you are very advanced with your walking pace.

Since portions of the course utilize multi-use paths, runners must stay to the right except when passing. When passing, please give an audible warning when necessary (e.g., “On your left!”). Since this is an out and back course, please look ahead and watch for runners coming the opposite direction.

While the course is monitored, it is not entirely closed to local traffic. Please remain alert and follow all instructions from course marshals and local law enforcement. The majority of the race is on the Hockhocking Adena Bikeway where there is no traffic, but the first mile is on city streets, and there will be several road crossings on the bike path.

At this time the use of headphones/earbugs is permitted, but we strongly encourage keeping the volume at a level where you can hear ambient noise, such as instructions from officials or approaching vehicles. Playing music where everyone can hear is not allowed.

We understand that it is common to throw your water cups on the ground at major road marathons, however, this is not what the Athens Ohio Marathon is. The course runs through nature, so please respect our local environment and bike paths. Every year we have to retrieve cups and gel packets that are thrown far into the brush to the sides of the path. We will have trash cans along the path before and after every aid station, please dispose of all trash and gel packets in those trash cans.

Be a good sport to everyone! We expect all runners to use respect and kindness to other runners, race officials, volunteers, and spectators. Unsportsmanlike conduct toward volunteers, staff, or fellow participants is grounds for immediate disqualification, and could lead to a permenant ban from all future events.

Registration Policies

1. Refund Policy

The Athens Ohio Marathon has a strict no-refund policy. Like most marathons, the Athens Ohio Marathon commits to non-refundable expenses (permits, police details, insurance, medals, and shirts) months before the starting gun fires. Once you register, your entry fee is immediately put to work to make the race possible. However, there are several other options that are listed below that you’re able to take advantage of if you are unable to make the race.

2. Deferment Policy

If you are unable to run due to injury or unexpected life events, we offer a one-year deferral to the following year’s event.

Deadline: Deferral requests must be made in the RunSignup Registration Website at least 30 days before the race. Under 30 days before the race date there will be no deferrals allowed.

Fee: we currently have a $15.00 deferral fee.

Deferrals are valid for one year only and cannot be “rolled over” a second time.

You can process a deferral to next year’s race yourself by logging in to your RunSignup account, and following these steps:

Click on your “Profile”
Find “Manage Registration” next to the Athens Ohio Marathon event.
Find the option to “Defer Registration” in the top menu (see image below).
Click “Confirm Deferral” at the bottom.

——–

Your registration credit is now “parked” in our system. Your original payment has been converted into a credit equal to the amount you paid for your entry this year, which you can apply toward our next event.

How to Claim Your Deferred Entry Next Year

You do not need a coupon code or a special link. When registration for next year’s race officially opens, please follow these steps to use your credit:

Log In: Go to RunSignup.com and log into the profile you used to register.
Access Deferrals: Click on the Profile (silhouette icon) in the top right, then scroll down to the “Deferrals” tab. (see image below)
Complete Deferral: Find our race in your list and click the “Complete Deferral” link. (see image below)
Register: Follow the prompts to enter next year’s event. On the final checkout page, your credit from this year will be automatically applied.

Note: If our race prices have increased or if there are new processing fees, you will only be responsible for the difference at checkout.

Important: You must go through the “Deferrals” tab to see your credit. If you go directly to the main race website and sign up as a new participant, the system will not know to apply your credit, and you will be charged full price.

3. Distance Switches (Upsizing/Down Sizing)

We want you to have the best race day possible. You may switch between the Full Marathon and Half Marathon distances, provided the event is not sold out. You may also switch into the “Virtual” version of the Athens Ohio Marathon.

Deadline: Online distance switches must be completed 10 days prior to the race. Limited switches may also be available at packet pickup (please ask) if capacity allows.

You can process a Distance Switch yourself online by logging in to your RunSignup account, and following the below steps:

Click on your “Profile”
Find “Manage Registration” next to the Athens Marathon event.
Find the option to “Transfer Event” (see image below).
You’ll be prompted to start the transfer.
Select the distance you want to transfer to.

After you select the distance you want to transfer to you’ll be prompted to complete the full registration process again. The cost of the distance switch will depend on the following categories:

Downsizing (Full to Half): You may switch to the shorter distance at no extra cost, but no partial refunds will be issued for the difference in registration price.Upsizing
Upsizing (Half to Full): You may switch to the longer distance by paying the current price difference between the two events.
Full/Half to Virtual: One option for runners who aren’t able to make the race due to life circumstances is to switch to the “virtual” edition of the race, which means you can complete the race anywhere you wish in a certain time period. Virtual runners receive a race shirt, bib, and medal in the mail.

4. Transfer Policy (Bib Exchanges)

We allow participants to transfer their registration to another person as a gift.

NO BANDITS: It is strictly prohibited to give your bib to someone else, or to wear someone else’s bib. You must follow the official “Transfer Policy” first.

Deadline: Bib transfer/exchanges must take place 10 days or more prior to the race date.

You can process a Participant Bib Exchange/Transfer yourself by logging in to your RunSignup account, and following these steps:

Click on your “Profile”
Find “Manage Registration” next to the Athens Ohio Marathon event.
Find the option to “Transfer to Someone Else” in the top menu (see image below).
You’ll be prompted to type in information of the person you want to transfer your entry to.
Click “Transfer As Gift” at the bottom.
After this transfer is initiated the new participant will receive an email and must complete the registration process.

*At this time there is no transfer fee for the Athens Ohio Marathon, and the new participant will pay $0.00 to the race, as it’s considered a “gift” from the original entrant. The two runners part of the transfer can exchange payment if desired.

FAQs

The start and finish line are in separate locations, less than one mile apart from each other, and an easy walk between the two.

The start line is in "Uptown Athens" at the corner of South College Street and East Union Street.

The finish line is on Ohio University Campus at Pruitt Field, the Track & Field facility.

You can see information and maps of the start and finish on the Race Weekend Details Page.

There is an ample amount of parking around the finish area on Ohio University campus. Be sure to check the Ohio University lot signs when parking. Most parking lots are free and do not require a parking pass on the weekend. There are spaces around the Convocation Center and Peden Stadium. Once you park, it is an easy 5-10 minute walk uptown to the start location.

You may also choose to park closer to the start line, in Uptown Athens, however, parking availability is much more limited here. So, we receommend parking on OU Campus, closer to the finish line, and walking to the start line.

You can view more information about parking on the Race Weekend Details Page.

Parking in open lots on Ohio University campus is free on weekends, so the largest parking lots on campus is perfect for race day. This is the case for Saturday and Sunday on Ohio University Campus lots. *please note that if there is a special event happening on campus, there could be certain lots that are blocked off, restricted, or at a cost.

Metered parking spots in the City of Athens and the city Parking Garage is free on Sundays! Please note that these metered spots will require the approriate parking fees on Saturday however.

We always recemmend checking the signs at different parking lots as you enter.

At this time we do not have a gear check at the start line. We recomemnd you leaving all valuables in your vehicle or with a family/friend. Any items (clothes, trash, belongings, etc.) left at the start will be picked up by volunteers immediately after the start of the race and donated. We are not allowed to leave trash at the start line, as the start space is opened to the public immedately after runners leave.

Yes! We will have portable toilets at the start line, finish line, and at every water stop along the course. Please use these facilities during the event.

The Athens Ohio Marathon has water and aid stations frequently along the course. Please visit the Course Information Page to see a breakdown of water stop locations and offerings.

Please refer to the Packet Pickup Page to see all details.

Yes, if you are unable to make it to packet pickup, a family or friend is allowed to pick it up for you - they will need a physical or electronic (photo) of your picture ID.

Registration will be open during packet pickup on Saturday and on Sunday morning (race-day), only if we have not sold out. If the race has sold out, which we will post on this website and on social media, there will be no in-person registration on Saturday or on race morning.

No. For the safety of all runners and to abide by insurance re, running strollers, dogs or any pets, bicycles, scooters, or any other form of travel are not permitted on the course from participating runners.

Use of headphones is permitted, but we strongly encourage keeping the volume at a level where you can hear ambient noise, such as instructions from officials or approaching vehicles.

Yes, the course remains open for 6 hours, until 2:00PM, for both the full and half marathon distances. This gives runners 5 hours to complete the course. Participants must maintain a pace that allows them to finish within this window to receive official support and a finish time.

There is a 6 hour time limit for the Athens Ohio Marathon. The pace needed to complete a full marathon in 6 hours is 13:44 per mile. The pace needed to complete a half marathon in 6 hours is 27:29 per mile. Walking is welcome, but we recommend the half marathon at a awalking pace, and not the full marathon, unless you are very advanced with your walking pace.

All entrants will receive an Athens Ohio Marathon shirt when picking up their race bib and packet.

All finishers will receive a finisher's medal immediately upon crossing the finish line, specific to the distance they are in. There will also opportunities to receive age group awards. Check out all information about medals and awards on the Awards Page.

At this time we don't have the future dates determined. Historically the Athens Ohio Marathon has been in mid-April, and it will likely continue to be for years to come. Next year's date will be announced and registration will open soon after the current year's race is finished.