Run the Classic City.
The Fourth Annual Classic City Marathon, Half Marathon, and Marathon Relay
Saturday, March 20, 2027 | 7:30 a.m.
Start and Finish in Downtown Athens
Packet pick-up in person Friday, March 19, and Saturday, March 20
Improved course for 2027!
Thank you again to all our 2026 sponsors, including these major partners and many others
With distances from the marathon (26.2 miles) to the half marathon (13.1 miles) to approximately 6 miles (one leg of a four-person marathon relay), we have options for everyone! Read more about our three races and then plan to Run the Classic City with us in 2027!
Not a runner, or not running this year? Join us for the fun of making a marathon!
Why choose the Classic City?
Why choose the Classic City?
Runners voted us the current Best Marathon in Georgia, and we do not take this honor lightly. As local runners and experienced race professionals, we know what a good race feels like! We are committed to the work and the joy of creating the best possible race weekend for every runner, every spectator, and our entire Athens-area community.
Here’s how we do it!
Our courses showcase the best of downtown Athens, several historic neighborhoods, and our community greenways. We have run every mile many times ourselves, and we tried to pick our favorites for you. (And, new for 2027, we even fixed the weather and moved some of those hills!)
We work with local schools, students, artists, and musicians to create our medals, posters, and race-day entertainment! We love that we can showcase the Athens creative community as part of our race weekend.
We value sustainability for our races, for our communities, and for our planet. Our races are Zero Waste events!
Why choose the Classic City?
Why choose the Classic City?
Everything you need is within an easy walk of our partner hotels in downtown Athens! Packet pick-up, the Starting Line, and the Finish Line are all within a few blocks.
Our volunteers and cheer groups are the best anywhere! Our Volunteers Coordinators work hard all year, so your race day runs smoothly.
We share suggested training plans and offer free group training runs in Athens for all registered runners and for all three race distances. YOU are welcome here, no matter your background, race experience, or pace. (Our Finish Line stays open for 7 hours.)
We offer real, handmade, compostable greenery “laurel” wreaths to every individual full-marathon finisher. Our PR gong is available to everyone who ran their first, fastest, or farthest, in any race and by any definition! (You know you want to. Come celebrate your accomplishment.) Our sponsors are local businesses and community partners, and together we make multiple donations every year to organizations that help our Athens-area neighbors. It’s a win for every runner, and it’s a win for our entire community.
Still not sure? Maybe our runners can convince you!
“I have 74 marathons, a member of the 7 continents club… well over 100 half marathons. THIS WAS INCREDIBLE!”
“Great medal, good post race food, well organized.”
“I loved all the volunteers! They were extremely helpful and encouraging.”
“Group runs and routes during the training!”
“I have ran a lot of half-marathons, and this was the best one by far. This event was very organized, had a variety of running scenery, and was just overall excellent.”
“I just love the community! The whole day was so enjoyable and memorable. I can't wait for next year!”
Are you looking for something else?
Use the navigation options at the top of the page to find many more details about our races.
Try our detailed Participant Guide, Relay Guide, and Spectator Guide. Read our long-form narrative description of the courses.
Try our Instagram account or our Facebook page.
Or email us!