The best marathon in Georgia!
Runners at FindMyMarathon.com voted us the current Best Marathon in Georgia! We think it’s because we run with joy, plan every detail, and genuinely want you to have your best possible marathon experience.
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 marathon course (#GA23071WC) keeps marathoners busy experiencing everything Athens has to offer.
Need more details about the course? See our Course Information page, use our Strava map of the marathon course, or read our long-form narrative description.
Six Hours on the Course, Seven Hours at the Finish Line
Finishing a marathon takes time! Our beautiful course through the rolling north-Georgia Piedmont region provides faster racers with fun challenges, and we are also committed to keeping the marathon course fully supported until 1:30 p.m. for everyone else (6 hours, or about a 13:40/mile pace). The Finish Line Celebrations Area will be fully supported even later (7 hours, until 2:30 p.m.), for marathoners who choose to finish on their own after 1:30 p.m.
The Home-Stretch Mile
Be ready to finish strong! The final mile of your marathon, from 25.2 through the Finish Line, is your Home-Stretch Mile. Watch for signs and banners at 25.2. Special Home-Stretch Marathoner Awards will be presented to the male marathoner and female marathoner who cover the Home-Stretch Mile in the fastest time.
Training
Training for a marathon is hard work. See our 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 marathon course.
GU energy gels will be provided at approximately Miles 8, 13, and 22 of the marathon course. We usually have salted caramel with caffeine, vanilla with caffeine, caffeine-free raspberry lemonade, and caffeine-free strawberry banana.
And real bananas will be provided at approximately Mile 20!
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 marathon!
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 Marathon? Explore the Details link at the top of this page, or email us.
