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Georgia > Publix Georgia Marathon, Half Marathon & 5K
Atlanta, GA • Sunday, March 17, 2013 • Course Map
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With just a few years under its belt as an established road race in
Atlanta, the Publix Georgia Marathon & Half Marathon is already
one of the biggest running
events of its kind anywhere in the state. Each year's race brings out roughly 15,000 runners from around the country to take to the streets of Atlanta, along an often hilly loop route through the city.
The race follows an out-and-back race through the city, starting at downtown Atlanta's Centennial Park, which lies within walking distance of CNN's headquarters. From there, the course takes runners through the Marietta Street corridor, several streets downtown and the historic Sweet Auburn district, where Martin Luther King Jr. lived and preached at Ebenezer Baptist Church.
After the stretch through the Sweet Auburn district, the course heads
through intown neighborhoods on its way to the Inman Park district,
which shows off the character of the city in its historic architecture
and tree-lined streets. The course through here is somewhat hilly and
up-and-down, but not overly taxing. There were plenty of spectators out
along this stretch of the course as well, looking up from brunch on
their balconies to shout out and give the runners some encouragement.
Running through Inman Park, the course next takes runners along a
stretch that's much hillier, the stretch along the Freedom Parkway near
the Jimmy Carter Center. This portion of the race has one fairly big
hill that lots of runners were huffing and puffing on their way up,
though the generally cloudy and cool conditions helped with stretches
like this one. As it leveled out at the top of the hill, Freedom
Parkway then dropped down again on its way toward Atlanta's
Virginia-Highland neighborhood, where there were lots more spectators
outside (even some playing live music with their own guitars and
drums).
Perhaps the most refreshing part of the race occurs when runners get to
Piedmont Park, Atlanta's largest urban park, partly because the
half-mile or so of course on the way to the park is mostly downhill,
but also because there's tons of spectators out cheering you on when
you really need it -- by this point in the race, you've run more than
nine miles already, and you're starting to feel the fatigue and wear
and tear.
The last four miles of the race feature a range of hills, mostly long,
steady uphills and downhills, through both the Georgia Institue of
Technology campus and the streets near the Coca-Cola Company world
headquarters and the Georgia Aquarium. The last stretch of the race
takes runners along Marietta Street, past CNN's Atlanta headquarters to
the finish back in Centennial Park.
Race
Weather & Climate
Known for its often sweltering hot and humid summers, especially in the late weeks of summer, the city of Atlanta usually has its most pleasant weather of the year during the fall and spring, which typically brings an abundance of sunny days with generally mild, moderate temperatures.
On the day of the race (March 17), the city's average high temperature is 65°F and the average low is 44°F, while rainfall amounts average just under 5.4 inches for the month (making March the city's wettest month of the year on average).
Course Map
View the race route map for the Publix Georgia Half Marathon
Fees
$55 for the half marathon, if registered by June 7, 2012
$60 between June 8 - August 2
$65 between Aug. 3 - November 8
$70 between Nov. 9 - December 31
$80 between January 1 - 31, 2013
$90 between February 1 - March 10
$135 after March 10
Registration
To reserve your spot in the spring 2013 running of the Georgia Marathon, Half Marathon or 5K race, register online at Active.com.
Official Race Website
www.georgiamarathon.com
Leave a Comment
Ever run in Atlanta's annual Publix Georgia Marathon or Half Marathon? Share your impressions, stories and tips from the event.
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