Area residents will notice several temporary lane and partial closings in the area on Saturday, March 4th as Albany welcomes almost over 1,000 participants in the 17th Annual Combos Marathon and Half Marathon, formally known as the SNICKERS.

Albany Marathon, Inc. announced its name change in September as part of a new initiative to elevate the locally-made snack, Combos. Albany has been a manufacturing and distribution center for Combos since 1978.

“Albany Marathon, Inc. has a great partnership with Mars Wrigley; it only makes sense for our race to reflect a locally-made product,” says Rashelle Minx, Race Director. “We are excited about the new brand change. We have worked hard to use digital marketing to redirect runners towards the new Combos® brand and promote Albany as the same great Boston-qualifying race. It’s just a different snack!”

With the new name comes new opportunities to set course records. The current course records were set in 2011 by Tesfaye Alemayehu who trains in Antioch, California, shattering the26.2-mile course, setting a race record in 2:17:09, and in 2008, Janet Cherobon from Lawrenceville, GA with a time of 2:37:26.

At press time, 379 folks have signed up to run the Marathon and 474 for the Half Marathon which is almost flat over the 2022 finisher numbers.  To date, registrations have originated from 13 states outside of Georgia and four countries including Brazil, Canada, Mexico, and Venezuela.

The 2023 race also has a shadow run from the Army base in Kuwait. There will be over 350 runners participating in the Half Marathon during our race. In appreciation of their service and for choosing our race to shadow, we have sent them official race medals and shirts.     

The Albany Marathon, Inc. donates race proceeds to the Willson Hospice House every year. To date, the Marathon has donated over a quarter of a million dollars. 

This community event is made possible with over 1,200 volunteers. We couldn’t have a successful and safe marathon without our local law enforcement and community volunteers. This year’s volunteers will be “Meredith’s Volunteers” in honor and memory of our beloved Meredith Polk. Polk worked with the Marathon and Convention and Visitors Bureau for over 10years. While serving as Volunteer Coordinator for the Marathon, she battled terminal cancer. After her passing last year at the Willson Hospice House, we decided this would be the best way to honor her memory.

To increase community support, residents are encouraged to show pride and spirit by setting up chairs and drinking coffee in their front yard. This is a fantastic time to bring out noisemakers and cheer on the runners. The support helps runners throughout the route. Tweet pictures to @albanymarathon and on Facebook by tagging the Albany Marathon and Half Marathon page while cheering on the runners.

THE ROUTE

The Marathon route described as fast and flat includes a scenic tour of Albany:

1. The Start is on Front Street next to Veteran's Park, near the Riverfront.

2. Both races turn left onto Oglethorpe and move through town leading to ASU west

3. Continue around the Willson Hospice House, back out ASU West, and down Gillionville.

4. Turning toward Doublegate, they run the neighborhood toward Lake Park

5. Circles through Rawson Circle, a designated garden neighborhood

6. Hilsman Park - a natural limesink.

7. Through Thronateeska Heritage Museum and the Old Train Depot

8. Finish along the River Trail at RiverFront Park behind the Albany Welcome Center.

Marathon Sponsors include:

Mars Wrigley

Phoebe Foundation

Molson Coors

Albany Technical College 

In-Kind Donations to date include:

Flint River Entertainment Complex

Albany Herald

Albany – Dougherty Search and Rescue

Albany Convention and Visitors Bureau

City of Albany

Dougherty County Board of Commissioners

Albany Radio Club

Dougherty County Police

Merry Acres Inn

Oxford Construction

Publix

Reeves Construction

WALB

Southern Tractor and Outdoors

Newk’s

Bottoms UP

Buffalo Rock

Artesian Alliance

Albany Run Walk

Pecan City Pedalers

Water Station Sponsors to date include:

Dougherty County

First Baptist of Albany

Ameris Bank

The X Boys

Kiwanis

Albany Technical College

Lily Pad

Exchange Club

United Way of SWGA

The ARC

Phoebe Hospice

Phoebe Putney Hospital

Greenbrier Church

Lakeside Baptist Church

Georgia Community Bank

City of Albany 

MARATHON DETAILS

Pre-Race Festivities - March 3, 2023

3-9 pm Runners Expo & Registration Packet Pick-Up (No Race Day Registration), Albany State University Jones Brothers HYPER Gym

Race Start/Times - March 4, 2023
Crank and Wheel Chairs start at 6:45 am

The Marathon and Half Marathon begin together at 7:00 am

Awards Ceremony at the Horace King Overlook behind the Bridge House
Awards for both the Marathon and the Half Marathon will begin at 10:00 am and continue as winners cross the finish line.

All Marathon and Half Marathon finishers will win a 2023 Combos® Marathon or Half Marathon Finisher Medal immediately upon crossing the finish line. Marathon cash prizes totaling $12,000 (1^st Place $3,000, 2^nd Place $2,000, 3^rd Place $1,000) are awarded to the Top 3 Male and Female finishers. Age Group Awards will be awarded to the top three in each age category for the Marathon and Half Marathon.

Marathon & Half Marathon Age Groups (Men & Women):
Under 20, 21-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70+

COURSE TIME LIMITS
The course will remain open for 7 hours (7 am to 2 pm).

PARKING
If driving, parking will be available at the James H. Gray Civic Center near the start line.

Visit www.albanymarathon.com or contact Rashelle Minix for more information at [email protected] or 229.317.4760.