Area residents will notice several temporary, partial lane closings in the area on Saturday, March 1st as Albany welcomes nearly 1,000 participants in the 19th Annual Combos® Marathon and Half Marathon, formally known as the SNICKERS®.

Albany Marathon, Inc. has brought over 30.000 runners from all 50 states, plus international runners from all over the world to Albany, Georgia. The Marathon has made a name for itself as a Top 10 Qualifier for the Boston Marathon. The course records still stand with those set in 2011 by Tesfaye Alemayehu who trains in Antioch, California, shattering the 26.2-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, 290 runners signed up to run the Marathon and 472 for the Half Marathon, which is a total of 762 participants with more signing up daily as the countdown to race day gets closer. To date, registrations have originated from 22 states outside of Georgia and three countries including Ukraine, Canada and the Netherlands.

The Albany Marathon, Inc. donates race proceeds to the Willson Hospice House every year. To date, the Marathon has donated over $350,000 to hospice.

This community event is made possible with over 1,200 volunteers. We could not have a successful and safe event without our local law enforcement and community volunteers. Anyone can sign up to volunteer, and there is still time, so go directly to this website to register: https://runsignup.com/Race/Volunteer/GA/Albany/SNICKERSMarathon.

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. Tag us in your pictures @albanymarathon on Facebook, Instagram, and X page while cheering on the runners.

THE ROUTE

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

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

b. Both races turn left onto Oglethorpe and move through town leading to ASU West

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

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

e. Circle through Rawson Circle, a designated garden neighborhood.

f. Hilsman Park - a natural lime sink.

g. Through Thronateeska Heritage Museum and the Old Train Depot

h. 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 – 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

Reeves Construction

Newk’s

Bottoms UP

Buffalo Rock

Artesian Alliance

Albany Run Walk

Pecan City Pedalers

Sunnyland Farms

Water Station Sponsors to date include:

Dougherty County

First Baptist of Albany

Phoebe Hospice

ASU West Campus

Georgia Community Bank

City of Albany

Kiwanis

Albany Technical College

Ameris Bank

Lily Pad

Exchange Club

United Way of SWGA

Four Star Freightliner

Phoebe Putney Hospital

Lakeside Baptist Church

MARS

MARATHON DETAILS

Pre-Race Festivities – February 28, 2025

3-9 pm Runners Expo & Registration Packet Pick-Up (No Race Day Registration), Albany Civic Center

Race Start/Times - March 1, 2025

Crank and Wheelchairs 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 2025 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.