Columbus Marathon

The Nationwide Better Health Columbus Marathon, first run in 1980, features a flat, fast course which saw nearly 20 percent of finishers qualify for the Boston Marathon in 2010. That year, the Nationwide Better Health Columbus Marathon once again sold out at 15,000 athletes, the fourth sell-out in a row. The Nationwide Better Health Columbus Marathon has been a favorite of runners for more than three decades. Currently in its 32nd year, the Nationwide Better Health Columbus Marathon solidifies Ohio as one of the premiere racing states in the country. This year, the Nationwide Better Health Columbus Marathon expects more than 100 elite athletes to participate in Sunday’s events. Joining the elites will be an expected field of more than 17,000 runners. The 17,000 participants toeing the line at this year’s Columbus Marathon will represent the largest field in the marathon’s history. Known for its fast course, the Columbus Marathon features the elevation profile of a cornfield. Only differentiating from start to finish by an elevation change of 50ft., many use the Nationwide Better Health Columbus Marathon as an accessible means of qualifying for the Boston Marathon. Nationwide Children’s Hospital is honored to be the title beneficiary for the Columbus Marathon & 1/2 Marathon. So far, more than $4.5 million has been raised for the Hospital.