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Spectators

Information for Spectating the Athens Ohio Marathon

Spectators are more than welcome at the Athens Ohio Full and Half Marathons and there are many opportunities to view and cheer on your runners!  From the start or finish lines, or along the course you will enjoy beautiful Athens, Ohio while cheering on all the great full and half marathon runners.

Rules and Info for Spectating at Aid Stations:

  • The Start and Finish location has ample space for parking and congregating to view the start and finish, and cheering on your runner.  But, the aid stations are not as spacious, and many have limited parking.
  • When parking at aid stations please follow all instructions from volunteers directing you.
  • Do not block any roadway.
  • Do not stand on or block the bikepath where the course is location; there is ample space along the bikepath in the grass to stand.
  • Since this is an out and back course, runners come through these aid stations twice, and the mileages noted show the first time and second time through.  
  • The first four aid stations have both full and half marathon runners, and the final five are just passed by full marathon runners.

DIRECTIONS TO ATHENS MARATHON AID STATIONS

*Please note that not every aid station is open to spectating.  Please abide by all rules and information stated with each set of details below. 

START

The Athens Full and Half Marathon start together at the corner of South College Street and East Union Street in uptown Athens by Ohio University College Green  Once you find a parking spot, there is ample room to line the streets and watch the race start.  After the runners clear the starting area, they will not run back through the starting area, and you are able to follow the below directions to different aid stations, or the finish line.  See the location of the start area on the Race Weekend Details Page.

FINISH

The finish of the Athens Full and Half Marathon is at Pruitt Field on Ohio University’s campus.  It is located within walking distance from the start, down the hill from Uptown Athens.  Pruitt Field is home to the Ohio University Track and Field Programs and spectators can access the grandstands overlooking the track, just in front of the finish line!  See the location of the finish area on the Race Weekend Details Page.

WEST STATE ST. AID STATION (Mile 1.95 and 24.7 / 11.55):  (GPS Pin)

Turn right from Pruitt Field parking lot (the parking lot across from Ohio University’s Central Food Facility) onto S. Shafer St.  Proceed to first traffic light, continue straight for another half mile to stop sign.  Turn left onto West State St. Proceed  0.80 miles and this road will lead into the West State St. Ball Fields area, where it will dead end.  Find parking anywhere in the park and you’ll see the bike path ahead, which is where runners enter the bike path.  The actual location for the aid station is located about a quarter-mile up from the ball fields, but you may spectate and cheer your runner on anywhere in this area.  Parking:  There is ample parking at this location around the ballfields.  

ARMITAGE ROAD AID STATION (Mile 3.15 and 23.5 / 10.3):  (GPS Pin)

Turn right from Pruitt Field parking lot (the parking lot across from Ohio University’s Central Food Facility) onto S. Shafer St.  Proceed to first traffic light, turn left onto West Union St.  Proceed  1.1  mile to St. Rt. 682 (traffic light).  Turn right at traffic light.  Proceed 400 meters to first gravel road to the right (Armitage Rd.)  Proceed on Armitage road for 2 miles to end of road.  At end of road there is a small gravel lane to the right that connects to bike path and railroad tracks.  Aid station is visible at the end of this gravel lane.  Parking:  Park along Armitage Road (which is a dead end).  Do not block residential driveways.

ECLIPSE MINING STATION AID STATION (Mile 4.8 and 21.85 / 8.6):  (GPS Pin)   

Turn right from Pruitt Field parking lot (the parking lot across from Ohio University’s Central Food Facility) onto S. Shafer St.  Proceed to first traffic light, turn left onto West Union St.  Proceed  1.1  mile to St. Rt. 682 (traffic light).  Turn right at traffic light.   Proceed 3 miles on St. Rt. 682 until next traffic light (Johnson Rd/County Rd 7) in town of The Plains.  Turn right at traffic light onto Johnson Rd. and proceed 1.2 miles.  Turn right onto Jackson Dr.  (in the middle of lengthy left curve on Johnson Rd.).  Proceed 200 meters and turn left into the parking area next to the Eclipse Mining Station Store/Restaurant. Aid Station is visible at the end of the parking area.

*No Spectators*  LOWER RIVER ROAD AID STATION (Mile 6.25 and 20.4 / 7.2):

*NO SPECTATOR ACCESS AT LOWER RIVER ROAD AID STATION*  Please do not try to drive here to view your runner.  There is no parking available for anyone except our volunteer crew at Lower River Rd.   

UPPER RIVER ROAD AID STATION (Mile 7.35 and 19.3):  (GPS Pin)

Follow U.S. Route 33 West from Athens toward Columbus. O.75 miles past the Columbus Road exit on the northwest side of Athens turn right onto River Rd. (Twp. Rd. 251).  Follow River Road 2.2 miles (past Lower River Road Aid Station) and look for Upper River Road aid station along left side of the road.  The bike path closely parallels River Road.  Parking:  park along road without blocking traffic.  Try to park with all tired off of the roadway.

*Bonus Spectator Area*  Beaumont-Salinas Trailhead (Mile 8 and 18.6)  (GPS Pin)

*There is no aid station at this location but spectators are welcome to stop here to cheer on their runner!*

 Follow U.S. Route 33 West from Athens toward Columbus.  Take the exit for The Plains (exit 191, OH-682).  At the traffic circle take the second exit and proceed 0.4 miles until you see Hamley Run Rd.  Turn left on Hamley Run Road, and drive approximately a quarter-mile until you see the Beaumont-Salinas Trailhead on your right.  Parking:  there is a gravel parking area at the trailhead. 


*No Spectators* HAMLEY RUN ROAD AID STATION (Mile 9.2 and 17.5):

*NO SPECTATOR ACCESS AT HAMLEY RUN ROAD AID STATION*  Please do not try to drive here to view your runner.  There is no parking available for anyone except our volunteer crew at Hamley Run Road Aid Station.

GLEN EBON AID STATION (Mile 11.1 and 15.5):  (GPS Pin)

Follow U.S. Route 33 West from Athens toward Columbus.  Four miles north of Athens turn left onto Glen Ebon Road (just before Movies 10 theater complex – also on the left).  Proceed  a half mile to the point at which the bike path intersects Glen Ebon Road.  Aid Station is visible at intersection.  Parking:  Parking is along the road at this aid station.  Please do not block traffic on the road.

*No Spectators* MONK ROAD AID STATION (Mile 11.95 and 14.7): 

*NO SPECTATOR ACCESS AT MONK ROAD AID STATION*  Please do not try to drive here to view your runner.  There is no parking available for anyone except our volunteer crew at Monk Road Aid Station.

TURNAROUND AID STATION (TRI-COUNTY CAREER CENTER) (Mile 13.3):  (GPS Pin)

Follow U.S. Route 33 West from Athens toward Columbus.  Six miles north of Athens turn right on exit ramp for Nelsonville/St. Rt. 691/Hocking College.  At end of ramp turn left and proceed 400 meters to traffic light.  At traffic light continue straight onto St. Rt. 691.  Proceed less than a half mile to first paved road to the left, the entrance to Hocking College Lodge.  Proceed to parking lot at end of road.  Parking is available here.  Bike path is visible from parking lot.  Accessing the marathon turnaround will require a short walk (200 meters) down the bike path.  Parking: ample parking is available here.