Welcome
We are very pleased to welcome you to the Soldier Marathon. It’s the Soldier Marathon’s 9th year, and the Race Committee, which is comprised solely of volunteers, most of whom are runners themselves, welcomes you on behalf of the tri-communities of Columbus, Fort Benning and Phenix City. We are also very pleased that our venue is the National Infantry Museum, which was voted the Number 1 Free Public Museum in the United States by U.S.A. Today and also voted one of the top 10 military museums in the world! We are also celebrating the 100th Anniversary of Fort Benning this year.
Races
Soldier Marathon (26.2 miles), Soldier Half Marathon (13.1 miles), Soldier Relay Marathon (4-person teams 26.2 miles), Soldier 5K Race (3.1 miles) are all run on Saturday, November 17, 2018.
Registration
Online registration for the Soldier Marathon races is on Active.com until Monday, November 12. Afterwards it’s in person at the National Infantry Museum on Friday, November 17th between 11:00 a.m. and 7:30 a.m. and Saturday, November 17 between 6:00 a.m. to 7:45 a.m. You may pay at the Museum with cash, check or credit/debit card. A runner’s friend or family member may pick up the runner’s race packet with a copy of the runner’s ID and a waiver signed by the runner. A copy of the waiver may be downloaded from the website at soldiermarathon.com under the tab Event Info.
Packet Pickup
Runners may pick up their race bibs, t-shirts, hats, posters, Fallen Hero bibs and other race information at the National Infantry Museum on Friday, November 16, between 11:00 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. as well as on Race Day, Saturday morning, between 6:00 a.m. and 7:45 a.m.
Race Date
Saturday, November 17, 2018 at 8:00 a.m. EST. Please arrive early to park.
Pasta Dinner
Friday night, November 16th, 2018, at the National Infantry Museum a pasta dinner available for runners and their families at 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. $15 for adults, $25 for two, and $10 for children.
Parking
Park at the National Infantry Museum, or at Oxbow Meadows across the street from the Museum, or alongside S. Lumpkin Road south of the Museum. Ft. Benning Road and S. Lumpkin Road are the two access roads to the National Infantry Museum. On race day S. Lumpkin Road will be one-way traffic to the Infantry Museum. Ft. Benning Road to the Infantry Museum will close at 7:15 a.m, and afterwards cars will be routed to Torch Hill Road and S. Lumpkin Road. Please arrive early to park and comfortably walk to the start. There will also be a “runner drop off” area on S. Lumpkin Road.
Porta-Potties and Restrooms
Porta-potties will be located in front of the National Infantry Museum, behind the Museum near the start line and at each water station on the course. Bathrooms are inside the Museum.
Race Bib
You will pick up your Race Bib with assigned race number at registration. On the back of your Race Bib is a timing chip to record your race time and a place for you to fill in emergency contact information. Also a gear check tag is attached to the bottom of your Race Bib. Please affix your Race Bib to the front of your shirt or shorts with safety pins we provide you or with your personal race belt. Please wear your Race Bib at all times while running the Soldier Marathon race you have registered for. This will allow us to track your finishing time.
Timing Chip
A timing chip is on the back of your bib to electronically record your start and finish time.
Finishing Results
Finishing results for all age group runners will be based on your timing chip (your “chip” time not your “gun” time). Awards for the overall winner of the race (1st, 2nd and 3rd place) will, however, be based on “gun” time. “Gun” time is measured from the official start of the race; “chip” time is measured from the time you actually cross the start line at the beginning of the race and “chip in” and then later when you cross the finish line your “chip” registers that you have completed the race.
Fallen Hero Bib
You may run in honor of a Fallen Hero who has died either while serving our country or after honorably serving our country. The Fallen Hero bib will be available at a registration table. There is no charge for the Fallen Hero bib. You may run with more than one Fallen Hero bib if you wish. Please pin the Fallen Hero bib on the front or back of your shirt or shorts.
Dry Clothing Bags
A clear plastic bag will be provided to you at registration for you to bring with you on race day Saturday morning to store your warm up or dry clothes. No other bags or backpacks will be accepted. Store the clear plastic bag in the secured area behind the National Infantry Museum. The gear check bag will be removed from your Race Bib and tied to the plastic bag to identify the bag as yours.
Backpacks/Hydration Packs
Runners are not permitted run with either backpacks or hydration packs due for security reasons.
Clothing to Run In
Layer your clothing to your comfort. After running a while you may wish to drop some of your clothing at a water station on the course, but we do not assure you the return of any clothing after the race.
Start Line/Finish Line
The start line and the finish line for all races (full marathon, half marathon, relay marathon, 5k race and kids one mile fun run) are on Heritage Walk (Avenue of Flags) alongside the National Infantry Museum.
My Team Triumph Stroller Participants
My Team Triumph stroller participants will start a few minutes ahead of the other runners. Their escort runners will run alongside them and alternate pushing the stroller.
Relay Marathon Race
Relay teams start with the individual runners. A Relay Team may have two runners or four runners. Relay exchange points are at miles 7.1, 13.1 and 20.2. Relay leg 1 runs 7.2 miles: leg 2 runs 6.0 miles; leg 3 runs 7.1 miles; and leg 4 runs 6.0 miles. The lead runner wears a wrist slap bracelet. At the exchange point the runner hands the slap bracelet and to the next runner who wears it while running. Each runner wears a race bib with the same Relay Team number (e.g. 5001A, B, C and D). The last runner wears a bib with a timing chip to get a finishing time. The relay exchange points are accessible by car. You provide your own transportation to the Relay exchange points. Relay exchange point #1 is on the RiverWalk near S. Lumpkin Road behind the National Infantry Museum at the crossing to Oxbow Meadows. Relay exchange points #2 and #3 are on the RiverWalk behind the VFW on Victory Drive (park at the Victory Drive Overlook on Victory Drive across the street from the Dolly Madison plant near the VFW and walk down the stairs to the RiverWalk). One team member may pick up the registration packet for each team member. Each relay runner receives a finisher’s t-shirt and medal.
Water Stations
- Mile 1.3 at the intersection of Lumpkin Road and Custer Road on Ft. Benning
- Mile 3.0 near the intersection of the Bike Trail and Edwards Street on Ft. Benning
- Mile 5.0 on Lumpkin Road median on Fort Benning
- Mile 6.6 at the intersection of Lumpkin Road and Custer Road on Ft. Benning
- Mile 8.8 on Water Works Road near the intersection of the Golf Course and the RiverWalk
- Mile 10.0 on Water Works Road near Water Works Facility
- Mile 11.4 on RiverWalk at Rigdon Park
- Mile 13.1 on RiverWalk near VFW
- Mile 15.5 on RiverWalk near Trade Center
- Mile 16.5 14th Street Pedestrian Bridge
- Mile 17.5 14th Street Pedestrian Bridge
- Mile 18.2 on RiverWalk near Trade Center
- Mile 20.7 on RiverWalk near VFW
- Mile 22.3 on RiverWalk at Rigdon Park
- Mile 23.5 on Water Works Road near Water Works Facility
- Mile 24.8 on RiverWalk near the intersection of the Golf Course and the RiverWalk
GU Supplement nutrition
Gu energy packets will be available on the course at 7 water stations at mile 6.6, mile 10, mile 13, mile 15.5, mile 18.2, mile 20.7 and 23.5. This allows 2 GU stops for half marathoners and 7 for marathoners.
Hydration
Coca Cola will provide PowerAde at each water station on the course and at the finish line. Callaway Blue will provide water at each water station on the course and at the finish line.
Clocks
Timing clocks will be at the start and finish as well as mile 6.2, mile 10, mile 13.1, mile 17 and mile 20.
Weather
Weather is usually clear and in the 40’s at the start and rises to the 70’s during the day.
Certification
Both the Soldier Marathon course and the Soldier Half Marathon course are certified. The marathon race is a Boston qualifier. The Full and Half Marathon are also sanctioned by USA Track and Field.
Cut Off Times
There is a time limit of 7 hours to finish the Soldier Marathon and Half Marathon. You should plan to reach mile 18.0 by 12:45 p.m. to reach the finish line at the National Infantry Museum by 3:00 p.m.
Finishing Medals
Each finisher of the Full Marathon, the Half Marathon, the Relay Marathon, and the 5K Race will receive a finishing medal that commemorates your completion of your race.
Awards
Awards will be presented to the top three overall finisher, male and female, the top three finishers in each age group, male and female, and the top master’s finisher (40 and above), male and female. Awards will be presented at the finish line near the Avenue of Flags at the following times:
9:30 a.m. 5K awards ceremony
11:00 a.m. Half-marathon awards ceremony
12:00 p.m. Full marathon awards ceremony
Food at Finish Line
After the race runners may enjoy Callaway Blue bottled water, PowerAde, Coca Cola soda, McDonald’s burrito or hamburger, fresh fruit, bagels, energy bars and cookies, Michelob Ultra beer (over age 21 only). Buck Ice will keep our drinks cool. Gluten free food is also available.
Race Blankets
Runners will receive a mylar blankets to keep warm at the finish line.
Volunteers
Volunteers wearing distinctive brightly colored shirts and soldiers in uniform or camouflage shirts will serve runners at registration, aid stations, and along the course. Please be sure to thank them.
Medical
Medical Aid Stations are at the Start/Finish area and at the Trade Center. Ambulances will be available to attend to your medical needs. All medical staff will be identifiable in red medical shirts.
Massages
Post-race massages will be available at the finish line to runners without any charge to runners.
Track your Runner
A link on our SoldierMarathon.com website will allow you to key in the bib number or last name of the runner you wish to follow. This site is designed to work on smart phones and computers.
Expo
Running gear and Soldier Marathon logo shirts will be available by Big Dog Running Company.
Pets
Please do not bring your pets to the Soldier Marathon races. Even pets on leashes can be a hazard.
We hope you have a wonderful race. The Soldier Marathon Race Committee
