Run Where the Olympians Ran! Celebrate the 47th

Running of The Weather Channel Atlanta Marathon!

Race Date: Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 27, 2008

Start Times: Half Marathon: 7:00AM; Full Marathon: 7:30AM

Course closes: 12:30 p.m.

Distances:
Marathon: 26.2 mile footrace; a loop course
Half Marathon: 13.1-mile footrace; begins at halfway point of the full marathon

Start Locations:
Marathon: Outside Turner Stadium, downtown Atlanta
Half Marathon: Peachtree Rd. (just north of Clairmont Rd. intersection) within walking distance of Chamblee MARTA station (Marathon/Half Marathon Course Map)

Getting to the Races On Time!
Marathon: Carpooling is encouraged.
Half Marathon: Because of the large crowd at the Half Marathon, plan to arrive NO LATER THAN 6:15AM (or earlier if possible). The start & finish are located near MARTA rail stations. We STRONGLY urge runners to take MARTA to the start because of traffic congestion and limited parking in the area. (Only you can prevent gridlock.)

Eligibility:
All runners who have trained for a 26.2 mile footrace for the Marathon or 13.1 miles for the Half Marathon are eligible to enter. Minimum age for runners of the marathon is 16; for the half marathon is 12. For safety, no wheeled vehicles or wheeled means of conveyance (i.e., bikes, skates, baby joggers) are permitted in the footrace. Marathoners should be prepared to finish the race within five hours.

REGISTRATION:

Online registration:  Full Marathon | Half Marathon

Paper application: Click Here

2008 REGISTRATION DEADLINES: (late fees apply after November 12)

Register online until midnight on Sunday, November 23, 2008.

Postmark no later than Friday, November 7, 2008.

In Person to the Atlanta Track Club by 5:00 PM, Wednesday, November 12, 2008.

Late entries will be accepted in person at packet pick-up on Tuesday ONLY, November 25, 11AM-8PM. NO LATE ENTRIES WILL BE ACCEPTED AFTER 8PM, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 25.

*Online registration only.

All paper applications MUST be postmarked by 10/31

A portion of each entry fee will be donated to help feed Atlanta’s hungry on Thanksgiving.

AFTER NOVEMBER 7: To strongly discourage late entry, the late fee is $70.00 for the full marathon and $60.00 for the half marathon; correct T-shirt size is not guaranteed. Late entries will be accepted in person at packet pick-up on Tuesday ONLY, November 25, 11AM-8PM. NO LATE ENTRIES WILL BE ACCEPTED AFTER 8PM, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 25.

Switching Races:
Runners wishing to change from the Marathon to Half Marathon (or vice versa) after their entries have been processed, may do so until 7:30 PM, Wednesday, November 26, at the Race Expo. Those switching on race day will be disqualified.

Packets will not be mailed. Packets must be picked up at the Expo, InterContinental Hotel Buckhead, 3315 Peachtree Road, Atlanta, GA, (404) 946-9000:

• Tuesday, November 25, 11 a.m. - 8 p.m.

• Wednesday, November 26, 11 a.m. - 8 p.m.

• Packets will contain bib number and timing chip. If you do not wish to be in the results, you may turn in your chip at the Expo.

• Race packet may be picked up by third party if copy of entrant's I.D. is presented.

Awards and T-Shirts:

All participants receive 100% cotton long-sleeve T-shirts at packet pick-up. You will be given the size indicated on application.

For each race, awards will be given on race day to the overall male and female finishers and to the first masters male and female finishers; awards to the top three in each age division (excluding overall winners and masters winners) will be mailed. Special commemorative medals will be awarded to full marathoners indicating their finish times in under 3 hours; under 3:30; or under 4:00. All other finishers in under 5 hours for the full marathon will also receive a finisher's medal.  All finishers in the Half Marathon will be awarded finishers medals.

Age Divisions:
Marathon and Half Marathon, Men & Women:
19 & under, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74 and 75+.

Fluids:
There will be water at both starts, and water & PowerAde at intervals along the course as well as the finish.

Half Marathon Baggage:
A baggage tag will be included in Half Marathon race packets. Baggage transportation is not necessary for Marathon runners as the course is a closed loop. Do not bring valuables. the Atlanta Track Club is not responsible for lost or damaged articles. Tagged bags will be transported from start to finish area baggage claim.

Dropping Out:
The Marathon course will close once runners doing a 5-hour pace have passed. Volunteers cannot be asked to wait longer. Course volunteers will assist runners who wish to drop out.

Course Descriptions: (Click here to download a pdf map course (Adobe Acrobat Reader required)

Marathon: Loop course (starting at Turner Stadium), the first third of which runs north & gradually climbs to a relatively flat middle third with turn-around near the half way point. The final third is rolling to the finish. All streets are multi-laned with one lane dedicated to the Marathon. Streets are not closed to traffic; however, intersections will be monitored by police and official volunteers.

Half Marathon: Point-to-point course on multi-laned streets with two lanes dedicated to the Half Marathon. The first third is relatively flat; the middle has two significant hills; the final third is rolling down to the finish. Streets will not be closed to traffic; however, intersections will be monitored by police and official volunteers.

Refreshments:  Coca-Cola, PowerAde, and other refreshments will be provided.

The latest in fitness gear and health related products will be on display with some products available for sampling & purchase.

Questions:  Call the Atlanta Track Club (404) 231-9064

Hotel Accommodations: