ATLANTA - November 2, 2020 -- Runners who participate in next year's Publix Atlanta Marathon,
Half Marathon and 5K won't have to climb any of Atlanta's famous and relentless
hills in 2021. This year's temporary course will be pancake flat. With the
uncertain future of events in Atlanta due to COVID-19, Publix Atlanta Marathon
Weekend will move to Atlanta Motor Speedway in 2021 and be held as a series of
by-appointment races to allow for safe social distancing.
Traditionally held at Centennial Olympic Park, the weekend will
remain on its scheduled date of February 27-28. The 5K will be held under the
lights of the Atlanta Motor Speedway's NASCAR oval on Saturday night. The half
marathon and marathon will be held the next day utilizing the 1.5-mile track,
its infield, concourse, miles of service roads and large parking lots. The
Publix Atlanta Kids Marathon will be held across both days allowing parents to
schedule their children's races in conjunction with their own.
"We know runners and walkers are making their winter and spring
plans now," said Rich Kenah, Executive Director of Atlanta Track Club. "By
making this decision and announcement now, we are able to provide some
certainty in this uncertain time. We are building out a unique, safe experience
that is not dependent on public permits."
Atlanta Track Club has consulted with infectious
disease experts and followed guidelines set forth by the Centers for Disease
Control to implement safety measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 at its
events in 2020. The 2021 Publix Atlanta Marathon, Half Marathon and 5K will be
a contactless experience. All participants, spectators, staff and volunteers
will be required to undergo a health screening prior to entering Atlanta Motor
Speedway. Masks must be worn by all except during the race itself. Participants
will start in waves of up to 50 people with up to five minutes between
each wave. The marathon and half marathon will be capped at 5,000 combined
participants and the 5K will be capped at 3,000 participants.
All participants will be required to carry their
own hydration and fuel with touchless refill stations available on the course.
Post-race snacks, refreshments and medals will be prepacked and available to
all finishers before exiting the race area.
Registration fees are currently $100, $80 and $20 for the
marathon, half-marathon and 5K respectively. The Publix Atlanta Kids
Marathon has a dash option for $10 and a mile for $15. Registration includes a
participant shirt and finisher's medal. Participants can sign up and choose
their time slot at atlantatrackclub.org. Previously registered participants
were offered the option to move to the new location or a full refund. If the
event is canceled due to COVID-19, refunds will be offered.
Due to the uncertainty of COVID impacts on indoor gatherings, the
Publix Atlanta Marathon will not offer an expo in 2021. Race number pickup will
happen on site at Atlanta Motor Speedway on your respective race days. There
will also be opportunities for participants to purchase official race
merchandise and safely interact and engage with race partners including Publix
and Mizuno. The expo had been scheduled at the Georgia Aquarium for the first
time. Those aquarium plans will be pushed back to 2022.
Located just 25 miles south of Atlanta in Hampton, Georgia,
Atlanta Motor Speedway encompasses 840 acres of private property. It holds two
premier NASCAR events each year, one of which will be just three weeks after
the Publix Atlanta Marathon Weekend.
Atlanta Track Club has successfully held five in-person events
following the race-by-appointment format since July including the three-race
Publix Summer Series which was held at private venues throughout the summer and
the PNC Atlanta 10 Miler & 5K at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta on November
1.