FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Nationwide Children's Hospital Columbus Marathon & 1/2 Marathon Moving
Forward with Plans for In-Person Race in October
(COLUMBUS, Ohio)- Registration for the 2021 Nationwide Children's Hospital
Columbus Marathon & 1/2 Marathon opens June 1.
With continued progress occurring in the battle against COVID-19, the Board
of Trustees has voted 10-0 to move ahead with planning for the Sunday,
October 17 event.
Race officials have worked for months with local and state leaders and
health officials on the return of an in-person event. If the event is
unable to take place in October due to COVID-19 restrictions, however,
registrants will be issued a full refund, as was the case after it was
canceled last year.
"The decision to cancel the event in 2020 was based upon one key factor -
safety - and this remains our main priority going forward," said Dan Leite,
Chairman of the Columbus Marathon Board of Trustees. "With the improving
conditions surrounding COVID-19, we are excited to take this next step in
our return to the streets of Columbus on the third Sunday of October."
Darris Blackford, Race Director, said the June 1 opening of registration
times out well with when people would typically begin training to run or
walk the 26.2-mile and 13.1-mile races in Columbus.
"After such a challenging year, people can bring a bit of normalcy back to
their health and wellness regimens," Blackford said. "Our race by no means
replaces or diminishes the hardship and suffering so many have endured and
continue to face as a result of COVID-19, but it does provide a welcome
distraction to the stresses of the pandemic."
Blackford said he and his team are working with local and state leaders and
health officials for the safe return of the race in 2021, and a number of
areas are under review, including the event size, course and layout of the
start and finish areas.
"We are working with all of our municipal, community and business partners,
as well as our benefiting charity Nationwide Children's Hospital, to do
things safely and correctly," Blackford said. "This is a joint effort
involving thousands of people and impacts the lives of countless others
throughout our region."
About Nationwide Children's Hospital Columbus Marathon & 1/2 Marathon:
The Nationwide Children's Hospital Columbus Marathon & 1/2 Marathon has
raised more than $10 million for Nationwide Children's Hospital since it
became the title beneficiary of the event in 2012. The Columbus Marathon
will be held for the 41st time in 2021; this year will mark the 15th
edition of the 1/2 Marathon. For more information, visit
www.columbusmarathon.com.
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