Runners pass the intersection of Fifth Street and Lafayette Avenue during the Mill Race Half Marathon in Columbus on Sept. 25, 2021.
Republic file photo
Participation in next month’s 10th running of the Mill Race Marathon is keeping pace with last year’s event, but organizers expect a surge of entries as runners in coming days race to beat a Sept. 1 entry fee increase.
As of Wednesday, 1,565 people had signed up to run in one of the three races on Saturday, Sept. 24. That’s just two entries less than where the total stood at this point last year, according to race organizers. Through last week, 841 runners had signed up for the 13.1-mile half-marathon, 541 for the 5K and 183 for the full 26.2-mile marathon.
The 183 entrants who registered for the full marathon is a bit higher than the 169 who had signed up at this point last year, before organizers opted to cancel the full marathon last year due to COVID.
Compared to last year, meanwhile, 50 more runners have signed up for this year’s 5K while 66 fewer have registered for the half-marathon to this point.
“We expect to see an increase in registrations” before the Sept. 1 entry fee increases, marathon planning committee director Laura Dudukovich said. “We started this year excited to be back continuing to provide a healthy, safe event for the community.”
Through the end of this month, runners can enter the 5K for $25, the half-marathon for $65 or the full marathon for $80. On Thursday, Sept. 1 and thereafter, the fees will rise by $5 for the 5K and by $15 for the half-marathon and full marathon.
Proceeds from the entry fees and other marathon revenue benefit Columbus Parks and Recreation, Healthy Communities and various other local nonprofits. While entries so far are keeping up with last year, they are well off the pre-COVID pace. At this point in 2019, 2,241 total runners had signed up for the races.
In addition to the return of the full marathon for the 2022 edition, each of the race courses this year will follow a new route. Also, for the first time, all three races will begin at the same time, with the same starter’s pistol, from the start/finish line on Washington Street near The Commons.
Participants in all races also for the first time will share the opening leg of the course. Runners in the 5K, half- and full marathons all will proceed from the start to cross the Third Street Bridge on State Road 46, then circle back to cross the Second Street Bridge, after which routes for each race will diverge.
At a meeting last week, event planners said they also were still seeking volunteers for the event, particularly to help at the start/finish line and as course marshals.
“Even if folks don’t want to run or walk on Saturday, they can still be part of the celebration,” Dudukovich said. “It’s a wonderful boost for the participants to have the volunteers cheering them on.”
