What are the best running spots for marathoners in Greater Columbus?

Mike Wagner, The Columbus Dispatch
Updated ·4 min read
Darris Blackford, race director for the Columbus Marathon, stands near the entrance to the Antrim Park Loop trail. Blackford visits the loop often and was married on the dock nearby.
Darris Blackford, race director for the Columbus Marathon, stands near the entrance to the Antrim Park Loop trail. Blackford visits the loop often and was married on the dock nearby.

The Nationwide Children’s Hospital Columbus Marathon is about three months away, but the miles are already piling up for those planning to run in the event on Sunday, Oct. 15.

Whether folks are planning on running the 26.2 full marathon, the 13.1 half marathon or even the 5K, the training runs will be a weekly part of their life up until the race.

The training can be grueling, monotonous and isolating especially if the runs are in the same spots day after day.

So The Dispatch asked Darris Blackford, director of the Columbus Marathon, to help provide a little mental relief for the runners.

A runner turns the corner onto 18th Street during the Columbus Marathon.
A runner turns the corner onto 18th Street during the Columbus Marathon.

Below Blackford lists 10 of the best locations in central Ohio to prep for the marathon. They include area trails, parks and roadways in almost every direction.

Last year’s Columbus marathon had 7,800 runners in the half marathon, 3,200 in the full marathon and about a 1,000 participating in the Jesse Owens 5K in what is now the 25 largest marathon in the country.

Event organizers expect those numbers to grow even more this year.

Since becoming the charitable beneficiary of the Columbus Marathon & Half Marathon in 2012, more than$12 million has been generated for Children's Hospital through fundraising, sponsorship and donations,including more than $1.3 million donated directly by the marathon board.

Darris Blackford, race director for the Columbus Marathon, stands near the entrance to the Antrim Park Loop trail. Blackford visits the loop often and was married on the dock nearby.
Darris Blackford, race director for the Columbus Marathon, stands near the entrance to the Antrim Park Loop trail. Blackford visits the loop often and was married on the dock nearby.

Here are Blackford’s best area training spots and some of his thoughts as folks get ready for the fall:

1. Any of the many trails that abound in central Ohio

Any of the paved, multi-use trails/greenways found throughout the region (Olentangy, Alum Creek, Blacklick Creek, Scioto Mile, etc.): For both short and long runs and walks. It’s hard to beat these routes all around the city and suburbs. There are miles of uninterrupted, vehicle-free sections, and many have water fountains at different locations.

2. Columbus and Franklin County Metro Parks paths

Similar to the multi-use trails, except these are typically loops or routes contained within parks such as Sharon Woods, Blacklick Woods and Three Creeks.

3. Multi-use trail on Big Walnut Road from the bottom of the Alum Creek Dam toward the beach

This is a newly-completed trail with a long hill. (Bonus — after, go to the beach and take a dip in the lake!)

4. Wilson Bridge Road/Old Wilson Bridge Road hill

Park at Worthington Mall at the top, or the Worthington Parklands park at the bottom, and run or walk hill repeats to your hearts’ content.

5. OSU campus

Especially on a weekend, there are few people around and it is just a beautiful, meaningful place full of history.

6. The 'Dead Poet' hills in Worthington

Named for folks like Longfellow, Poe & Stevenson, you can put in some good up-and-down hill training to practice your tempo pace.

7. The 'Grandview Heights Zipper'

Another set of hills, start on Grandview Avenue at Goodale Boulevard and go West on Goodale up and down the hills to Lincoln Road, or East from Lincoln Road to Grandview Avenue.

8. The 'Clintonville Zipper'

This one was named by some folks I run with, and is similar in concept to the Grandview route; starting at Glenmont Avenue and High Street, go East on Glenmont to Sharon Avenue for half mile sections, or Indianola Avenue for full miles each way. Go South from Glenmont along High Street to East North Broadway and you can get in 10 miles one way. (Nearby, on the west side of High Street, is what is known as the “Lower Zipper” which has hills in the neighborhood from Henderson Road to Hollenback Road (Whetstone Library).

9. High Banks Metro Park roadway

While the park’s wooded trails are great for soft-surface, undulating runs and walks, the road stretching from Rte. 23 to the bottom of the park is a two-mile workout location used by many local runners and walkers. This is definitely a “single-file” route along the edge of the road facing traffic, and you should wear bright colors, but it’s worth a visit.

10. The Columbus Marathon course

To best learn what OUR Race will be ... run or walk the route! Always be cautious of traffic, and skip some sections that are simply too dangerous except on Race Day (Nelson Road in particular, which does not have sidewalks). Other sections do have sidewalks for safe travel, and in some places you can use the road, always facing traffic, of course!

mwagner@dispatch.com

@MikeWagner48

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: The 10 best running spots for marathoners in the Columbus area