OhioHealth Capital City Half Marathon returns to Columbus: What to know about race day

Micah Walker, The Columbus Dispatch
·3 min read
Participants in the Capital City Half Marathon make their way across the Lane Avenue Bridge in 2012. The race will be returning in person Saturday after going virtual for the pandemic.
Participants in the Capital City Half Marathon make their way across the Lane Avenue Bridge in 2012. The race will be returning in person Saturday after going virtual for the pandemic.

After two years of virtual racing, the OhioHealth Capital City Half Marathon is coming back Saturday.

More than 10,000 people are expected to participate in this year's event, including the quarter marathon and 5K, according to race director David Babner.

The half and quarter marathons will start Saturday at 8 a.m. while the 5K will start at 8:30 a.m. The races will start at High and Town streets and end at the John F. Wolfe Columbus Commons, going through German Village, Downtown, the Short North and University District before heading back toward Downtown.

News: Runners rejoice as OhioHealth Capital City Half Marathon returns to in-person after hiatus

From what roads will be closed to suggestions on where to park, here's a guide on what to look out for race weekend.

Registration still open for Capital City Half Marathon, other events

Registration will open for all three races— the half marathon, quarter marathon and the 5K—even on race day.The cost for the half marathon is $100, $80 for the quarter marathon and $45 for the 5K.

Parking on race day at Columbus Commons

Molly Bookmyer finishes first in the female category of the Capital City Half Marathon in Columbus in 2019.
Molly Bookmyer finishes first in the female category of the Capital City Half Marathon in Columbus in 2019.

Preferred, prepaid parking is available at the Columbus Commons garage. A receipt is required if runners prepay for parking, and they should print their receipt and bring it with them the day of the event.

Road closures will begin Friday

As event organizers begin to set up for the race on Friday, there will be road closures from Friday at 5 p.m. to Saturday at 2 p.m. They are:

  • High Street from Broad Street to Rich Street

  • West Town Street from West Front Street to South High Street

  • East Town Street from South Third Street to the Columbus Commons Garage

  • East Rich Street from High Street to South Third Street

On Saturday, the half marathon, quarter marathon and 5K will have “rolling” road closures that will affect streets throughout the city from 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

In addition, I-70 will be closed between I-71 and Route 315 from Friday at 11 p.m. until Monday at 5 a.m. due to construction. All traffic into Downtown will be redirected via I-670 or East Broad Street.

Public transit changes for COTA routes due to Cap City Half Marathon

There will be some changes to COTA routes as a result of the Capital City Half Marathon.
There will be some changes to COTA routes as a result of the Capital City Half Marathon.

The Capital City Half Marathon will also affect routes for the Central Ohio Transit Authority Friday and Saturday.

The busing system will begin the first of four phases Friday at 5 p.m. and continue into early Saturday morning, COTA stated on its website. Reroutes will include lines 1, 2, 102, 8, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46 as well as CMAX and AirConnect.

The second phase will begin Saturday at 8 a.m. and include reroutes for all lines operating in the Downtown area, as well as routes 22 and 31.

The third phase will begin after the course opens south of Downtown and include reroutes for lines 5 and 8. The last phase will begin after the marathon for lines 1, 2, 102, 8, CMAX and AirConnect.

Micah Walker is the Dispatch trending reporter. Reach her at mwalker@dispatch.com or 740-251-7199. Follow her on Twitter @micah_walker701.

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Cap City Half Marathon 2022: Road closures, parking, bus route changes