pacertrip.

PACERTRIP CITY EDITIONUS / RACE GUIDE

Mill Race Marathon & Half Marathon

The city you want to run becomes your next trip.

Columbus
US

PghPhxNfk · CC BY-SA 4.0Ken Owens Photography · CC BY-SA 3.0Mark Sundstrom · CC BY-SA 2.0

Race date in 352 days: Sep 25, 2027 Sat
City · Distance: Columbus · 42.195km · 21.1km
Entry fee: $85Varies by event and entry period
Status: SoonSee how to enter ↗

2027Date Sep 25, 2027 · Soon

2026

2026Date Sep 26, 2026 · Entry Apr 6, 2026 ~

Official website ↗D-day as of Oct 8, 2026

About the race Runner stories How to enter Course Race Prep Travel

Why you dream of this race

THE DREAM

ABOUT THE RACE

A day you'll remember,
long past the finish line.

An annual Boston-qualifying race held in Columbus, Indiana.

Events include full marathon, half marathon, a 5K, and a children's Fun Run.

Known for its flat, fast course, it attracts runners from around the world.

The road to your own record

Picture the course in advance
and find the pace that fits you.

When the city cheers

Streets lined with cheers, runners all around.
You'll be part of that scene.

The trip that follows the run

Take it slow with the finish still in you,
and meet the city all over again.

Stories from those who ran it first.

From the joy of finishing to the tough moments — read what runners wrote themselves.

Race reports: 2

LindthomRan in 2018 · Finish time 3:11:12

“I was crying so hard at this point. I couldn't believe I finished.”

At the Mill Race half marathon, the runner alternated running and walking, overcoming back pain with help from family and fellow runners. They ran the final stretch to finish in 3 hours 11 minutes 12 seconds and achieved their goal of keeping every mile under 15 minutes.

Read the original on Reddit r/running

JoeRan in 2013 · Finish time 4:52:53

“In retrospect, I realized I simply didn’t drink enough fluids early enough.”

At the Mill Race Marathon, the runner tackled another full marathon just 6 days after a previous marathon. Heat and leg fatigue slowed them late on to a 4 hour 52 minute 53 second finish, followed by cramps in both feet that required rest.

Read the original on Joe

We translated a short line from each public race report and summarized the experience. Finish times are as stated by the author, and past editions may differ from this year's weather and operations.

See it on video,
feel it through their stories.

Preview the course and read what runners who went before you wrote.

Finisher vlog

Mile for the Camera · Finisher vlog

View on YouTube

This may be from a past edition. Check the organizer for this year's course and operations.

The way in that fits you

YOUR ENTRY

How to reach the start line —
start with what fits you.

Here are the ways to enter and what each requires.
Check the organizer's page for whether entries are open.

Marathon

Entry cost $85

subject to change — verify officially

Organizer's page

Half

Entry cost $75

subject to change — verify officially

Organizer's page

5K Run/Walk

Entry cost $30

subject to change — verify officially

Organizer's page

Student 5K (High School or younger)

Entry cost $12

subject to change — verify officially

Organizer's page

Registration platform Race Roster

Official race website Entry options

From the start line to the finish

RACE WEEK

The 42.195km I'll run

Know the course and time limit, and race day comes into focus.

Runners start · local timeFrom 07:30

Event	Start
Mill Race Marathon & Half Marathon 202642.195km	07:30

City center · not the start line

We have not confirmed the start line coordinates yet. The map shows the host city.

START

500 Washington St, Columbus, IN

The event includes a Marathon, Half Marathon, 5K Run/Walk, and Student 5K (High School or younger).

The start is at 7:30 AM local time in Columbus, IN.

Typical race-season temperature: around 21°C (69°F): Short sleeves — hydrate for the warmth

Participant benefits

Not yet confirmed in the official race guide

From the most recent edition

Event T-shirt 2026

This may change for the next edition.

To the start line,
step by step.

Pick up your bib, check your wave.
So on race morning, you can just run.

Pick up your bib at the expo

The Commons (300 Washington Street, Columbus, IN), Friday 10:00 AM–8:00 PM, ID required

The Commons

Google Maps

Stations & transport near the venue

Getting to the startNo train/subway station; Columbus, IN has no fixed-rail transit.
Getting to the finishSame downtown area as start (no rail · subway service in Columbus, IN)
IC cardColumbus, Indiana has a small local bus system (C4 Transit) but it uses cash fares only, with no citywide…

Source · checked Aug 24, 2026

More details

Getting to the start

No train/subway station; Columbus, IN has no fixed-rail transit. Nearest public transit is Columbus Area Transit (local bus) but no route is documented serving the start directly.

Start is at Washington & 7th Streets in downtown Columbus, IN. Three parking garages plus surface lots are within 3 blocks of the start/finish and are free.

Columbus, IN is a small city with no passenger rail or subway; the race is designed as a walk-in/drive-in event using downtown parking garages plus the organizer's free Walmart shuttle.

Map

Getting to the finish

Same downtown area as start (no rail/subway service in Columbus, IN)

Finish is at 4th & Washington Streets, with an after-party (food trucks, music) right at the finish.

Map

Start shuttle

Organizer-run free shuttle bus operates from the Walmart parking lot to the start/finish area on race morning.

IC card

Columbus, Indiana has a small local bus system (C4 Transit) but it uses cash fares only, with no citywide reloadable transit card. Most visitors will find driving or rideshare (Uber/Lyft) more practical for reaching the Mill Race Marathon start/finish area.

Source · checked Aug 24, 2026

READY TO RUN

From race morning to after the finish.

Your start time, fuel and bag drop.
Know them ahead and the run feels easier.

The expo and BIB pickup take place on Friday, the day before the race, from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM at The Commons (300 Washington Street) in downtown Columbus.

ID is required.

Course features a flat, fast USATF-certified course, attracting runners targeting Boston Marathon qualifying times.

Bag check opens at 6:45 AM on race day.

Times are local to Columbus. Check the latest official information before the race.

A trip built around the race

STAY A LITTLE

MAKE IT A RUNTRIP

The race is one day,
the trip can be longer.

From a hotel that makes race morning easy,
to the meals and views you'll enjoy with the medal on.

Residence Inn By Marriott Columbus

Hotel · 4.6km

9.2/10(119)

View on Booking.com

Yoga & Coffee Tour on the Trolley Pub

$40

Mill Race Marathon & Half Marathon

About Mill Race Marathon & Half Marathon — what makes it special

A day you'll remember,long past the finish line.

The road to your own record

When the city cheers

The trip that follows the run