The Marshall University Marathon is a road race that connects the riverside, parks, and university memories of Huntington, West Virginia.
Passing through views of the Ohio River and urban green spaces, the organizers present course as a flat and fast route.
Full marathon is operated as a certified distance, and half marathon and short runs and walks are also held,
so runners aiming for records and local participants share the same event.
In full marathon, we continue the scenery of Huntington by going around the same section of the city again.
The final scene of the competition is connected to the college football culture.
A representative feature of this race is the completion method, in which participants hold a football across the grass field and pass the goal line.
Unlike typical road finals, the race ends inside the stadium, so the college sports space becomes the stage for the runners' completion.
Marco, the university mascot, also welcomes participants, adding to the atmosphere of an event created jointly by the region and the university.
Full marathon also contains the meaning of remembrance.
Participants returning to campus can receive flowers and place them in the Marshall University Memorial Fountain.
This is a way to remember the plane crash that killed the college football team and its officials,
and is connected to the incident that served as the background for the movie “We Are Marshalls.” Participation in laying flowers is optional,
but the ride through the city includes moments of exposure to the history of the university community.
The nature of the Marshall University Marathon is that the open scenery of the riverside,
the path in the park, the race finish, and the memorial are all placed together in one race.
