Combos Marathon and Half-Marathon set for Saturday in Albany

ALBANY – The 20th big race in Albany will kick off on Saturday morning, and area residents who are not into running can come downtown to watch or just stand outside to cheer on the participants if the course takes the pack through their neighborhood.

Since its inception, the Combos Marathon and Half-Marathon has brought more than 30,000 runners from all 50 states, plus international contestants from all over the world, to southwest Georgia.

The annual race is hosted by the Albany Convention and Visitors Bureau.

The race, originally the Snickers Marathon and Half-Marathon, was rebranded with the Combos moniker in 2022. The 26.1-mile run has made a name for itself as a Top 10 qualifier for the prestigious Boston Marathon.

As of Tuesday, 333 runners had signed up for the marathon and another 481 were set to take part in the half-marathon event. That 814 figure was expected to grow as more participants were signing up as the countdown to the race drew closer.

Registrations have come from 29 states outside of Georgia and two countries, including Bolivia and Mexico, race organizers said.

“This community event is made possible with over 1,000 volunteers,” the CVB said in a news release. “We could not have a successful and safe event without our local law enforcement and community volunteers.”

As part of the race, area drivers can expect to see occasional partial lane closures along the route. The marathon route, described as fast and flat, includes a scenic tour of Albany and starts on Front Street next to Veterans Park.

The route includes portions along Oglethorpe Boulevard toward the Albany State University West Campus, along Gillionville Road, Doublegate Drive, and through Rawson Circle, with runners traveling through Hilsman Park, the Thronateeksa Heritage Museum and the old train depot before arriving at the finish line at RiverFront Park behind the Albany Welcome Center.

The Albany Marathon Inc. donates race proceeds to the Willson Hospice House every year. To date, the Marathon has donated more than $365,000 to hospice care.