Marathon runners blanket Albany

ALBANY — Marathon runners from across the nation and beyond began arriving in Albany Friday to join a flurry of activity leading up to Saturday’s 10th annual Snickers Marathon and Half Marathon.

By early Friday morning, race volunteers were steady at work preparing to greet the estimated 1,500 runners that began picking up their race packets at the Hilton Garden Inn during runner registration Friday afternoon.

Representatives from the Albany Convention and Visitors Bureau, including Rashelle Beasley, Kristen Schuette, and Katie Hughes, joined volunteers in the Hilton’s conference rooms to make sure runners could easily register and pick up their race numbers, and gift packets which included shirts and other goodies.

Additionally, crews from Albany’s Rental Depot were hard at work erecting tents at the race finish line in Riverfront Park, below the Albany Welcome Center, while others were preparing the starting line adjacent to the Veterans Park Amphitheatre, next to the Albany Civic Center.

“There’s a lot that goes into getting this thing ready,” said Beasley. “We’ve had volunteers working all week to make sure we have everything we need in place by the time the runners show up, and they’ll be doing even more before participants start running in the morning.”

Even as that work was in progress, some runners were already in town. Throughout the day Friday runners could be seen strolling along the Flint River trails or in the streets of downtown Albany to prepare for Saturday’s marathon and half marathon.

Other race participants were seen coming and going at the Hilton Garden Inn, with many simply enjoying a light meal or a cup of coffee.

Such was the case with Jim and Bernadette Lathrop, and their friends, Gregory Brown and Runnin’ Rob, all of whom had travelled a considerable distance to take part in Albany’s signature race.

The Lathrops hail from Indianapolis, and are seasoned runners who are attempting to finish at least one race in each of the 50 states. Runnin’ Rob, who has already accomplished that feat, came all the way from Hawaii to once again compete in the Snickers Marathon.

Rob also managed to get his good friend Gregory Brown, himself a veteran runner about to take part in his 234th marathon, to join him all the way from San Francisco.

“I’ve already run one marathon in Georgia, in Atlanta,” said Brown. “But he invited me and when your friend invites you to run with him, I thought, ‘why not.’”

All runners, regardless of where they came from or whether or not they are running the full or half marathon, will arrive at the race starting line around 6:30 a.m. Saturday to be greeted by race officials and Albany Mayor Dorothy Hubbard. Participants will then begin their respective treks at 7 a.m.

According to Beasley the first of the half marathon competitors are expected to arrive at the finish line around 8:10 a.m. Full marathon participants are expected to begin finishing around 9:30 a.m. and awards will be presented to the runners shortly after they finish, beginning with the half marathon awards at 9 a.m.

Although it varies greatly, Beasley said that based on past experience most, if not all, of the runners should be off the course by 3 p.m. Saturday.

In an effort to make sure the runners, and the 1,700 plus volunteers who are helping, have a good time while in Albany, they are each receiving a ticket to the Mardi Gras Street Festival which kicks off with the Albany Humane Society Pet Parade at noon.

The Mardi Gras will encompass the 100 block of Pine Avenue and will feature a variety of entertainment, including live music from six musical acts that will play throughout the day until 8:30 p.m.

“It’s such an awesome weekend for Albany,” said Beasley. “To see all of these people from all over the world really, come to our town is just amazing. It’s such a great opportunity for us to show people what makes our community so special. And there’s a lot that makes it such a great place. It’s a beautiful place, there’s so many fun things to do, and most importantly we’ve got great people here.

“That’s probably one of the things I hear the most from visitors. They tell me all the time, ‘everyone’s so nice,’ and ‘I really enjoyed meeting everyone.’ It makes me so happy to know that we can bring visitors to Albany and that they will be treated great and likely want to come back.”