Runners from across the globe in Albany for marathon, half marathon

ALBANY — A number of factors were in play to draw roughly 1,500 runners from throughout the United States and several foreign countries to Southwest Georgia on Friday as they prepared to take a shot at the Albany Marathon and Half-Marathon this morning.

Karl Langenvach is among those runners. He lives in Bishop, which is near Athens, and is running in the marathon to attempt to qualify for the Boston Marathon next year.

“Friends of mine have run it, and they have said it is a good course,” he said. “I’ve done a lot of events across the country, and good recommendations are critical.”

Langenvach has done Ironman Triathlon, half-marathon and cyclist events. This is his first full marathon, which he is hoping to complete in three hours and 25 minutes.

“I’ve lived in Georgia most of my life. I know this a nice town and great time to be here,” he said. “This is the only race I’m doing this year to try to qualify. This is a big commitment; I’m putting all my eggs in this basket.

“I do sports because I enjoy it. It is an outlet outside family and work.”

Leith Daley-Cummins, from Barbados, is running today so she can attempt to gain membership into the 50 States Marathon Club. The one in Albany will count as her Georgia race, and she is planning to do her next one in Montgomery, Ala., next week.

Keeping in mind her commitment in Alabama, she said she is going for a time of four hours and 30 minutes.

“We are hoping it will be warm,” she said. “This is just a great atmosphere, and the elevation looks good. (We also like) the Southern hospitality.”

Nannette Samuelson, from Aledo, Texas, has brought most of her family with her to Albany to cheer her on in her first full marathon while others will be tracking her progress from home.

She has no set goal in mind. She just wants to get through the race.

“I’ve never done a marathon. This was my first, and I wanted to do one in the spring that was on a flat course,” Samuelson said. “All the reviews looked good, so I picked this one.

“I just want to do my first marathon. I’ve done sprint triathlons in the spring and summer. I’ve done a half-marathon, but never a full marathon. I just want to finish. It is the right time of year … and it looks like it will be perfect weather.”

The marathon, in addition to serving as a qualifier for the Boston Marathon, is also an economic booster for the Southwest Georgia area — to the tune of $1 million when combined with the festival in downtown Albany that takes place today — as well as a benefit for the Willson Hospice House, the home of Albany Community Hospice.

To date, proceeds for the hospice house have amounted to $175,000.