OhioHealth Capital City Half & Quarter Marathon

The OhioHealth Capital City Half & Quarter Marathon returns to Downtown Columbus on Saturday, April 24, 2027, with an 8 AM start. All events start and finish on S. High Street at the Columbus Commons, so you'll be right in the heart of the city for both the beginning and the end.

This is the race's 24th year—it first ran in 2004—and it's grown into a major local fixture that draws more than 12,000 runners and walkers annually. USA Today readers voted it the number two half marathon in the country, a spot it's held two years in a row, marking a third consecutive year of national recognition. The organizers call it the 'Best Tour of Columbus on Two Feet,' and the course lives up to that: it threads through some of the city's top neighborhoods, including the University District, South Campus Gateway, the Short North Arts District, the Arena District, and downtown. More than 30 bands and entertainers line the route, so there's music to keep you moving while you pass through different parts of town.

It's pitched as a celebration of a healthy, active lifestyle rather than a straight race, with a distance for every pace—half and quarter options—and a post-race party with food, drinks, and live music for every finisher. Proceeds benefit the OhioHealth Foundation. The whole thing brings in an estimated $7.5 million for the local economy each year, which explains why it's such a big deal for the city.

If you're planning to run, the start is Saturday, April 24, at 8 AM, with everything kicking off and wrapping up at the Columbus Commons on S. High Street.