Run Your Ath Off

Come along with me as I describe my experience of running the Athens Half Marathon

by second year Mai Lei Long

On Sunday, November 3, 2024, over 2,500 people lined up to complete the 15th annual AthHalf Half Marathon hosted by AthFest Educates. The race began at the intersection of Washington Street and College Avenue in downtown Athens, wound through historic neighborhoods, and traversed the University of Georgia’s campus before ending at the Tate Student Center. Every year, the proceeds of the race provide funding for local K–12 music and arts education programs. For those who still want to support the cause but don’t necessarily want to run 13.1 miles, the AthFest Educates 5k takes place a day earlier, on Saturday afternoon before the Half Marathon on Sunday.

It was 7:00 am. The morning air was a cool 61℉ and full of the fog you can feel as mist on your skin. In a nutshell, it was prime running weather—not too hot or too cold. Before the start, people could be spotted stretching on curbs, bouncing on the balls of their feet, and striding down blocked-off Washington Street, loosening up their legs in anticipation of the long race ahead. As runners and walkers made their way into their assigned corrals at 7:20 am, you could feel the excitement in the air, taste the anticipation and adrenaline of the crowd.

The determination and the hard work leading up to this moment was tangible. This was where you could show off the training and time spent to make it here. This is where your grit and willpower would get you through the next 13.1 miles. No matter if the individual’s goal was to run a new personal best, to make a specific time, or to simply finish the race, everyone was standing in solidarity; together we would wind our way through the hilly streets of Athens and take on the AthHalf.

The race began at 7:30 am, and the mass of runners surged forward past the start line when the gun went off. Cowbells, cheers, live music, and the sound of 2,000 people’s footsteps filled my ears. The atmosphere was electric. Spectators lined the sides of the streets with signs varying from motivational to amusing. Here are a few of my favorites: “This seems like a lot of work for a free banana,” “Smile if you aren’t wearing underwear,” and “You have to finish because you paid for this.”

No part of the course was devoid of people, their signs, or their support. Every mile brought new scenery and new experiences. The first few miles were in downtown Athens and through neighborhoods. At mile 3, a family had a table with paper cups of beer for runners. One man mistaking it for water grabbed a cup and took a sip. He grimaced and coughed, remarking, “that’s not water,” which elicited a collective laugh from everyone around him.

During mile 6—the halfway point on Milledge Avenue—I spotted my parents in the crowd, cheering loudly. Loved ones, family, and friends alike filled the sidewalks, giving runners motivation to keep going. At mile 8, volunteers offered GU energy packets to runners on East Campus Rd. At mile 11, the course passed by the Driftmier engineering building and continued to Myers Quad with its colorful fall trees. There was a DJ hyping everyone up. The first time I passed him, he was playing Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars’s “Uptown Funk.” The second time, he was playing Chappell Roan’s “Hot to Go.” I let the music and the beat drive me. “Less than two miles to go. That’s nothing compared to the 11 already run,” I told myself—willed myself—and kept running.

Finally, I made it to mile 13; my legs were burning. Everything in my body was screaming at me to stop, but as I ran through Sanford Stadium and saw Dooley Field and its famous hedges, I felt a burst of energy from the campus itself. The history of every Saturday between the hedges where crowds roar and the Dawgs fight for victory energized me, pushed my legs to keep turning. With one last burst down Lumpkin Street, past the Bolton intersection, and by Tate, I crossed the line and slowed to a walk.

I did it. I had completed my first half marathon, and I had met my goal of completing it in less than two hours. My body hurt and my lungs gasped for air, but I felt triumphant. The time on the clock reminded me: I can do anything I put my mind to if I work hard for it. Maybe my next challenge will be the Classic City Marathon in upcoming years.