The 38th Tallahassee Marathon and Half Marathon will take place on Sunday, February 5, 2012. 

The 26.2 and 13.1 mile courses start and finish at Florida State University, with courses going past Doak Campbell Stadium, down Hendry, Eppes, and Lake Bradford Roads, then jutting over to the St. Marks Trail at Gamble Street.  The half marathon runners get to turn around just north of Capital Circle; the full marathon runners end up south of Woodville before they get to return to FSU.

It is easy and there are many good places along the course to spectate and cheer on the runners.  Event organizers are expecting to have about 950 to 1000 runners on the course, and they can use all of the encouragement they can get.  The races are well-enough known for their great organization and volunteer support, but could really stand some help from the natives in the area of spectators.  Look up the race course on the web site (www.tallahasseemarathon.com), get up early, bring your lawn chair and your best cheering mode with you.  Runners will be out from 7:30 to 1:30.

Another thing the race is known for is its very fast winning times due to its flat course, and this, along with cash awards offered, have attracted some of the country's most accomplished marathoners.  Justin Gillette (who won 15 of the 20 marathons he ran in 2011) and his wife, Melissa, are coming back for their fourth Tallahassee Marathon.  James Kiptoo Cheruiyot, who won two years ago, is returning.  Chuck Engle, who recently ran his 281st marathon, achieving his 142nd first place finish, is also coming.  Not only is he running, he is a featured speaker the day before at the marathon expo, which is open to the public.

A number of other high-profile runners are also coming to run, including 1980 Olympic marathon team member Benji Durden.  Benji was here two years ago, but ran the half marathon while his wife, Amie, ran the full.  This year he is going for the long course.

Leah Thorvilson, who ran in the Olympic trials race two weeks ago will also be here, with a goal to break the current women's course record of 2:43:32.  In addition to a first place prize for each gender of $1200, there is a $500 bonus for breaking the course record.  The current men's course record is 2:20:30.

So come to the course and cheer if you are not running.  If you would rather run though, you can register on-line or at the expo (although the half is limited to 800 runners and could be full- it's not yet).   If you really want to procrastinate, you can pay a little more and register on race morning (not recommended).  This is what last year's winner, Esteban Vanegas did.  You never know who is going to show up on race morning!