COLUMBIA, S.C. — It's shaping up to be a busy weekend in Columbia, South Carolina.
The forecast for Saturday is sunny and warm, with a high in the mid-70s, perfect weather for a morning run. With that in mind, motorists and visitors in the downtown Columbia area should be aware that the 2024 Lexington Medical Center Governor's Cup Half Marathon will start at 7:30 a.m. at the corner of Sumter and Senate streets. The 12.5-mile race course will wind through Columbia's neighborhoods, ending when the last runner crosses the finish line in at 1110 Park St., in the Vista.
According to race organizers, the first three miles will be relatively flat and fast as runners move from near the State House through historic downtown Columbia, along Richland Street towards Finlay Park. From there, come some moderate hills, along Gadsden to Gervais to Pulaski streets before turning uphill on Greene Street, over to Lincoln to Blossom. Runners will take Blossom Street through to Five Points and into the Shandon neighborhood to Kilbourne Road for a relatively smooth track through Heathwood along Trenholm Road before another hilly section to Devine Street. Make it to mile 10 and it's almost all downhill from there -- along Devine Street, back through Five Points, around the University of South Carolina's Horseshoe, and around the State House and ending on Park Street.
There is a 3-hour and 15-minute time limit on the race.
Columbia Police and volunteers will be along the route to direct runners along the course and temporarily halt traffic for the safety of the race participants.
Fun fact about those hills: The starting line of the race is at an elevation of 310 feet above sea level, the finish line is 290 feet above sea level. The highest point in the race is 325 feet and the lowest point is 200 feet above sea level.
