London OH Marathon

Small race just outside Columbus. Fun concept, playing on the name (London). Nice medal. Only had 5 port-o-johns at the start, and one at around 3, 10, 16, and 23 miles (the course is a double out and back, so it was really just one). Perfect weather, although the sun directly in your face for 1/4 of the race. Nice friendly volunteers and police traffic control.

Don't expect spectacular views or big crowds. This is a double out and back course with the majority on a rail-to-trail, so absolutely straight. Into the sun on the out portions. Most of the out is very slightly uphill and any breeze from the east can get annoying since it compounds the elevation gain.

London is a pretty small town so not much in the way of amenities. We stayed 30 minutes away in Hilliard (west Columbus) and that wasn't bad - lots of hotel, restaurant and shopping options. Parking was adequate given the size of the race.

I've run it once and spectated once. I ran this in 2024 and thought it was fine for a cheap, fast Spring race that's close to Columbus. The organization wasn't great that year, but I had a good race. In '24 it was a 13.1 mile out/back.

I spectated a friend this year (2026) and now I don't think I'll ever sign up again, unfortunately. The course changed to a 6.6mi out and back that you now have to do twice, and the course is basically just a straight line through farm fields. The race organization was just really bad though. That was clear to me as a spectator. The race didn't seem to secure any permitting for the road crossings outside of town, which left volunteers in plain clothes trying their best to stop traffic on a state highway–but we saw drivers get angry, runners get angry, and the volunteers almost get run over by an angry local. The sheriff came at one point, but only to tell us we couldn't park there. They ran out of water cups at the station we were near, and unfortunately the volunteers didn't seem trained in how to hand off a cup to a runner. There were lines for the singular porta potty at the same water stop.

Once you're off the trail and headed back through town to the start/finish, there's almost no signage or markings to direct runners. My friend got lost which cost her one of her time goals. Don't expect more than a handful of people at the finish. There's no medical tent/medics at the finish line either...so good luck.

It's cheap and it'll be fast on a calm day. Basically 0 crowd support, so get used to being alone.

Great little race! Ran this in 2026, and weather was perfect! The course is very flat and completely straight out and back (turn around at a cone in the middle of the paved, tree lined hike/bike path) - primed for PRs. I did the half, and clocked in at 13.12 for total distance on my Garmin (with no turns, everyone is right on the blue line the entire race). With only ~400 total runners in 2026, great little event.