Spectators
It doesn’t take a great athlete to run a marathon, just a patient, committed one. And if you can pull it off, running a marathon can change your life. Your whole notion of what you’re capable of is exploded.
That’s going to be especially true for those who complete the mountainous gut check that is America’s Toughest Road Marathon.
But here’s the truth of it: Running a marathon may seem like a solitary, even lonely, accomplishment, but it really rests upon the aid of friends, family, and a bunch of complete strangers. Many are race volunteers who staff water stops and keep traffic off the course. But many more are people who just show up to watch — especially if they know how to be a good marathon spectator. Sure, you could just holler encouragement while making asides to your neighbor about the insanity of those running by. But you could also do so much more. Click here to learn how you can support the marathon and its runners (special thanks to Matt Chittum and the Roanoke Times for this article (from 2010 but still applicable)).
- Parking Garages
- Rent A Bike from Sharebike or River Greenway Bike Rentals
- PediCab – look for the yellow bike cab around town
- Restaurants
- Art Galleries
- Walkabout Outfitters
- Starlight Bicycles
- Orvis (mention you are here for the marathon and get 20% off non-sale merchandise)
- Science Museum
- Transportation Museum
- O. Winston Link Musuem
- Taubman Museum of Art
- Event Calendars
- Other Outdoor/Sports Stores
EVENT SCHEDULE
Check back often for new and exciting events related to the Blue Ridge Marathon. We’ll try to include anything that will make your experience one to remember.
Marathon Schedule
- Friday, April 15
- Packet Pick Up/Expo (4-9pm) at the Taubman Museum.
- Live music by Blue Moonshine, vendors, food, and more.
- Silent auction for commemorative painting created exclusively for the marathon by Janet Wimmer.
- Restaurants offer Pasta Specials
- Down by Downtown Music Festival – multiple venues throughout downtown:
- Trees on Fire (at Martins)
- TBA (at Blues BBQ)
- Adam Steffey and the Box Cars (at Kirk Avenue Music Hall)
- Against Grace (at Awful Arthurs)
- Barefoot West (at Fork in the City)
- Pace Brothers (at Blue 5)
- TBD (at Corned Beef & Co.)
- Buster B Jones Memorial Jam (at Jefferson Center)
- Packet Pick Up/Expo (4-9pm) at the Taubman Museum.
- Saturday, April 16
- 5:30am-7:00am: Packet and chip pick up for those who didn’t make it to the expo (at Taubman Museum)
- 7:30am: Full, Team Relay, and Half Marathon start
- 8:00am: YMCA Kids Marathon start at Kirk YMCA (one mile away from finish line). Kids finish at same finish line as everyone else.
- 11:00-5pm:
Live music, beer garden, food vendors, climbing wall, bouncy rooms, and moreat finish line area. (due to forecasted heavy rains all music has been relocated to nearby restaurants. Climbing wall, beer garden, and bouncy rooms have been canceled).- 11am – Music Lab
- Noon – Savannah Shoulders
- 1pm – Drew Holcomb and the Neighbors
- 2:30pm – Jamie McLean Band
- 4pm – My Radio
- More: there are multiple bands playing throughout downtown during the evening hours include: Snarky Puppy, Dan Navorro, Southern Culture on the Skids, Oinker, Jason Spooner Band, Relacksachian w/ Lazy Man Dub Band, Hope Clayburn, iFunk Polycrome, and Soul Patch (list of locations).
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- Noon: Half Marathon award ceremony inside Taubman Museum.
- 2:00pm: Full Marathon award ceremony inside Taubman Museum.
- 5:00pm: Roanoke Twilight Criterium (semi and professional road cycling race) begins two blocks from finish line area (includes beer garden, music, and fast moving bicycles).
Other Events of Interest
