Spectators

To make following your runner along the course easy, download the live tracking app. Just enter their name or bib number and voilà: you will get updates of where they are on the course and estimates for when they’ll cross the next checkpoint (or finish line!)

Spectator Details

A little more than 1/2 the course is accessible via neighborhood and city streets, but there’s a few places where you can park and walk/hike to see runners at multiple spots on the course. If you’re supporting a runner and want to maximize your cheering spots, we’ve highlighted those spots below.

Spectator Location #1: Start/Finish at Elmwood Park

  • Address: Elmwood Park
  • All Spectators:  Maybe this is a given, but Elmwood Park is a great spot to watch your runner start and finish the race. There’s food & beer available nearly all day, as well as vendors, music, access to the Main library and Peter Pan Playground, as well as access to the Market area and surrounding downtown streets, and – of course- lots of race-day action to keep you engaged at the park while your runner’s out crushing their goals!
  • Nearby Amenities– Virtually all of Roanoke’s downtown restaurants, shops, breweries, and cafes will be open on race day – ask a volunteer or another spectator to point you towards the Market Area for the majority of your options.

Spectator Location #2: For Hikers!- Star Trail Parking Lot

  • Address: Off of Riverland Rd. SE, Roanoke VA 24014
  • Make sure that you’re following your runner on the live-tracking race app so you don’t miss them!
  • Half & Full Marathon Spectators:  Park at the Star Trail parking lot and walk up the trail less than a mile to intersect the J.B. Fishburn Parkway. You will hit the runners before mile 2 so if you go to the starting line you may not have time for this. After they pass, you can continue hiking to the top of the star and hit the full marathon runners at mile 13.

Spectator Location #3: First Presbyterian Parking Lot

  • Address: 2101 Jefferson St. SW, Roanoke VA 24014 (enter parking lot on Crystal Spring Ave)
  • Great for FAMILIES! First Presbyterian is letting spectators park there, use the playground and bathrooms!
  • Half Marathon Spectators:  From the church parking lot, you can walk up McClanahan St. SW to the corner of Rosalind and catch the halfers around mile 6.5. Then walk over to Sweet Donkey Coffee, River and Rail or Fork in the Alley for coffee, snacks or an adult beverage of your choice (following your runner on the app). Then head back near the church to Jefferson St. SW to catch them around mile 11.5. After that head back to the start/finish area in Elmwood for the after-party!
  • Full Marathon Spectators:  From the church parking lot, you can walk up McClanahan St. SW to the corner of Rosalind and catch the full marathon runners around mile 15.5. Then walk over to Sweet Donkey Coffee, Crystal Spring Grocery, River and Rail or Fork in the Alley for coffee, snacks or an adult beverage of your choice (following your runner on the app). Then head back near the church to Jefferson St. SW to catch them around mile 20.5. After that head back to the start/finish area in Elmwood for the after-party!

 

Spectator Location #4: Highland Park

  • Address: Highland Park 502 Washington Avenue Southwest, Roanoke, VA 24016
  • Full Marathon Spectators Only:  Take advantage of free street parking along Mountain Ave, Washington Ave. or any of the intersecting streets. Once you find a spot you can head over to Highland Ave and Highland Park to watch the marathoners. If you’re feeling REALLY ambitious you can hustle over to Luck Ave. to catch the marathoners at mile 25.5, or high-tail it to Elmwood Park to catch the finish.
  • Nearby Amenities– For a quick bite swing by Sunnyside Market & for tasty craft coffee see Second Cafe’!

Other Helpful Links-

Making Your Own Aid Station?

Some of the best moments on the course come from pop-up aid stations put together by neighbors and community members. We love to see it. There’ve been some amazing contributions over the years, so get out there bring some music, set up a table and tailgate the day away while the runners pass! If you’re looking for a good spot for a DIY aid stations, we recommend looking to public parks like Rivers’ Edge or Highland Park – both spots have official aid stations, but they’re great places to cheer, or friends’ houses along course. Make sure you’ve got permissions and all that ;)!