Albany Marathon

The Albany Marathon is a flat, USATF-certified marathon and half marathon held each March in Albany, Georgia. Founded in 2006 by oncologist Dr. Jose Tongol together with Sara Underdown and course designer Wendy Donnan, the race marked its 20th anniversary in 2026 and has grown into the city's second-largest annual fundraiser, benefiting Willson Hospice House. The event has run under several title sponsors over the years — first as the Snickers Marathon Energy Bar Marathon, later simply the Snickers Marathon, and today as the Combos(R) Marathon and Half Marathon — while the race itself remains known locally as the Albany Marathon. More than 20% of marathon finishers typically qualify for the Boston Marathon, making it one of the highest Boston-qualifying-rate courses in the country. The route passes Albany State University's West Campus and neighborhoods including Doublegate, with aid stations roughly every two miles stocked with Combos, Aquafina water, and Gatorade, plus bananas, oranges, and GU gels in the later miles. The marathon and half marathon share a 7:00 a.m. start alongside wheelchair and handcycle divisions, award a combined $12,000 in prize money, and finish into a free downtown Rock & Roll Music Festival for participants.