Area 13.1 Half Marathon

AREA 13.1 Half Marathon  is an Out of this World Running Event.   13.1  is a night race in Roswell, GA. One of the most popular courses to run in the State of Georgia. Recently voted 2024 BEST Half Marathon in GA and TOP 50 in the USA by HalfMarathons.net !! The course is OUT OF THIS WORLD FLAT & FAST  with a total elevation gain of the Half marathon at 240  feet, All finishers will receive an awesome alien head medal that will make your head SPIN , coveted Area 13.1 tri blend shirt that will be your new GO TO SHIRT, and for runners 21 and over a free beer donated by Gate City Brewing Company.  Come for the run and stay for the FUN !!  Live -DJ - Food trucks- Vendors- Gate City Brewing  Company !!  

NEW 13.1 COURSE for 2026-  Due to Riverside Park being under construction for renovations until July of 2027.. For 2026 the race will start and finish from Chattahoochee Nature Center. Unfortunately due to size constraints in 2026 there will only be a half marathon and that will be limited to 1500 half marathon runners.  The 10k and 5K along with the 13.1 will return in 2027 when we go back to the newly renovated Riverside Park.  The course can be found under the "Course" tab.  This will be a fast, flat, and fun two-loop course along the river and boardwalks, featuring only 240 feet of elevation gain!
   

Sorry, no jog strollers or pets will be allowed on the race course. Headlamps or running lights are a must have and HIGHLY suggested to all runners, as there are some dark spots along the course. The race starts at 7pm and it gets dark at 8:45 ish. All participants will have 3 hours 45 min to complete this race. The Finish Line WILL CLOSE at 11pm . 

AREA 13.1 Time Limit: All participants will have 3 hours 45 min (17:00 min per mile pace)  to complete this race. 

Links to interactive maps  click on your distance "Half Marathon"  

You can click on the course under Race info for detailed description of each course 

Yes, even the alien invaders were shocked by some of these questions.

AREA 13.1 Roswell, GA is limited and will always be limited to 3000 runners. When it sells out we will be unable to take any more registrants!

EDIT - 2026 will be limited to 1500 runners due to park renovations- It will be back to 3000+ in 2027

Suppose that I’ve carefully read all of these questions and answers and I STILL can’t figure out what the heck is going on. How do I contact the race director?

Well, you can email the race director, at alienhalfmarathon@gmail.com and ask your question. Keep in mind there are SILLY questions like -if you ask for an entry after it is sold out or I registered and now I have other plans can I add the No Questions Asked Refund after the fact and then get a refund... you may not get a response. 

Where are the closest hotels/hotels within walking distance?
**Most frequent email I get is for hotel locations. Please click on the "Lodging" tab above for more information. We have a host hotel that is the most out of this world hotel in Roswell .. There is even a hotel block with a discount  check out "Hotel" tab in menu  

Is there video of the course that I can watch ?

Well indeed there is :) Click here for Course Video -this video will show 2025 and 2027 course please see course TAB for 2026

What color are the shirts?
The color of the shirt will be a surprise this year. All shirts will be gender-specific sizing. Shirt size only guaranteed if registered by August 2nd, 2026, two (2) weeks before race day.

If I'm virtual participant, how do I submit my time and receive packet?
Any platform is acceptable.  We will not require proof of time, but ask virtual participants to submit run time under results tab.  Click here to submit virtual results. All virtual schwag can be picked up at our live early/race day packet pickup. If you're not comfortable with that option, our race director will mail packets 1week after live event.

Who is handling the water stations?
Junction 311 Endurance Sports will own and take full responsibility for all water this year and beyond. Junction 311 Endurance Sports employees will be fully dedicated to the water stations along with some of our charitable partners. Hydration is very important to us and there will be an abundance of fluids at each stop

Is this a hard race?
Well ... it does have only 240 feet of elevation gain and hard is all relative !! I think the better question would be " Is this race fun" and that answer could be quoted from Mr Kool-aid  " OH YEAH "  By far the most fun race I have ever run !!

Can I use headphones?
USATF has changed their rule to a suggestion, for the most part.  Now, instead of telling you that you can’t use them, I can just recommend that you don’t use them. It’s really your call. Check the USATF web site for more info about all their rules.

How long is the Kids Dash?
The kids dash is 1 loop around the track that goes around the field (approximately 300 yards). The kids dash will be back in 2027

Can someone else pick up my race packet?
Yes, you can pick up friends, family and coworkers race packets.  If you pick up before race day, don't forget the race bib when you come to the race! 

Awards?
1st  2nd  3rd Place Overall Male/Female.  These awards are out of this world – literally! Just ask last year’s winners.  Three deep in 13 age groups for both 5K -10K Half Marathon. Overall awards based on Gun Time and Age group awards are based on Chip Time!  

Can I get a refund or sell my entry to someone else?
NO REFUNDS! Refunds will not be issued for any reason unless you have purchased the "The 3rd party REGSHIELD insurance" option.  Registrations are not refundable. If you get injured or something you can defer to next year, you need to do it before race day and it's $10. You can transfer your entry to another person. It must be done at least one week before race day.

What if weather is bad and the race is canceled : The waiver that each runner signs at sign up states-

 This event follows the standard running industry policy: All entry fees are non-refundable. We reserve the right to postpone or cancel the event due to circumstances beyond our control such as a natural disaster or emergency or as required to protect the safety of participants and staff. No refunds will be issued under these circumstances. We reserve the right to change the details of the event without prior notice. I understand that my entry fee is nonrefundable and non transferable

Should I wear a headlamp?
Yes. Unless you like the dark unknown! Seriously It can get really dark and you do not want to end up face down with an Alien standing over you .. Just sayin'! 

If I do not like running in the heat should I run?
Absolutely NOT! Unless you are a masochist. But seriously don't say " it's too hot to run in August!" Do you just not run all summer because it's hot? At least you get to run with water stations and support !! Your training runs in the summer don't get that ... Suck it up buttercup!

If I do not like running in the dark should I run?
Absolutely NOT! See previous question. But don't be a scaredy cat it's fun and it's mostly light for the majority of the race.. PLUS there will be a meteor shower that night.

If I do not like running with aliens because they scare me or I am too religious or I am superstitious should I run?
Absolutely!  It is just a theme ... Let's have fun ?

Are Aliens Real? Will they really be Chasing me?
HMMM depends on who you ask.. It's best I not be the one to break that to you.. and see above it's just a theme nobody will be jumping out at you :)

Will you cancel this race if it is too hot?
WHAT?! NO!  Again, see above -  if you do not like running in the heat DO NOT sign up for this race.

I am an elite runner but missed the registration because it sold out. Because I am a special person will you invite me to run in your race and give me an extra slot?
Aw Hell NO! You are still a human being right? Then register in the appropriate window of time that every other human being has to register in.  Aliens don’t care if you do a sub 5-minute mile and somebody else does a 15-minute mile. They will go after either of you. And trust me they are faster than you anyway. They are extra-terrestrial life forms.

Can I take a Baby Jogger on the course? How about having someone ride beside me on a bike?
NO! Let me restate that: HELL NO! You’ll be disqualified and taken off the course if that happens. There’s not enough room to safely have that happen. The only bikes on the course are the lead bikes and monitors. The only strollers allowed are if you are there with your family supporting a loved one at the finish line. DO NOT ASK FOR AN EXCEPTION TO THIS RULE.

How about dogs?
(See the “HELL NO” part of the baby jogger discussion above. Then double it.)

Do you have TIME LIMITS? We’re avid walkers…not runners.
The half marathon will officially start at 7:00 PM. If you cannot maintain a 17 min/mile DO NOT participate in this event. This is a strict City requirement. You will be (dare I say abducted) if you are not meeting the cut off times. If not abducted you will be removed from the course in a not so friendly manner. If you complain about it we will not even listen to your complaining. This is a race, after all.  Yes we love the saying, "run the race set before you"…but our race has a 3:45hour time limit. DO NOT ASK FOR AN EXCEPTION TO THIS RULE EITHER!

Cutoff Times? Do you have cutoff times for either race?
YES!!! All participants will have 3:45 hours to complete this race. CUTTOFFS- You must reach mile 6.5 (The Park) by 9 PM if you have not we will ask you to stay in the park and party with us- You must be clear of Willeo Drive and have reached the Mile 10 mark by 10:00 pm .  Runners who have not made the 10:00 PM cut will be diverted to the trail to head back to the finish. These cuttoffs do not apply to 2026

Is whining allowed on the course?
NO! You signed up for this on purpose. Deal with it. Area 13.1 race is a HOT one. We have always advertised it as such. August is HOT but luckily it's a night race .. And just because it's hot you don't stop running during the summer do you ?

Finisher Medals, will there be any?
Yes, and they’re really cool too!

What’s the course like?
It’s long. Officially 13.1 miles. Mostly flat.  The Half seriously only has 240 feet up gain ... if you don't know what that means.. Let's put it this way it runs beside a river ...YEP pretty flat 

Chip timed?
Yup.

I don’t like running in the dark will it be hard to see?
Yes – it is a scary night invasion race. With Alien Intruders lurking. We will have light towers but never as much as people who don’t like the dark would want. The last 2 miles of the course is lit up with little puck lights giving it a runway affect .. But if I'm perfectly honest it is a runway for the aliens to land so keep your eye out for UFOs 

I was wondering about aid stations (GU, water, sports drink) as well as first aid stations (that include Vaseline) in terms of their placement along the course.
We’ll have aid/ water stations about every 1 mile along the course. GU Energy Gel at two places on the Half Marathon course. PORTAJOHNS and restroom facilities are at the midway point and MILE 10 aid station. We’ll make sure you’re well hydrated! ALSO Medic will be at the finish and have and have bike medics on course. GATORADE is the official hydration drink on course.  Please note if you need water or Gatorade during the race please drink it !! Every stop will be fully equipped for you to drink as much as you need. You are not limited to how many cups of fluid you can drink please take as many as you need from each water station.  It is your job to know your body and how much fluid you need to take in !!  Plus Aliens typically go after the weakest so DRINK !!!

Age limits? I’m 15 and despite getting told it “wouldn’t be too smart”, I am determined to try to run a half marathon this fall. The AREA 13.1 has a sweet alien head logo and I have seen your awesomely rad shirts around town. Even in Miami where my folks were vacationing. That shirt is super sick!  (I guess thank you?) My mom insisted that I have to find out if there is an age limit in this half marathon before she’ll let me sign up. I am going to prepare mileage-wise, etc., so am I allowed to run in the AREA 13.1 Half Marathon?
“Being too smart” has never been part of the criteria to be a half marathon runner. As long as your mom is cool with it, and you’re trained properly, we have no problem. Make sure you’re well prepared though–youth and enthusiasms are wonderful, but seek the counsel of more experienced runners and be smart about it. We look forward to seeing you – well as long as you escape the Invasion!

What are my options if a "live" event is postponed, cancelled or virtual?
Visit our "Race Guarantee" tab for more details.

Roswell Police Department GIVES. The Roswell Police Department has a longstanding history of participating in the Heroes and Helpers event in conjunction with the Target Corporation. In 2020, as most did, we had to pivot and adapt to a changed environment. Unwilling to pull back from our community, the new "RPD Gives" program was born out of the desire to continue to provide for the needs and smiles of Roswell. Rather than us bringing children to the gifts as in years past, we brought the gifts to the children and their families. RPD Gives raised over $17,000 last year, allowing us the privilege of providing 27 families with over 400 gifts of both necessity and joy. It's our hope to be able to continue to grow this program, providing for even more families and making positive, lifelong community connections. 

DONATE TODAY !!

• Sign up for the Area 13.1 half Marathon
• Once your registration is complete, you will receive a unique referral link to share with your friends and family or post on social media
• Get 5 FRIENDS to sign up using your unique referral link and you will automatically receive a refund of $20.00. Awesome!
• Get 5 MORE FRIENDS (10 TOTAL) to sign up using your unique referral link and you will receive A $20 VISA GIFT CARD. Fantastic!
• DON'T STOP THERE! Cash back rewards JUST KEEP COMING, so make sure to KEEP SHARING after you reach 10 referrals.
• For each additional 10 friends that sign up using your link, you will receive A $50 VISA GIFT CARD!

Gift cards are sent to qualifying recipients the week after the race

Early Packet Pickup - Mandatory 

Thursday  8/13/2026 -2:00pm to 8:30pm - Gate City Brewing Company - 43 Magnolia St, Roswell, GA 30075 ( This location is 3 miles from the race start finish)

Friday  8/14/2026- 12pm to 7:00pm- Big Peach Running Company East Cobb - Woodlawn Point Shopping Center, 1062 Johnson Ferry Rd, Marietta, GA 30068 (This location is 5 miles from the race start finish)

NO Race Day Packet Pickup
Due to the size of the race we are requesting runners in GA to pick up packets ( race number - shirt -  ) at one of our 2 convenient locations on the 13th and14th  Runners can pick up multiple packets for friends and family.  The size of the race and items to be given will make a race day packet pick up very difficult for our volunteers and runners so we are making a mandatory early pick up so that race day will go smoothly for all.  We do understand some will not be able to make this and we ask that you reach out to us. We will approve race day pick up on a case by case basis. Thank you for your understanding

IF YOU ARE STAYING AT OUR HOST HOTEL YOU CAN SKIP PACKET PICKUP AS YOUR SWAG BAG, BIB , AND SHIRT WILL BE WAITING FOR YOU WHEN YOU CHECK IN FOR YOUR ROOM !!   

WHAT YOU NEED TO PICK UP YOUR BIB 

Please print and bring your registration confirmation to packet pick up. You can also have this on your phone and even in your apple wallet which will make it easy to find at check in !! BUT if you are picking up for multiple people it will be easier to have printed registrations for each person.  It is important to have the barcode/ QR visible that is on your registration as this is how we will check you in.  Your registration confirmation was emailed to you after you signed up with the title of the email "Area 13.1 Registration Confirmation"  sent to you by Runsignup ...if you can not locate this you can have it resent to you simply by logging into WWW.RUNSIGNUP.COM and choosing my profile where you will see your current races. Choose Resend confirmation. 

Below is a SAMPLE of what you will need and is NOT your registration

TBD -  Parking will be remote lot only . There will be shuttle service from remote lot to race start.  Unfortunately due to 2026 work around with the city all parking will be remote. More info to come  

- Bag Check - INFO - Registration Tent Opens 4:30 PM

- Stretch OUT 6:15 PM

- Roads around park Close 6:45 PM

- National Anthem and race instructions 6:50 PM

- AREA 13.1 Start: 7:00 PM Race starts on Willeo rd  a short walk from Chattahoochee Nature Center

- Party in the Park Start 7:15 PM

• Awards Ceremony (Tentatively) 13.1 9:30 pm
• 1st 2nd 3rd OVERALL MALE FEMALE will be announced at the main stage 
• 13.1 Age group Awards can be picked up at the Awards Tent starting at 9:30pm

- FINSH LINE and Park Closes 11:00PM

At Junction 311, we love our community of runners and walkers and we value creating memorable race experiences for all.  Part of that experience is giving you peace of mind when you register, because we understand that life can throw you unexpected curve balls. We are proud to offer a few options if for some reason you are not able to participate in the event after registering.

Our 2025 Race Protection Policy allows you to choose from the following:

1)    RunSignUp Race Protection Insurance that can be purchased during check out.  This policy is maintained and serviced by Protecht Insurance and covers Accident and Illness, Travel Interruptions, Family Emergencies, Layoffs, Jury Duty, Work Travel Conflict among other things .When this policy is purchased, you will be given a link to use the policy if needed. Protecht will issue a refund of your race entry minus processing fees. This policy is intended for pre-race items and can be used up until race day.  

2)    You may defer your registration to participate with us in the same race the following year for a $10 change fee for any reason up to 72 hours prior to race day.  Click “manage registration” in your RunSignUp profile to choose this option.

3)    You may switch to a shorter race distance or to virtual, within the same event up to 72 hours prior to race day.  Click “manage registration” in your RunSignUp profile to choose this option.

4)    You may transfer your registration to another event within the Junction 311 portfolio over the next 3 years, of equal or lesser value up to 72 hours prior to race day.   Email jason@junction311.com to request this option.

5)    You can transfer your registration to a friend or family member 72 hours prior to race day. Click “manage registration” in your RunSignUp profile to choose this option.

COMING SOON !!

The Unisex TRI BLEND shirts run true to size 

 13.1 all receive a super cool medal for all finishers!!

Awards will be given to male and female overall 1st 2nd 3rd based on CLOCK TIME

Age group winners 1st 2nd 3rd based on CHIP TIME

Age groups are as follows: U14; 15-19; 20-24; 25-29; 30-34; 35-39; 40-44; 45-49; 50-54; 55-59; 60-64; 65-69; 70 and up.

**Awards MUST be picked up on race day and WILL NOT be shipped or be available for pickup after race day. Please see online results  to confirm an award.  If you’ve won an award and must leave early, a Junction311 team member will assist you.