The Olympic marathon trials, which will determine the three women and three men who will represent the United States in the marathon in the 2020 summer Olympics in Tokyo, will take place on Feb. 29 in Atlanta.

As the hundreds of elite runners weave throughout the city, there will be ample opportunities for spectators to see the race for themselves. And since the footrace will go through multiple Atlanta neighborhoods, there will also be plenty to do around the course.“Highlighting Atlanta’s Olympic history and legacy, the course for the U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Marathon will take athletes on a tour of some of Atlanta’s most important attractions and neighborhoods,” the race’s website notes.

The Olympic marathon trials, which will determine the three women and three men who will represent the United States in the marathon in the 2020 summer Olympics in Tokyo, will take place on Feb. 29 in Atlanta.

As the hundreds of elite runners weave throughout the city, there will be ample opportunities for spectators to see the race for themselves. And since the footrace will go through multiple Atlanta neighborhoods, there will also be plenty to do around the course.“Highlighting Atlanta’s Olympic history and legacy, the course for the U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Marathon will take athletes on a tour of some of Atlanta’s most important attractions and neighborhoods,” the race’s website notes.Here’s your guide of things to do along the course:

Start line: The race will start (and finish) in downtown’s Centennial Olympic Park around noon, with the men leaving the start line around 12:03 p.m. and the women slated to begin around 12:13 p.m.After watching the race get underway, there are plenty of downtown attractions to explore, like the World of Coca-Cola, College Football Hall of Fame, National Center for Civil and Human Rights or Georgia Aquarium.

From the center of downtown, the race will make its way north, looping through Midtown — up Peachtree, past Atlanta Landmarks like the Fox Theatre.This will be among the best spots for spectators to stand.“On the famed Peachtree Street, fans will have eight chances to see the Olympic hopefuls on their Olympic journey,” according to the track club’s website. The course will pass the High Museum of Art and Margaret Mitchell House, along with plenty of restaurants to check out.

The runners will make their way to Old Fourth Ward, passing by the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park.After seeing the race and exploring the historic site, spectators can easily wonder to the Sweet Auburn Curb Market for a bite to eat.

After completing the loop through Midtown and Old Fourth Ward, the runners will make their way south, past the Georgia State Capitol and eventually over to Summerhill, passing under the Olympic Cauldron Tower. For race viewers hoping to catch the field at this point along the course, it’s an easy stroll to Summerhill’s Georgia Avenue, where there are a variety of eateries, including  Wood’s Chapel BBQ,  Junior’s Pizza and Halfway Crooks Brewery.

After getting a day of Olympics gone by, the runners will head to the finish line at Centennial Olympic Park, where the top finishers will earn a spot on the team bound for Tokyo.

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By Courtney Kuepeppers, The Atlanta-Journal Constitution 

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