_ The 2024 Veterans Marathon and Heroes 5K:

The Bird Family is proud to continue the tradition of the 16th Annual Veterans Marathon, a superb event honoring our nation’s Veterans.
Located in the heart of northeast Indiana, Columbia City is a small-town community with true Hoosier values. It’s a community rooted in its agricultural heritage, strengthened by its commercial and residential development, and proud of its hometown heroes.

In honor of those servicemen and servicewomen throughout nation, We present the 16th Annual Veterans Marathon, Half-Marathon and Heroes 5K on November 2nd, 2024. Located in Northeast Indiana. We can promise that flags will be waving at the start, a gently rolling countryside course, and a race experience you will always remember. The Veterans Marathon will be honoring the Coast Guard for its 16th running of the race, the Heroes 5k will be honoring the Whitley County 911 Communications for 2024. The Veterans of Foreign Wars post 5582 out of Columbia City, Indiana will be the recipient of 50% of the Veterans Marathon profits, 25% will be donated to the Whitley County 911 Communications.

Start time:
8:00 am Eastern Standard Time for the Marathon
8:00 am Eastern Standard Time for the Half-Marathon
8:15 am Eastern Standard Time for the Heroes 5k

End time:
The half-marathon course closes at 2:00 pm, the full marathon course closes at 2:00 pm

Marathon ( 2 Loops)  USATF Certification #:IN17015TDK.
Half Marathon USATF Certification #:IN17014TDK. 

Heroes 5k course will close by 9:30 am

The Heroes 5k has a 3 person team challenge where the total time of a team is added together to compete with other teams for a unique "Hero-based" award.

Post-Race:
All post race festivities will take place on the courthouse lawn in and around the event tent.

Hot Soup donated by Columbia City's Elks Lodge # 1417 and the Local VFW post 5582, will be available to all participants free of charge post race as well as other refreshments.
Soups available: Chicken Noodle, Vegetarian Vegetable, Chili

Unique Awards that are made right here in Indiana using limestone mined from Bloomington, Indiana will be up for grabs to the Top 2 in each division. Awards will be available for pick up at their respective times post race at the awards table.

More race information and details can be found at www.runveteransmarathon.com