TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) — This weekend, thousands of people will gather in the capital city to hit the pavement running for the 46th annual Tallahassee Marathon.
This event brings in a lot of business to the community.
"It's huge for us," said Coosh Willis, the owner of Coosh's Bayou Rouge.
For 21 years, the owner of Coosh's Bayou Rouge restaurant has looked forward to the amount of people the Tallahassee Marathon brings to town.
"To have things that are automatically going to be here it's tremendous because this is something that automatically draws to us and to all these establishments out here," said Willis.
Sunday, thousands of people from all over the area will gather in the Capital City to run the 26.2-mile course. Runners will start downtown and end up in College Town right in front of Coosh's business.
"From what it sounds like we are going to have a great crowd," said Willis.
Elizabeth Emmanuel, the CEO of Tallahassee's Downtown Improvement Authority, feels the Tallahassee tradition plays a big role when it comes to the development of the city.
"It's a wonderful thing that Tallahassee will be hosting the marathon again this year," said Emmanuel. "I understand it's the 46th year that it's taken place. For downtown to be a part of the course is a wonderful opportunity to bring more people downtown."
People who'll leave a footprint on improving the future of Tallahassee.
"We are 630 businesses and over 8,000 employees, so when you look at the amount of people in our urban core and in the heart of our community its substantial and we are glad that there are so many offerings for so many different people," said Emmanuel.
A few hotels in the area says there is still availability for people coming to town, however, they are expecting the rooms to fill up pretty quick.
For a breakdown of the routes and road closures ahead of the races, see below:
The following are temporary road closures from 6:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.:
• Monroe Street from Apalachee Parkway to Tennessee Street
• East Pensacola Street-Calhoun Street to Adams Street
• Jefferson Street-Calhoun Street to Adams Street
• College Avenue-Calhoun Street to Adams Street
• Park Avenue-Calhoun Street to Adams Street
• No traffic north on Thomasville Road from Monroe Street (7:00 a.m. – approximately 9:00 a.m.)
• No traffic south on Calhoun Street from Thomasville Road to Tennessee Street. (7:00 a.m. – approximately 9:00 a.m.)
The following are temporary road closures from 7:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.:
• Gamble Street (Lake Bradford Road to Disston Street).
• Ridge Road will be closed from Springsax Road to Sunnyside Drive.
The following are road closures for the entire duration of the Marathon:
• Woodward Avenue from Gaines Street to St. Augustine Street (5:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.)
• Madison Street from Woodward Avenue to Railroad Avenue (5:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.)
The Marathon Route is:
• Monroe Street/Jefferson Street – Start
• North on Monroe Street to Glenview Drive
• East on Glenview Drive to Thomasville Road
• South on Thomasville Road to Calhoun Street
• South on Calhoun Street to Tennessee Street
• East on Tennessee Street to Franklin Boulevard
• South on Franklin Boulevard onto South Meridian Street
• Enter Cascade Park (run Cascade Park trails)
• North on Suwannee Street to Lafayette Street
• East on Lafayette Street to Myers Park Drive
• South on Myers Park Drive to Circle Drive
• Continue west on Myers Park Drive to Golf Terrace Drive
• South on Golf Terrace to Thornall Street
• West on Thornall Street to South Meridian Street
• North on South Meridian Street to Oakland Avenue
• West on Oakland Avenue to South Gadsden Street
• North on South Gadsden Street to Cascades Pedestrian Bridge
• West on Bridge to Adams Street and FAMU Way
• West on FAMU Way to Gamble Street
• At Gamble Street: Half marathon will continue west on Gamble Street to Lake Bradford Road. (See below for route completion). Full marathon will turn south onto St. Marks Historic Trail
Full Marathon:
• Continue south on St. Marks Trail to Pasco Street
• Exit the St. Marks Trail and head south on Pasco Street to Springsax Road
• West on Springsax Road to Notre Dame Street
• South on Notre Dame Street to Creek Road
• West on Creek Road to North Ridge Road
• South on North Ridge Road toward Lake Henrietta Trail
• Complete lap around Lake Henrietta Trail
• North on Ridge Road to Creek Road
• North on Wheatley Road to Tanner Drive
• East on Tanner Drive to Parkridge Drive (road turns and becomes Bragg Drive)
• East on Bragg Drive to St. Marks Historic Railroad State Trail
• South on St. Marks Historic Railroad State Trail Crossway Road
• Turning Point
• Head back north on St. Marks Historic Railroad State Trail to Gamble Street
Half and Full Marathon route from Gamble Street:
• West on Gamble Street to Lake Bradford Road
• North on Lake Bradford Road to Eppes Drive
• West on Eppes Drive to Jackson Bluff Road
• West on Jackson Bluff Road to Hayden Street
• North on Hayden Street to pedestrian tunnel
• Off-Road/St. Marks Trail
• South on Champions Way/Chieftan Way
• East on St. Augustine Street
• South on Copeland Street to Madison Street
• West on Madison Street to finish line
