HAPPY FALL!!  

Here is everything you need to know about The Silver Comet Half and Full Marathon on October 31, 2026!

I am so excited to celebrate the 26th running of the Silver Comet Half Marathon and the 15th Full Marathon on October 31, 2026 with you all!!   The Silver Comet Races are grassroot, strictly volunteer races. I am a 1 woman operation. My full time job is for a greenhouse outside slinging plants in big box garden centers.  I do not sit at a desk or access my home computer often; nor do I have access to social media pages on my personal cell phone. I don’t send emails until all details are final and confirmed so thank you for your patience as I have made all the adjustments to accommodate my largest event since covid.  

This next part ISN’T RACE RELATED BUT is Race Director related so your consideration is appreciated:

On April 16th, 2026 my son, who is a firefighter and paramedic in Cherokee County, was hit by a car while going to Costco on his Harley.  It is a miracle he is alive.  He was in the hospital for 3 weeks and came back home to live with me while he was in a wheelchair recovering.  He has a broken neck at C2 that they haven’t fused.  He crushed his left foot (lisfrank compound fracture – temp pins, permanent plates and screws), completely dislocated his right foot and broke his right ankle (plate and screws), his pelvis has been completely rebuilt, his right wrist was broken and he degloved his left hand.  He is single so I am very thankful that I was able to take full time care of him until he got his pins out and started rehab and walking again.  He moved back to his house before he went back to light duty at the fire department training center in August.  I have had a heck of a time settling emotionally, financially, since he moved home and I can’t keep him in bubble wrap. 

I do not know what we would have done without the support of the Cherokee County Fire Department and three organizations that support first responders.  They sat with me, stayed with Will overnight, built a ramp on my home, did fundraisers and continue to support Will in his long recovery.  I am listing them and asking if you feel so inclined to donate to them – please note FAO Will Greene.  

575 F.O.O.L.S.  575fools.com 

Jacobs Pathway Foundation  jacobspathwayfoundation.com 

Terry Farrell Firefighters Fund of Georgia  terryfundga.org

Thank you so much for your consideration and understanding of my even greater distractions this year.  I will figure out how to add these organizations to run sign up for next year, I am still learning how to use all the features!  

 

Back to Race Business!!  This will answer ALL of your questions. Nothing has changed from last year except the dates, start finish line parking info and sponsor / partner updates!

It’s Halloween!  Wear your costumes!!!

Start Time:  START TIME of the FULL MARATHON ONLY IS 7:00AM (It will still be dark so bring your headlamps if you need one! ) and the start time of the HALF MARATHON IS 7:45am at sun up.  All marathoners must start at 7:00 am to be listed in official results.  ALL HALF MARATHONERS MUST start at 7:45 am.  

PACKETS:  Numbers must be picked up Wednesday October 28 or Thursday October 29 from 3:30pm to 7:00pm at Vinings/Smyrna Big Peach (4624 Camp Highland Rd SE GA 30082).  I lost some volunteers for number pick up – -so if you can help please let me know. Bring this Race Day Waiver, 

MAILED PACKETS:  You can pay to have your number mailed. I added this late in registration period – so if you missed this opportunity you may still pay to have your bib mailed  in your account on run sign up (don’t email me how to do this – it is possible in YOUR account on run sign up).  This must be done by Monday October 19th. – I will mail bibs Wednesday October 21.   If you are coming in from out of town you can arrange pick up from me on friday from my home or race day for $15 service fee (CASH ONLY).  It is not possible to offer race day pick up due to the time it takes and that is just too much to ask of our volunteers who are already putting in 8 hour days to make your experience great.

Start Finish LIne:  Both races start and finish at the Silver Comet Trail head located at 4342 Floyd Road, Mableton.  There is ABSOLUTELY NO PARKING at the trailhead or on the street (FLoyd DR SW) leading into the trailhead so please let your spectators/supporters know and note parking locations below.   Police will be enforcing the no parking on FLOYD DR SW – the road leading into the trail head parking lot – This road must remain open – Please share this information with your supporters.

Refunds/Deferrals: No refunds or deferrals as stated in registration waiver.  Run Sign Up does offer registration insurance at the time of registration.

EMERGENCY CONTACT INFO: – PLEASE make sure to legibly fill out the emergency contact info on the back of your race number.  

Shirts/Medals: Yes – all registered finishers receive a shirt and medal. 

Registration:  Online Registration is closed.  The race is capped at 750 participants.  If you cannot participate I will transfer your registration for $15 fee to another participant. Please do not give your numbers away and please don’t bandit the race.  Keeping the participants safe on an open trail limits our registration availability.  Congestion and over-crowding is upmost concern.

Weather:  Extended forecast looks great – Partly cloudy, low 57 & high 75!  This also means the trail will be active.

Additional Waivers: ALL Participants running the official course race day must sign the Race Day Waiver, and bring with them to packet pick up.

Number Pickup:  All local runners must pick up numbers at 1 of 2 packet pick up times – Wed Oct 28  and Thur Oct 29 from 3:30pm to 7:00pm at Vinings / Smyrna Big Peach Running Company – 4624 Camp Highland Rd SE, Smyrna, GA 30082. .PLEASE DO NOT CALL THEM – They only host space for pickup and have nothing to do with race registration. This is number pick up only.  You may pick up packets for other participants but please bring  Race Day Waiver and copy of ID. Giving your number to others without proper transfer is not permitted as this makes results and awards inaccurate.  Please respect other runners by not giving your numbers away to others.  I will make official transfers for the transfer fee since we are sold out.  Anyone coming in from out of town – please contact me to arrange pickup on Friday from my home or Saturday morning for the $15 fee.  It will only be myself handing out numbers race morning so please arrange to pick up your numbers on Wed or Thur. I will mail out those who paid for mailing October 21.. 

Start and Finish Line Addresses: The certified start and finish line address is: : Silver Comet Trail Head – 4342 Floyd Rd SW, Mableton, GA 30126. Please remember the bike shop is still operational and the trail is not closed.  No parking is allowed at this location or on Floyd Dr. SW – the street running by the entrance and behind the retirement community and gas station.  If you park on Floyd Dr. please expect to be towed. 

Parking: As with all our races: Parking is available away from businesses at the Kroger / Publix parking lots (4875 Floyd Rd, Mableton, GA)which are approximately ¾ of a mile South from start and finish line locations. Or you may park in the Walmart (1133 East West Connector, Austell, GA) or at Floyd Road Baptist Church (3996 Floyd Road) parking lot – approx a half mile North of the Race Start. There are sidewalks down Floyd road from both locations. Do not park in restricted spaces or block business parking. There will not be shuttles to the start. 

Shuttles:  Concord Road Baptist Church, Covered Bridge Montessori School, and Floyd Road Baptist Church have volunteered their 15 person buses to  shuttle runners back to their cars after the race if you haven’t arranged pickup. Please be patient and thank them for this service!  I make donations to all three for this service. 

Police: There WILL BE police at trail + road intersection closings (please see course / start line info next bullet!).   The trail is open so no headphones. Please look before crossing the trail for water, before turning around – cyclists will be out in force if the weather is good.  Listen for them and don’t make sudden moves without looking behind you.

Race Course & Timing: The full marathon starts at 7:00am (headlamps encouraged) on the trail at the finish line location 4342 Floyd Road Mableton. The half marathon starts at 7:45am at the same location. 

Runners should listen for announcements and congregate in the open area outside the Comet Trail Cycles to line up and walk down to the start line. Finish line mat will be in place at the finish line until 1:00 pm so that is your time limit for both races.  You must be finished  by 1:00pm.

RESULTS:  Results are posted live from the finish line and may be found on the home page of silvercometraces.com

Boston Qualification: YES, the Marathon Course is certified and you CAN use your time for Boston Qualification. Each participant should save & send Garmin (or other GPS data) to us, for BQ verification and support.

Awards: Overall awards and top 3 age group awards this year will be awarded to those who run the certified course, based on gun time. 

Course Marking: The miles will NOT be marked. I finally joined Strava this year – So I will figure out how to do a Strava map of the course for next year – Or if any of you are tech gurus and want to help with this – let me know 😀.  HERE is a pretty good map of the trail.  

The half marathon turn around  is between Old Lost Mountain Road Bridge and the Charles Harris overpass. 

The Full Marathon turn around is just past the bridge over the railroad tracks in Paulding. The route is straight out and back past the waste water treatment plant and there are no turns. The Lucille Creek offshoot has been eliminated.  

The turnarounds will be clearly marked with cones and chalk paint and signs!  There will be an aid station at the Full Marathon turn around!

Water Stops: Water stops have not been moved. They  are approximately 1.5 miles apart at intersections.  We have our awesome South Cobb High School Soccer and Flag Football coaches and team members volunteering for each Half Marathon course water stop from 7:45 to 1:00. Please leave all cups and litter at the water stop for collection.  Do NOT litter on the trail.  All marathon water stops and the Turn around will also be manned by Paulding High School Wrestling team. Please prepare to carry your own supplements. Marathon ONLY: Please don’t litter and keep the trail as clean as possible.

Porta-potties: The trailhead bathrooms are open and available for use. The trailheads are marked on the course map.  I added back extra portalets at three locations (Industry, County Line, and Seaboard) on the full marathon course (one – Industry Crossing – on half marathon course).  Remember that all water stops and portalets are passed going out and coming back!

Finish Line:  Participants receive medals at the finish line exit.  T-shirts, bottled water, pretzels, bananas, and other  goodies in the parking lot where the awards table, 1st Choice Healthcare, Big Peach Running Co and the DJ will be set up. Awards are given out when categories are filled so I do not have an exact time.

Photographer: Photographers will be at the half marathon turn-around and the finish line. These photos will be uploaded  HERE for free download after the race.  Please take selfies and photos, and send them to us (if your spectators take a lot of great photos please request access to our google photo drive for upload! )  Please follow and tag us on Instagram and Facebook, since you may be running all over!  

Spectators: You can direct your spectators as you so choose. THE FINISH LINE WILL BE FENCED OFF DUE TO PREVIOUS UNCOOPERATIVE SPECTATORS. PLEASE INSTRUCT YOUR SUPPORTERS  not congregate on the silver comet trail or crowd close to the finish line. There is an open area for lawn chairs and distance! Remember our photographer can’t get photos if spectators are crowding the finish line AND BIKE ACCIDENTS OCCUR.

VOLUNTEERS:  Please email me to volunteer – silvercometrace@gmail.com

The Races make donations to all the organizations that volunteer. Please patron and support our Sponsors and Partners!

Super Excited to see you all running on October 31st and thank you for supporting our races that support our community churches and athletic teams!

 

Happy Trails,

Dana Greene, Race Director

silvercometrace@gmail.com