Zyrianov, Khmelevskaya win Publix Georgia Marathon

Nearly 10,000 walkers and runners participated in the Publix Georgia Marathon, Half Marathon and 5K on Sunday.

Sergei Zyrianov (2:29:37) won the men’s marathon and Marina Khmelevskaya (2:52:31) won on the women’s side. The winners of the men and women’s half marathon were Thiago Bianchini (1:15:03) and Tavyn Lovitt (1:21:30). Brian Sydow (16:42) and Jill Braley (19:01) won the men and women’s 5K.

At the end of the races, the Atlanta Track Club announced that next year’s event will be renamed the Publix Atlanta Marathon, Half Marathon & 5K and feature a new course. The race will feature more of Atlanta’s neighborhoods, parks and businesses.

“Atlanta is one of the country’s best running cities,” Atlanta Track Club’s Executive Director Rich Kenah said. “We’re looking forward to showing off our beautiful city, its energetic and active community, and its hospitality to runners from around the U.S. and the world at the 2019 Publix Atlanta Marathon.”

Boston Marathon teams up with Spotify

The Boston Marathon is giving runners who use music as motivation free access to elite competitors’ playlists and tips.

John Hancock, which sponsors the marathon, says it’s teamed up with Spotify to let participants in next month’s race listen to champion runners’ favorite music.

Elite athletes contributing tracks to the project include four-time Olympian Shalane Flanagan, who holds the American women’s record on the Boston course; 2014 winner Meb Keflezighi; and Tatyana McFadden, a Paralympics gold medalist and four-time Boston Marathon champion.

Along with the music, athletes have recorded advice designed to help runners make it to the finish line.

Runners can compile a custom playlist of music that most closely matches their pace and running style.