Local runners prepare for half marathon

PARKERSBURG - The Parkersburg News and Sentinel Half Marathon, as well as its accompanying Two-Mile, Junior and Tiny Tot Trot races, is still more than two months away, but that hasn't stopped local runners and walkers from preparing for the 13.1-mile race.

"I'd say we are getting between 100 and 200 people every Monday," race committee member Tom Kramer said of the traditional half marathon training session. "We don't normally get a count on how many are here, but there was a bunch of them at the start."

Sponsored by the River City Runners & Walkers Club, interested runners and walkers meet every Monday beginning at 5:30 p.m. and participate in a series of training runs/walks designed to prepare them for the half marathon on Saturday, Aug. 21.

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Photo by Jim Butta
Former Parkersburg South student Rachael Butcher, who now attends West Liberty State University, stretches prior to participating in one of the half marathon training sessions held by the River City Runners and Walkers Club at City Park.

"We will meet here (City Park) every week except for one week when we will do an 8-mile loop at McDonough Park and there is one week where we will meet at another site,' Kramer said. "But, for the most part, the training will begin and end here."

The training involves workouts that will give potential race participants the opportunity to slowly work up to the 13.1-mile distance they will face on race day.

Participants will actually do the entire course once before the late August start and will receive instruction from RCRC members on topics varying from proper hydration to shoes and other equipment that will help them most enjoy their running, or walking, experience.

"They provide us with a lot more motivation than anything else," explained 54-year old walker Marlena Welch. "These training sessions are a big help because they serve to allow us to build up to the half slowly."

Monday's 6-mile workout began with a lap in the City Park and then followed a predetermined course that took the runners and walkers into downtown Parkersburg. A water stop was provided by the club near the halfway point and water and Gatorade was available for all the participants upon their return to the park.

Each week's workout will continue to build upon distance and toughness until the group participates in a practice run of the actual course in July. Workouts will then begin to taper off until the half marathon on the third Saturday in August.

Individuals interested in entering the half marathon, the two-mile, Junior or Tiny Tot Trot races can do so by picking up an entry form at one of dozens of locations around the area and sending it to The Parkersburg News and Sentinel Half Marathon, 519 Juliana Street, Parkersburg 26101 or register on-line by going to NewsandSentinelHalfMarathon.com.

Cost of the half marathon is $35 if postmarked before July 15. The fee raises to $40 for entries postmarked from July 16-31, and increases to $45 for those postmarked beginning Aug. 1.

As in the past, the entry fee includes the pre-race pasta dinner as well as the post-race pizza luncheon-both of which will be served at St. Francis Xavier Hall located near the finish line on Market Street.

Cost of the two-mile race is $15 if postmarked by July 15, and increases to $18 after that date while the entry fee for the Junior and Tiny Tot Trot races will be $5.

The race will again serve as the Road Runners Club of America's National Half Marathon Championship.