Pottstown Half Marathon event to return for 2nd year.
Local long-distance run is a state championship race
Runners competing in the 2016 Pottstown Half Marathon can cross the finish line as state champions.
The 13-mile running event returns for its second year to the borough, and about 400 people have already signed up. Sly Fox races available in the immediate the Sly Fox Brewery. Also on Track Club director Chris area. He decided Friday, runners will have an Bayless, race organizer, to have the race in July so opportunity to participate said there are people coming marathon runners could in the Pottstown YMCA 5k from 15 other states including use it as a halfway point in and kids fun run. Bayless Florida, Texas and their training before fall. said the 5K was added this Illinois. Just like last year, the 13mile year as a short distance alternative
The long-distance run course will spotlight to the half marathon. is also this year’s Road several landmarks in Pottstown Runners Club of America such as the former “It gives more opportunity Pennsylvania Championship Bethlehem Steel Complex, for the community to race. When men and Pottstown Memorial Medical be involved. A lot of people women finish first for specific Center and The Hill are intimidated by the age categories at the School. The finish line will half marathon distance,” half marathon, they will be on the Schuylkill River he said. also be crowned as state Trail at Riverfront Park. The Sly Fox Track Club champions. Since race participants began a couch to 5k training
“The Road Runners Club will run past Pottstown program in May. The of America is the oldest and neighborhoods, Bayless is Pottstown YMCA 5K is basically largest national association asking residents to help their graduation of running organizations out by providing water stations night, Bayless said. He said dedicated to growing or sprinklers people the event also allows children the sport of running since can run through. The half to get involved this 1958,” stated the club’s website. marathon route is available year with the fun run. at slyfoxtrackclub.com/thepottstown-half-marathon “I think we will have a
The Pottstown Half Marathon pretty decent turnout for begins 7 a.m. July 16 and people can look to see that,” he said. from College Drive near if they’ll be a flock of runners The YMCA 5K begins Montgomery County Community passing their home. 7 p.m. Friday from Montgomery College. The registration “We’re trying to get the County Community fee is $80. A portion community more involved,” College. The race will happen of the proceeds will benefit Bayless said. rain or shine. All preregistrants Operation BackPack, a Pottstown He also wants to make will receive a Tshirt. based charity where sure the course for next Participants will also backpacks are filled with week’s race will be clean receive a free beer at the food and materials then and presentable for runners. half marathon post party sent out to qualifying students. A group of volunteers Saturday. The fee to register More information are meeting 6 p.m. Thursday is $30. For more information about the half marathon at Riverfront Park to visit slyfoxtrackclub.com/wp-content/uploads/YMCA-5K-2016.pdf and online registration is clean trash from the race available at slyfoxtrackclub.com/the-pottstownhalf-marathon. route. More than 50 people collected about 50 bags of or email Slyfoxtrackclub@ There will trash last year. gmail.com. be an awards ceremony after “We kind of unofficially the race at 10:45 a.m. adopted a highway,” Bayless in Riverfront Park. Then a said. post-race party begins 11:30 The volunteers are split a.m. at the Sly Fox Brewery into groups then each group which is located at 331 Circle walks about a mile of the of Progress Drive. course while picking up
The first ever Pottstown trash. The Pottstown police Half Marathon came to department will patrol the borough last year as a during the cleanup to make training opportunity for sure volunteers are safe. long-distance runners, Bayless People that are interested in said. He heads a local being a volunteer for Thursday’s track club which shares cleanup should email its name with the Sly Fox ScottArmstrong@slyfoxtrackclub.com. Brewery. The club helps train athletes for track and The half marathon is field events as well as hosting of course the big race but several running races there are also several events throughout the year. happening before next Saturday
Bayless said several of his morning. There will members requested a halfmarathon be a race expo and packet run since there pickup for registrants Friday aren’t many long distance from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. at
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Michilea Patterson is the Fit for Life reporter and is funded in part by the Pottstown Area Health & Wellness Foundation.