Heartland Half Marathon & 5K scheduled for Labor Day Weekend
The Heartland Half Marathon & 5K Run/Walk has been moved to Saturday, August 30 during Labor Day weekend.
The event has expanded to include the Heartland Kids Fun Run & Festival to be held the Friday before the half marathon and the Heartland Team Challenge during the half marathon and 5K.
The Heartland Team Challenge is a relay comprised of a four-person team, and follows the same course, time, and date as the Heartland Half Marathon. The first runner in the relay will travel 4.2 miles and pass along his/her timing chip to the second runner. The second runner will then run 3.6 miles and pass along the timing chip to the third runner who will run 3 miles. The final runner will finish with the remaining 2.3 miles. Awards will be given to the first, second, and third place finishers, along with an award for the best heart-friendly team slogan. Registration fee for the Heartland Team Challenge is $80 per team before June 22, and $100 thereafter.
The Heartland Kids Fun Run & Festival is for children entering kindergarten through 8th grade and is designed to encourage staying active all summer long. Once registered, participants print off the Running Log to track 12 miles of running in the weeks prior to the Fun Run & Festival on Friday, August 29.
The body, mind and spirit focused festival will feature many booths, games and music. Beginning at 5 p.m., the community can participate in activities such as an obstacle course, Kids Rip session, face painting, poster making, photo booth, wellness booths, music, and fun games.
Children entering Kindergarten through 8th grade can register for the 1.1 mile Kids Fun Run by submitting a registration flyer or by visiting http://www.heartlandhalfmarathon.com. Be sure to register by August 17 for a guaranteed race t-shirt, medal and goodie bag. After August 17th there will be no guarantee of race garb.
Proceeds benefit Girls on the Run serving Dubois County. Girls on the Run, an international non-profit, is a positive youth development program designed for girls in 3rd-5th grade. For more information about Girls on the Run or to register to volunteer for the Heartland Kids Fun Run, visit http://www.gotrswin.org.
On the day of the Fun Run, participants turn in completed Running Logs and finish the final 1.1-mile run to complete their own ‘half marathon. (Those entering kindergarten through third grade are required to run with a buddy in the Fun Run.)
The accompanying festival, which is free and open to the public, will include health and wellness booths and fitness activities located in the Dave Buehler Plaza from 5–8 p.m. The Fun Run will begin at 6 p.m. at the City Mill. Fun Run participants will receive a t-shirt, medal and goody-bag while supplies last.
The first 100 participants to register will receive a special gift, and those who turn in their completed Running Log on race day will be entered to win exciting prizes. Registration fee for the Heartland Kids Fun Run & Festival is $15 through August 17, increasing to $17 thereafter.
The Heartland Half Marathon & 5K Run/Walk begins in the shadow of the Jasper Train Depot along the banks of the Patoka River and finishes in the shade along the same river just a stone’s throw away. This is a hilly course that is fairly challenging, especially at the midway point of the race along St. Charles Street. While the first half of the race features a number of stretches past residential neighborhoods, the second half offers a more scenic terrain as the course takes runners along the Jasper Riverwalk.
The registration fee for the half marathon is $50 if registered by June 22, increasing to $60 between June 23 and August 17. After August 17, the registration fee is $70. The 5K registration fee is $20 by June 22, increasing to $25 thereafter. Pre-registrants for both races will receive a technical shirt along with a special race gift for half marathoners. The first 100 half marathoners to pre-register will also receive a running hat.
Registration for all events can be completed online at active.com or at heartlandhalfmarathon.com.
The Heartland Half Marathon & 5K is being coordinated by DC Multisport, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting health and wellness while giving back to local communities. The organization supports events for both youth and adults. Lodging information is being coordinated by the Dubois County Visitors Center staff. The event corporate sponsor is Memorial Hospital and Health Care Center. Proceeds from this year’s half marathon, 5K, and team challenge will be given to the Philip R. Dawkins Heart & Vascular Center and the Lange-Fuhs Cancer Center at Memorial Hospital. Proceeds from the Kids Fun Run & Festival will benefit Girls on the Run serving Dubois County.
Anyone interested in volunteering for these events can call Memorial Hospital at 812/996-2333.
For more information on the events, visit www.heartlandhalfmarathon.com or call Dubois County Visitors Center at800/968-4578.
