The fifth annual Murfreesboro Half Marathon and Murph’s Fun Run presented by Middle Tennessee Medical Center will be held Saturday, Oct. 15.

The 13.1-mile race is scheduled to start at 7 a.m. with a wheelchair start at 6:55 a.m. Because the course runs by the geographic center of Tennessee, begins and ends at MTSU and is presented by MTMC, it has been tagged “The Middle Half”.

“We’ve increased the registration limit to 2,500 runners, which is a little more than 10 percent above last year’s limit,” said Melinda Tate, race director. “Last year we met our limit of 2,250 athletes 60 days before the race.”

Registration for The Middle Half begins May 1 at 5:55 a.m. Both online and mail-in forms will be available. The registration fees per athlete are: May 1 – May 5: $50; May 6 – May 31: $55; beginning June 1, the fee increases to $65.

Children ages six to thirteen will have an opportunity to participate in Murph’s Fun Run which will begin immediately after the half marathon start.

The course goes down scenic tree-lined Main Street and Maney Avenue to Oaklands Historic House Museum. Runners will circle the Rutherford County Courthouse on the Square, pass by by MTSU’s Fraternity Row and the obelisk on Old Lascassas, and then finish on the MTSU track.

MTMC is the presenting sponsor of the event. The City of Murfreesboro, Murfreesboro Parks & Recreation, Fleet Feet Sports, MTSU, State Farm, Jim 'N' Nick’s Bar-B-Cue, CB&S Bank, Purity Dairies, State Farm, The WORX Group, Newk’s Express Café, Nissan, Jason’s Deli, Little Guys Movers and Emerson Heating Products are major sponsors. The Daily News Journal, The Murfreesboro Post, Murfreesboro Magazine, Hobnob Murfreesboro and WGNS are media sponsors of the race. Charity partners are Special Kids, Inc., and Alive Hospice.

For more information, visit www.TheMiddleHalf.com.