Registration begins Saturday, May 1, for the 4th annual Murfreesboro Half Marathon and Kids Fun Run presented by Middle Tennessee Medical Center.
Voted Murfreesboro’s “Favorite Annual Event” in the DNJ Ruthie Awards, the 13.1-mile race is scheduled for 7 a.m. Oct 16 with a wheelchair start at 6:55 a.m. Because the course runs by the geographic center of Tennessee, begins and ends at Middle Tennessee State University and is presented by MTMC, it has been tagged “The Middle Half.”
“Because we reached our cap of 2,000 runners 45 days before race day last year, we’ve raised our limit to 2,250 runners this year,” said Melinda Tate, race director. “With the increase in interest in running the past several years, we hope to accommodate as many athletes as possible and still keep the event at a manageable level.”
The Kids Fun Run is limited to 250 children between 6 and 13 years of age.
Runners may register online at www.TheMiddleHalf.com, or mail-in forms may be picked up at the following Murfreesboro locations: Fleet Feet Sports, Barfield Crescent Park, Patterson Park Community Center and SportsCom. The form may also be downloaded The Middle Half Web site.
The registration fee is $50 through May 31, and then goes to $55 on June 1. Beginning Aug. 1, the registration fee increases to $65. The deadline to register is Oct. 13 or when the 2,250 runner limit has been reached. The registration fee for the Kids Fun Run is $15.
The course is certified, and the race is officially sanctioned by USATF.
The estimated elevation variation is only 41 feet, making the course flat and fast for the runners.
The route 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 at the MTSU Dean A. Hayes Track and Soccer Stadium. A printable map is available online.
Charities such as Special Kids (Team A.S.K.) and Big Brothers/Big Sisters (Team Rio) will be using the race as fundraisers. Team members will participate in group training sessions and runs as they raise funds for their organization.
Walkers are welcome to participate, but a strict time limit will be enforced to allow city streets to reopen quickly. Last year, athletes traveled from 25 different states and almost all counties in Tennessee to participate in the race.
“The Middle Half Marathon is a great event for our community,” said Mona Herring, Vice President of the Convention and Visitors Bureau. “We have many local residents who run and it also brings in many runners from outside of our county. It is a wonderful way to showcase our historic downtown, Oaklands Historic House Museum and Middle Tennessee State University.”
Best Times ChampionChip Tennessee, Inc. will be providing the timing system with disposable electronic timing devices. Runners wearing these devices on their shoes will pass over special mats along the course, recording their exact time.
Middle Tennessee Medical Center is the presenting sponsor of the event. The City of Murfreesboro, Murfreesboro Parks & Recreation, Fleet Feet Sports, Middle Tennessee State University, Snapple, CB&S Bank, IdeasTees, Purity Dairies, State Farm, The WORX Group, Jim ‘N Nick’s Bar-B-Q and Emerson Heating Products are major sponsors. The Daily News Journal, The Murfreesboro Post, Murfreesboro Magazine, WGNS and HobNob Murfreesboro are media sponsors of the race.
Spectators along the course are encouraged to cheer on the runners with signs and music. Admission is free to the MTSU Track and Soccer field where the runners will cross the finish line.
A volunteer sign-up will be available online soon.
For more information, visit www.TheMiddleHalf.com.
|
Email
Print
Facebook
StumbleUpon
Google
Yahoo!