The second-annual Bainbridge Half Marathon will be held this Saturday,March 23, at 7 a.m., in downtown Bainbridge.
A Health and Fitness Expo, along with race packet pickup, will take place at Bainbridge State College’s Kirbo Center on Friday, March 22, starting at 11 a.m. There will also be a “Kids’ Half Marathon” on Saturday at 10 a.m., in conjunction with the main race.
The Bainbridge Half Marathon, along with the “Second Annual Derby Night” — a Kentucky Derby themed event being held on April 19th — were created as fundraisers for the Memorial Hospital Foundation. The money raised supports the Foundation’s mission to help Memorial Hospital with special projects outside its normal budget, advancing health care in southwest Georgia. The money raised by this year’s Half Marathon and Derby Night are going towards outfitting and furnishing the lobby and common areas of the new Amelia Medical Plaza which is nearing completion.
The Half Marathon’s course is designed to showcase some of Bainbridge’s classic neighborhoods, the beautiful oak tree lined streets, and other local points of interest. The run starts and finishes in front of Memorial Hospital on Shotwell Street, and goes as far west as the Chamber of Commerce and as far east as the Bainbridge State College campus. Prime race spectator spots are Willis Square, First Baptist Church, First Methodist Church, and Memorial Hospital. There will be music and kids activities at the start/finish area.
“We are excited about the opportunity to continue putting on a top notch distance running event in Bainbridge,” said race director Andy Payne. “Running and walking will have many positive effects on the city. I would like to personally invite runners of all abilities, sponsors, volunteers, and spectators to participate in these events. We are looking forward to this weekend, and are committed to growing the Bainbridge Half Marathon year after year and promoting healthy living in southwest Georgia.”
The Bainbridge Half Marathon is electronically timed and is USTAF certified — two things that competitive runners are keenly interested in. In addition, participants will receive a finisher’s medal and a high quality technical t-shirt.
The Bainbridge Half Marathon also features a two-person relay option. A team of two will each complete half of the distance and will be timed as a team. The relay is for those who feel intimidated by the 13.1-mile distance of the full event, but who are still looking to feel a sense of accomplishment by training and completing a distance event. The race course will be open for four hours.
“We are trying to make this race as friendly and inviting as we can to participants of all abilities,” Payne said. “Runners and walkers will be equally welcome.”
There will also be a children’s event. The “Kids’ Half Marathon” is a program promoted to all of Decatur County’s elementary schools (K-4) whereby children are able to complete 12 miles before race day, and then run their last 1.1 mile on the race course and complete their race. There will be no official winners, but all children who complete the program will receive a Finisher’s Medal and t-shirt.
In order to make sure interested runners and walkers are able to participate, Regular registration is still available for a fee of $60. If the event has not reached its registration cap, there will be late registration available for $70 starting at the Kirbo Center on Friday at 11 a.m., and on race day on Saturday, starting at 6 a.m.
Online registration is available through the Bainbridge Half Marathon website, www.bainbridgehalfmarathon.com and through Active.com, a well-known running online registration site.
Visit online at www.bainbridgehalfmarathon.com for more details.