Half-marathon on pace for record turnout – Mount Airy News
Half-marathon on pace for record turnout Mount Airy News
Runners assemble on North Main Street in downtown Mount Airy for the start of last year’s Mayberry Half-Marathon, 10K and 5K event.
Runners assemble on North Main Street in downtown Mount Airy for the start of last year’s Mayberry Half-Marathon, 10K and 5K event. –The final NASCAR event of the season to decide the Cup Series championship won’t be the only big race this weekend, when the Mayberry Half-Marathon, 10K and 5K will be held in Mount Airy.
Based on advance registration, the local gathering where running shoes take precedence over tires will exceed its turnout of last year, when record attendance was established for the event marking its 12th year.
“Now we’re at 727,” Mount Airy Parks and Recreation Director Darren Lewis said Wednesday afternoon of those already signed up for the three races.
“So we have already surpassed last year’s total, which was our largest race” to date, added Lewis, whose parks and rec department spearheads the Mayberry Half-Marathon, 10K and 5K.
“Last year we had 721 to actually register,” Lewis said, with this year’s number expected to grow as sign-ups continue for the rest of the week including on Saturday morning.
“The weather forecast looks great for Saturday, so I would not be surprised if we reached 800 runners.” After a blast of unseasonably cold weather at mid-week, temperatures in the upper 40s are forecast for Saturday under partly cloudy skies.
That is ideal for long-distance runners, especially those tackling the grueling 13.1-mile half-marathon who much prefer cooler rather than hot conditions, although the same can be said of 5K (3.1-mile) and 10K (6.2-mile) competitors.
“The fall of the year is a big time for some of our larger events,” Lewis, himself a veteran runner, said of longer-distance races. “This is sort of your peak time for marathons (26.2 miles) and half-marathons because you’re not having to deal with the warm weather.”
Around 400 of the more than 700 runners registered as of Wednesday afternoon were entered in the half-marathon.
Drawn to Mount Airy
Along with those collecting awards after the three different races Saturday morning, a big winner will be the community itself due to the tourism dollars the Mayberry Half-Marathon, 10K and 5K generates.
“There are 18 states represented, including North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Virginia, West Virginia, Tennessee, Kentucky, Maryland, Delaware, Ohio, Michigan, Vermont, Pennsylvania, New York, Massachusetts, Indiana and Texas,” Lewis reported regarding the registration breakdown so far.
Those coming from far away typically are part of groups of families or friends who will spend money at lodging establishments, restaurants and stores while here.
“This is another example of how sports tourism benefits our community,” Lewis mentioned, with the Mayberry factor also a key as the name of Saturday’s event suggests. “That is a big draw as well.”
The starting point for all three races will be at the Main Oak Emporium building at 259 N. Main St. downtown, to begin on a staggered basis. The half-marathon is scheduled to start Saturday at 8 a.m., the 10K race at 8:15 a.m. and the 5K at 8:30 a.m.
After leaving the downtown area, runners will head to Riverside Park and access the city greenway’s network that represents the bulk of their courses. The finish line for all three races will be in Riverside Park.
In addition to Mount Airy’s tourism appeal, Lewis believes the Mayberry Half-Marathon is popular with runners because it offers a flat, fast course that allows good finish times to be achieved.
The registration costs from now through Race Day for adults are $35 for the 5K segment, $40 for the 10K and $50 for the half-marathon.
For youths younger than 18, the price is $25 for all races.
Registration can be completed ahead of time by sending forms to Reeves Community Center or online at http://mayberryhalf.itsyourrace.com.
Awards will go to the top-three overall male and female finishers in the three races and to the top three among both sexes in each of nine age divisions: 10 and younger, 11-13, 14-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69 and 70-plus.
The 2018 half-marathon winner was Joey Woltjer of Charlotte, who covered the 13.1-mile distance in one hour, 15 minutes and 16 seconds, about 10 minutes faster than the previous year’s winning pace.
Tom Joyce may be reached at 336-415-4693 or on Twitter @Me_Reporter.