Updated March 20, 2008

Races
Half Marathon
The Parkersburg News and Sentinel Half Marathon begins at 8 a.m. Aug. 16, 2008, in downtown Parkersburg. The rolling course will take you out of the city and into the scenic surroundings of West Virginia before looping back into the commercial area. You will finish the race to the cheers of thousands of spectators lined up on Market Street prior to the Parkersburg Homecoming Festival Parade.
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Two-Mile Race
Starting line is at Third and Juliana streets at the Towne Square Parking Garage and the finish line is at Sixth and Market streets. Race begins at 8:05 a.m. on Aug. 16, 2008. Awards will be presented at 10:30 a.m. at the Bicentennial Park area.
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Junior Races
Based on age, the event will have age- and gender-based races for children ages 6-11. These races will follow the Tiny Tot Trot, which begins at 1 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 17, at the Parkersburg High School Stadium.

Tiny Tot Trot
For children 5 years old and under and will be held at the Parkersburg High School Stadium at 1 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 17. The Parkersburg News and Sentinel Tiny Tot Trot is a short distance race designed especially for children age 5 and under. To ensure the safety of the children, there will be races for each age and gender. All competitors in both races get a medal. All participants get a T-shirt.

Water stops
The News and Sentinel Half Marathon has 18 aid stations serving water and electrolytes, starting at the 1.5 mile mark. Health-care professionals from Camden-Clark Hospital will be located at various sites throughout the course to provide medical assistance. The Two Mile Race also has waterstops, as do the kids races.

Visitors Information
In addition to the News and Sentinel Half Marathon and other Homecoming activities, the Mid-Ohio Valley is packed with many other special attractions.

General race information
Registration, Expo and Packet Pickup
You can pick up your race packet and register for all races and shop at the Runners Expo from 2 until 9 p.m. Aug. 15 at the Parkersburg Municipal Building. You can also pick up your packet from 6 until 7 a.m on race day.

There will be no race day registration
of the Half Marathon or Two mile race

Registrations for the kids races will be accepted up to 10 minutes before the event. Packets for the Half Marathon and Two Mile Race also can be picked up on race day from 6 until 7 a.m. at the Parkersburg Municipal Building. Timing chips for both races must be picked up race day near the starting line.

Pre-race pasta dinner
One of the outstanding features of the News and Sentinel Half Marathon is our pre-race pasta dinner. The cost of the dinner for Half Marathon participants is included in the entry fee. Guests and two-milers may buy dinner tickets ($7) at the door. Children are are $4, Two mile racers may attend the pasta dinner for $3 if they show their race bib at the door. The location for the dinner will be announced at a later date.

Post-race pizza luncheon
There will be a post-race pizza luncheon served at from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday after the race. The luncheon cost for participants in the half marathon is covered in the entry fee. Runners must present their half marathon race number for admission. Guests and two-milers may buy luncheon tickets ($5) at the door. Children are $4. The location for the lunch will be announced at a later date.


Additional Information

Minimum age to run in the Half Marathon is 15. See our Web site, www.NewsandSentinel.com for a complete listing of age categories. Prize money for NCAA eligible runners is donated to the Newspapers in Education Fund.