Runner's World Half & Festival
Runner's World Half & Festival
( 130 reviews )-
Bethlehem,
Pennsylvania,
United States - October
- 3 miles/5K, 6 miles/10K, 13.1 miles/Half Marathon, Other
- Road Race
- Event Website
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John Niedzwiecki
Florida, United StatesOverall
T-Shirts/SWAG
Aid Stations
Course Scenery
Expo Quality
Elevation Difficulty
Parking/Access
Race Management
This race was the second of three for me as part of the Hat Trick challenge. The 10K course takes you on a tour of some historic areas of Bethlehem. It started the same as the 5K, crossing the Fahy Memorial Bridge, which included a DJ posted at the end. The bridge offers a good view of the steel stacks. The course takes you past the Historic Moravian settlement, the Historic Hotel Bethlehem, and through the historic residential district. That’s a lot of “historic”. The course offered some elevation change, but nothing too drastic. The finish wrapped passed the Sands Casino and back through some chutes for a great finish line experience, complete with Runner’s World editors calling you across the finish. The course included 4 water stops (3 with one that you passed twice) which was a good number for a 10K, but welcomed.
The parking for the Runner's World events was interesting. Parking was spread throughout a couple of different lots. A lot of the lead up made it sounds like there was hardly any near the start, but they seemed easy to get a spot by word of mouth. I parked at an outer lot, which provided a free shuttle that was easy enough to get in and out from.
The expo was smaller than some I had been to, but had quality. KT Tape was there, offering free tapings, and I received a pair of compression arm sleeves for free. There was even a brewery offering samples, which may be unusual at most expos, but welcomed by me. Saucony Creek Craft Brewery was the brewery for the beer tent after the half, so that was the reason.