Published: October 03, 2008 12:30 am         

5-K’s popularity rivals that of Half Marathon

With all the publicity the Beckley Half Marathon gets, it’s been easy for the companion 5-K Run/Walk to get shuffled into the background.

That could be changing.

“There are now three or four 5-K runs in the area, so it’s starting to be a big thing,” Joe Guffey of the Beckley-Raleigh County Chamber of Commerce said. “If you’re interested in running and you don’t want to train for a marathon, they’re an opportunity to do shorter runs.”

The 11th annual Half Marathon and 5-K Run/Walk is set for 8 a.m. Saturday in front of Mountain State University’s Learning Resource Center on South Kanawha Street.

While the 13.1-mile Half Marathon will head out to the YMCA sports complex and return via Rails-to-Trails, the 5-K Run/Walk will continue south on South Kanawha to Black Knight Country Club before doubling back.

The Half Marathon and 5-K events will conclude behind MSU on Minnesota Avenue.

Last year’s 5-K drew 163 competitors.

“It’s really developed,” Kip Buchanan of the chamber said.

“We had less than 30 competitors our first year. A lot of high schools are now using it as a training tool between meets to keep in shape.”

While more than 250 competitors are expected for the three events, only 109 had registered as of Thursday afternoon.

That’s nothing unusual, however. Traditionally, the chamber receives most entries on Friday.

“It’s going to be a busy day,” Buchanan said.

Guffey would like to see more walkers compete.

I think it would be fun for people,” he said. “You get dinner (tonight) and a T-shirt, and instead of walking in your neighborhood, you get to do it with a group of people.”

Of course, the Half Marathon remains the marquee event, bringing in competitors from all over the eastern part of the country.

“This is the third year for the course and it’s a better one than we had,” Buchanan said. “It’s flatter and runner-friendly.”

Guffey added the Beckley area is a good place for running events.

“We’ve got a high altitude, but not so high that it kills you,” he said.

The Half Marathon has age divisions from under-19 through 70-over. The 5-K Run/Walk features under-9 through 70-over divisions.

Registration will be held from 6 to 7:30 p.m. today at the Learning Resource Center. A pre-race dinner will also be held.

A pre-race registration is from 6:30 to 7:30 a.m. Saturday.

Saturday’s activities will conclude with the popular Chili Night downtown.

— E-mail:

dstillwell@register-herald.com