Wendell Foster is hosting a half marathon in Owensboro on Saturday, March 23, beginning at 7:30 a.m.
According to the Wendell Foster Facebook page, the inaugural Wendell Foster Half Marathon will offer a flat and fast route. The 13.1-mile race will be fully supported, including some full and partial road closures, and will start and finish on the riverfront by beautiful Smothers Park.
To have a race of this magnitude, John Gleason, Wendell Foster’s Community Outreach Specialist is asking for various community volunteers for several of the elements needed to host this race.
“We have really big support already,” said Gleason, but they can use more.
Race organizers are planning to have 12 water stations, about one per mile, on the course. Each of these need about 10 volunteers to hand out water and Gatorade to runners as they pass. Some will be staffed by sponsors but school clubs or organizations who can be energetic and organized would be a great fit for these stations.
The day before the race, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., an expo will be held at the Owensboro Convention Center. Vendors, sponsors, and athletes will be able to get their picture taken in front of a race banner. Packet pick-up will also be available Saturday from 6 to 7 a.m.
During the expo, 50 volunteers will be needed to help set up and take down the event, help with packet pick-up and provide race information to participants.
On race day, 25 volunteers will be needed at the Owensboro Convention Center to help with packet pick-up as well.
Wendell Foster is also looking for school bands, choruses, cheerleaders and dance teams to be enthusiastic and cheer for the runners, especially on the JR Miller Road stretch, which will be closed for the race.
“That section is mentally tough because it is flat, so we want to have some uplifting fun,” Gleason said. “We want it to be a fun, family environment.”
Community bands are also being asked to provide entertainment on the race course and choirs from churches. One choir has volunteered, but Gleason is looking for more for the 13.1-mile course.
Sarah Poole is the volunteer director for the half marathon and can be reached at 270-852.1450 or at [email protected].
Prices for the race are $65 for early bird, until Jan. 1, 2019, $75 from Jan. 2 to March 18, and $85 at the expo.
