Expect several road closures Saturday morning for the Wendell Foster Half Marathon, which has more than 800 participants registered. Here are the route maps for both the half marathon and 5K routes.
Total road closures include J.R. Miller Boulevard (18th Street to Salem Drive) and Veterans Boulevard starting at 7 a.m. Delays can be expected from 7:30-11:30 a.m. on Locust Street, Veach Road, Ford Avenue, Lewis Lane, West Byers Avenue, and South Griffith Avenue.
Motorists are advised to use alternate routes, avoid areas along the race course, allow for extra driving time, and proceed with caution on streets near the race course.
This is the fifth annual Wendell Foster Half Marathon & 5K.
A new addition to the 2024 race is the Steps Division, a way for people with disabilities to participate in the half marathon or 5K. Steps Division participants have completed most of their distance — either the half marathon or 5K — over the course of a year. Participants will take their final steps across the finish line on race day and will be medaled alongside other runners for their accomplishments. The division is sponsored by Boardwalk Pipelines.
Other changes include the switch from a November race date to a March race date to honor National Disability Awareness Month and the organization’s inaugural race in March 2019.
“It’s been over a year since we came together to run, walk or stroll for Wendell Foster,” said race director Kara Howard. “The pandemic affected both large and small races all across the country for the last few years, impacting in-person events and participation numbers. Our race was no different. In 2023, we made the decision to shift the Wendell Foster Half Marathon & 5K back to its inaugural month of March, National Disability Awareness Month, a time to honor our mission of empowering people with disabilities.”
The race weekend kicks off with an expo on March 22 from 12-7 p.m. at the Owensboro Convention Center. At the event, athletes can pick up their race packets, visit more than 20 vendor booths, and register for the race (availability permitting).
Registration is not available on race day, but runners will be able to pick up their packets the morning of the race at the Convention Center.
The fast and flat half marathon course will start in downtown Owensboro and travel 13.1 miles throughout Owensboro. Participants will run through Wendell Foster’s campus at mile 1 in both the half marathon and 5K divisions.
“Each year, runners have shared their favorite part of the race is running through Wendell Foster’s campus at mile 1 where they are greeted with powerful cheers from the individuals we support and staff members,” Howard said. “The energy fuels them to get through the challenge ahead.”
Those interested in learning more about the event can visit, wendellfoster.org/halfmarathon.
