The second annual Hoptown Half Marathon & 5K will benefit Hopkinsville’s Challenge House, race organizers announced Friday.
The Challenge House movement — founded by the late Wally Bryan — works to address poverty and inequality in the inner-city with the help of neighborhood ambassadors that move into economically-challenged neighborhoods.
Last year’s inaugural Hoptown Half Marathon & 5K drew 632 participants from 16 states and resulted in a contribution to the United Way of the Pennyrile of $14,131. Race organizers hope to draw more than 1,000 participants to this year’s event, which is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 19, in downtown Hopkinsville.
“The Challenge House Movement is very pleased to be named the beneficiary of the 2020 Hoptown Half Marathon & 5K,” interim Challenge House Executive Director Michelle Wilson said in a statement from the city’s Parks & Recreation Department. “The donation received from this event will help us realize the dream of our founder, Wally Bryan, to build a seventh Challenge House, to be located in the eastside of town around the First Street area of Hopkinsville.”
In addition to the traditional half-marathon and 5K events, this year’s race day will also feature a one-mile “Wally’s Walkers” division, inspired by the late mayor’s involvement in and support of a similar event during the annual Pennyrile Senior Games.
For those who sign up by July 1, registration is $69 and $35 for the half marathon and 5K, respectively.
The Hoptown Half & 5K will observe social distancing at the start line and during other correlating activities, according to race organizers. A virtual race option also is available and allows participants to run 13.1 or 3.1 miles on their own time and at their own location, while still receiving a race bib, shirt and medal.
The half marathon is sponsored by Planters Bank, and Jennie Stuart is the 5K sponsor.
More information and registration details are available at hoptownhalf.com.
Julia Hunter is the engagement editor for Hoptown Chronicle. Reach her at julia@hoptownchronicle.org.
