Registration remains open for the fifth annual Hoptown Half Marathon and 5K races on Saturday, Oct. 21, when runners will head through downtown Hopkinsville, portions of the Hopkinsville Greenway and a few county roads south of town.
Runners can sign up online until early on race day, but participants will save on the registration fee by signing up early, organizers at Hopkinsville Parks and Recreation said in press release.
The advance fee for the half marathon is $85, plus a $6.10 sign-up charge. It is open to runners age 10 and older. The 5K fee is $55, plus $4.30. It is open to runners age 5 and older.
Runners will receive a medal and long-sleeve performance shirt featuring a waffle iron, a nod to Hopkinsville’s designation as Batter Capital of the World.
Participants can pick up their race packet between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 20, at the Thomas Street Recreation Center, or before 7:30 a.m. on race day in the Christian County Justice Center’s parking lot.
The starting line will be in the 700 block of South Main Street adjacent to the Hopkinsville Municipal Center. The half marathon will start at 8 a.m., followed by the 5K at 8:20 a.m. Volunteer cheer teams will be at water stations along both routes. The event usually attracts dozens of spectators to watch the runners along Main Street.
The races generate money for local organizations. This year the beneficiaries are Sanctuary Inc. and the Christian County Rescue Team. The main sponsors are Planters Bank and Jennie Stuart Health.
The Hopkinsville Kiwanis Club will serve free waffles and pancakes to the runners after the race.
