Marshall Half Marathon

Huntington, West Virginia

Sunday, November 3, 2019



On Sunday, November 3, 2019 I race walked the Marshall Half Marathon in Huntington, West Virginia.  When I left my motel, it was 28 degrees with a heavy frost.  The event began before the sun came up with a temperature under 32 degrees with clear skies and little breeze.  When the sun came up the temperature began to gradually rise.  The course was relatively flat with miles 1 to 6 on city streets, miles 6 to 9 on a heavily shaded hard packed sand and fine gravel bike path, and miles 9 to the finish again on city streets.  There were 891 finishers in the half marathon, 371 finishers in the full marathon (two loops of the half marathon course), and 316 finishers in the 5K.  The course was closed to traffic with police controlling the main intersections and volunteers controlling the rest.  Water/Gatorade stations were located approximately every 1.75 miles and had plenty of friendly efficient, enthusiastic volunteers taking care of the needs of the participants.  This is the fourth time that I have done this event.  It has always been an extremely well organized, fun event that has the finish at the goal line of the Marshall Football Stadium.  The participants enter the stadium through a steep tunnel to the north goal line.  There each participant has an option of carrying a football on their journey through the stadium which goes along the side line from the north goal line to the south 20-yard line to the center of the field, to the finish at the north goal line (the whole journey is on artificial grass).  As the participants leave the field, the Marshall Football Boosters have a tailgate party featuring a plentiful amount of hamburgers, hotdogs, donuts, and beer as well as the usual port race items.

The Exposition

Before The Race

Justus Burton

Andrew Sammel

Haleigh McDougal

After The Race

Chester Kalb

Jessica Norles

Judy Jackson

Ken Jackson