- A half-marathon relay event has been added to the inaugural Bethlehem Running Festival Oct. 21-22
- The new event will be held Sunday, Oct. 22. Other races that weekend are a 5k, a 10k and half-marathon
- The festival will mark the first time Bethlehem has been host to a major running event since the Runner's World's event in 2019
BETHLEHEM, Pa. — The inaugural Bethlehem Running Festival continues to grow.
The B. Braun Half-Marathon Relay has been added to the lineup that will be held Oct. 21-22, organizers announced Wednesday.
The half-marathon relay will begin Sunday, Oct. 22 at SteelStacks in South Bethlehem. The race courses were designed by long-distance running Hall of Famer and Bethlehem native, Bart Yasso.
The half-marathon relay will feature teams of three runners, each taking on one segment of the relay. The course includes two five-mile segments and one 5K, or 3.1 mile, segment, letting runners of all abilities participate and enjoy the experience.
"For people who don’t usually run, the half-marathon relay makes it less daunting because you’re with a team.”
Michael Raggozino, race director, Bethlehem Running Festival
According to race director Michael Raggozino, representatives of B. Braun approached the festival committee in January about adding a half-marathon relay.
“I know B. Braun had been involved with another half-marathon relay that was held in the Lehigh Valley a number of years ago,” Raggozino said Wednesday.
“They said they were considering becoming a sponsor of the event if we could add the relay.”
'To inspire people of all ages and abilities'
The top male, female and co-ed teams in the half-marathon relay will win awards. The top corporate team will have its name etched on the 3-foot corporate challenge cup.
“Sometimes, it takes a little encouragement to run. For people who don’t usually run, the half-marathon relay makes it less daunting because you’re with a team.”
Race Director Michael Raggozino
“The half-marathon relay is mostly about running as a team,” Raggozino said.
“Sometimes, it takes a little encouragement to run. For people who don’t usually run, the half-marathon relay makes it less daunting because you’re with a team.”
Raggozino said he hopes to have 50 half-marathon relay teams register for this year’s event.
B. Braun Medical Inc. in Bethlehem, is the event title sponsor. The company is a nationwide leader in smart infusion therapy and safe and effective pharmacy products, patient and provider safety and sustainable health solutions.
The Bethlehem Running Festival is the first major, multi-day running event held in historic Bethlehem since the Runner's World Half and Festival last ran in 2019.
With a focus on community engagement, healthy living, and the spirit of competition, the festival aims to inspire people of all ages and abilities to embrace running as a means of fostering physical and mental well-being.
Registration for all events at the Bethlehem Running Festival is now open. Visit www.runbethlehem.com for details.
EDITOR'S NOTE: LehighValleyNews.com is the primary media sponsor of the Bethlehem Running Festival.