News: Red Baron Half Marathon

Robert Kephart is the coordinator of the he Red Baron Half Marathon and a faculty member at Corning Community College. Before the Interview, Robert wanted to remind that : “The Red Baron is a volunteer organized and managed race. The race would not be possible without the volunteers that give their time and the businesses that donate food and services.” Credit : Red Baron Half Marathon Hello, on November 7th 2010, you’ll be organizing the Red Baron Half Marathon . Can you tell us where it is located? The Red Baron Half Marathon starts at the Corning Community College Commons at the top of Spencer Hill in Corning, New York and takes the picturesque roads down the back side of the hill to the Corning Family YMCA. §staticmap(5349) How old is the race and why was it created in the first place? The Red Baron Half Marathon is having its 30th anniversary this Year! The race was created as a fund raiser for Spencer Crest Nature Center to assist with access for the disabled. The race has raised close to $2000 a year for the center! What kind of route have you set up for the runners? How would you describe it? The Red Baron Half Marathon starts at the top of Spencer Hill in Corning, New York and takes the picturesque roads down the back side of the hill. There are no steep hills that would be rough on the knees; and yet, from start to finish, there is a gradual 800 foot drop in elevation. Local distance runners regard this course highly, and consider this a great race event. How many runners do you expect on Sunday afternoon? What type of runners do you plan to attract? The Red Baron Half Marathon usually draws 150 – 200 runners. We hope to draw a wide variety of runners, anybody looking for a race with lots of commrodery and competition will enjoy the race! Credit : Red Baron Half Marathon Do you organize other races during the Week-End? If so, on what distances? This is the only race that we organize. At that time of the year, what kind of weather can we expect? The Red Baron Half Marathon usually has cool weather that is ideal for running a half marathon. On occasion we have experienced rain but in general the weather is cooperative. Have you planned festivities around the race? The Red Baron Half Marathon has food and a brief awards ceremony at the finish of the race. The half marathon finished, what advice would you give a runner who has never been to Corning before? A good restaurant, a fancy sightseeing? The city of Corning has a beautiful downtown on Marketstreet with many fine restaurants, shopping district, Corning Museum of Glass, Rockwell Museum of Art, and The Corning Palace Theatre. Many make a weekend taking in other local attractions including wineries to north along Keuka and Seneca lake. Credit : Logan Ingalls In a single sentence, what would you tell the readers of ahotu Marathons to make them register for the Red Baron Half Marathon? The Red Baron Half Marathon is a race that is largely made up of returning runners that have experienced the race, enjoyed it and the fine people that take part and return every year! Please come be a member!