Around 1,552 runners will take to streets and trails Oct. 5 across the city for a longstanding tradition: the Evansville Half Marathon.
Started in 2002 to benefit programming for the YMCA of Southwestern Indiana, the 13.1-mile course begins and ends in Downtown Evansville and offers runners a scenic tour of the city. Starting at 7 a.m. on Court Street, runners cut a path through the Baptisttown, Bayard Park, and Tepe Park neighborhoods in the cityโs center, along the Pigeon Creek Greenway Passage north and then east to Garvin Park, then down North Main to conclude the race in front of the Civic Center. The five-mile track begins and ends in the same places as the half marathon but loops back toward Downtown after passing through the Haynieโs Corner Arts District.
Three Tucker Publishing Group staff members โ Senior Account Executives (and twin sisters) Jessica Hoffman and Jennifer Rhoades, plus Digital Marketing Coordinator Hadley Mitchell โ are among this yearโs runners.
Hoffman and Rhoades are no strangers to the long distance. The elder twin has run the Evansville Half Marathon 10 times, while her sister has completed it five times. Mitchell, who ran cross country at Kentuckyโs Georgetown College, is competing in her second consecutive half marathon.
All three began dedicating time to Half Marathon training in June but have devoted time to pounding the pavement throughout the year prior. This week, Hoffman, Mitchell, and Rhoades have practiced tapering โ reducing the distance they run as race day approaches โ so as to not wear their bodies down. They share a personal goal: To finish the race.
Read on for the trioโs top tips for enjoying the Evansville Half Marathon, whether youโre a runner or a supporter.
Properly fueling up on race day is important …
Hoffman likes to eat peanut butter and honey toast. Before last yearโs race, Mitchell ate a BelVita granola bar, but for college races, โmy favorite was always a waffle with peanut butter and honey,โ she says.
โฆ And so is keeping your mental game sharp.
Grinding through 13.1 miles can be grueling, and the mind is a powerful tool to keep charging ahead. Rhoades says she gets her head in the game by โthinking about my family and friends and that I am doing something healthy for myself.โ Hoffman says, โEnjoying the crowd of spectators, the other runners, and water stations will keep me going.โ Mitchell is investing in camaraderie by running the race with a college friend.
Discover the best spectating spots.
Donโt fancy running? Be a cheerleader. โI like the areas where a lot of people are able to gather and cheer with signs. It helps boost you through!โ Mitchell says.
โThe Garvin Park area and North Main Street stretch seem to be good viewing areas,โ Hoffman says. โI do wish more people would find their way out to the Greenway stretches. Those get really long without having many people to cheer you on.โ
Keep an eye on whatโs beyond the finish line.
โThere are times throughout the race that things hurt, but I just try to work through them,โ Hoffman says. โAfter the race, my legs will be tired, and Iโll be sore the next couple of days.โ
Mitchell already has post-race plans: โEating something good after. That last mile is always hell.โ