The Half of It

Three TPG employees share what to expect at the Evansville Half Marathon

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 cityโ€™s 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 Haynieโ€™s Corner Arts District.

Photo provided by Jessica Hoffman. Tucker Publishing Group Senior Account Executives Jennifer Rhoades (far left) and Jessica Hoffman (second from right) are Evansville Half Marathon veterans and will compete again this year.

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 yearโ€™s 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 Kentuckyโ€™s 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 trioโ€™s top tips for enjoying the Evansville Half Marathon, whether youโ€™re a runner or a supporter.

Properly fueling up on race day is important …

Hoffman likes to eat peanut butter and honey toast. Before last yearโ€™s race, Mitchell ate a BelVita granola bar, but for college races, โ€œmy favorite was always a waffle with peanut butter and honey,โ€ she says.

โ€ฆ 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 โ€œthinking about my family and friends and that I am doing something healthy for myself.โ€ Hoffman says, โ€œEnjoying 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.

Donโ€™t fancy running? Be a cheerleader. โ€œI like the areas where a lot of people are able to gather and cheer with signs. It helps boost you through!โ€ Mitchell says.

โ€œThe Garvin Park area and North Main Street stretch seem to be good viewing areas,โ€ Hoffman says. โ€œI 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 whatโ€™s beyond the finish line.

โ€œThere are times throughout the race that things hurt, but I just try to work through them,โ€ Hoffman says. โ€œAfter the race, my legs will be tired, and Iโ€™ll be sore the next couple of days.โ€

Mitchell already has post-race plans: โ€œEating something good after. That last mile is always hell.โ€

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Jodi Keen
Jodi Keen
Jodi Keen is the managing editor of Evansville Living and Evansville Business magazines.

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