Richmond’s running community will be out in force in the rolling farm fields of Hanover County and the scenic railroad town of Ashland for the 13.1-mile Patrick Henry Half Marathon set to start at 7:00 a.m. at Poor Farm Park on Saturday, August 23rd.

The event, which is organized by the Richmond Road Runners Club and the Sports Backers and is now in its second year, has over a thousand area runners registered.  Changes this year include the start time being set a half hour earlier than last year’s and the route being modified to “create a course that is challenging and safe for the runners yet offers minimal inconvenience for local residents,” said race organizer Michael George.  “After our inaugural event last year, we realized that this event was a keeper.  The community support was outstanding,” added George.

In addition, the runners this year have the option of picking up their race packets at the Patrick Henry Half Marathon Expo from 3-7 p.m. on Friday, August 22nd at the Patrick Henry YMCA at 217 Ashcake Road.  While there, they can attend a free seminar on the Olympic Marathon Trials presented by Maureen Ackerly, winner of the 2006 SunTrust Richmond Marathon, and Casey Smith, winner of the 2007 SunTrust Richmond Marathon.  Both ladies will share their experiences as qualifiers for the Olympic Marathon Trials in an informal talk starting at 5:30 p.m.  Ben Ackerly, Maureen’s husband and a coach for several local racers will also be offering observations and advice on high level competition and training.

The Patrick Henry Half Marathon is named for Hanover County’s famous Colonial-era patriot, Patrick Henry, who proclaimed the Revolutionary War’s rallying cry, “Give me liberty or give me death.”  The course covers territory that Henry trod during his lifetime.

From the start in Poor Farm Park, runners will proceed along an access road, before joining up with Wilkinson Road, and then onto Blanton Road where they will head east to Independence Road before looping around on Route 667 to come through Ashland via Center Street and then eventually back to Poor Farm Park on Yowell Road.  The final leg will be from the intersection of Yowell and Blanton Road back to Wilkinson Road to the park access road back into Poor Farm Park.  There will be a post-race celebration featuring food and music.

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