The community makes the race special

The selection of the News and Sentinel Half Marathon as the Road Runners Club of America Race of the Year recently validated what many of us associated with the race already knew.

The race is special, and it is special because of the people associated with it. The volunteers, the racers and the sponsors all play a pivotal role in making sure the race is of a caliber that makes it one of the most respected in the nation.

Our race is above all a community event. It would not be possible without the involvement of the both the people and governments of the city of Parkersburg, Wood County, and the State of West Virginia.

Race managers from around the country recently came together in Dallas. After talking to many of them it became apparent that we have something very special in Parkersburg - we have a community that cares.

Many struggle to find volunteers, we don't. Many do not have the support of their local governments, we do. We have a community of people that care, that's why our race is special.

Race Director Chip Allman accepted the Road Runners Club of America award for race of the year on behalf of the race at the convention on Dallas, what he really did was accept it on behalf of the 1,000 volunteers, scores of sponsors and the 2,400 racers that take part in the races.