The Parkersburg News and Sentinel Half Marathon begins at
8 a.m. in downtown Parkersburg. The rolling
course will take you out of the city and into the
scenic surroundings of Wood County before
looping back into the commercial area. You
will finish the race to the cheers of thousands
of spectators lined up on Market Street prior
to the Parkersburg Homecoming Festival Parade. Minimum age to participate in the Half
Marathon is 15. See our website, NewsandSentinelHalfMarathon.com for a complete listing of age categories. Prize money for NCAA
eligible runners is donated to the Newspapers
in Education fund. All Half Marathon participants get a finisher’s medal and a race
shirt.
*See the registration site for full race details.
Saturday, Aug. 16, 2025
Wheelchair Start7:50 am
Half Marathon8:00 am
Two Mile Race8:10 am
Course Closes11:30 am
HALF MARATHON AWARDS
Open Run (men and women)
1st Place:$1,000
2nd Place:$750
3rd Place:$500
Open Walk (men and women)
1st Place:$200
2nd Place:$150
3rd Place:$100
*see additional awards information on registration page
Registration, Expo and Packet Pickup
You can pick up your race packet, register for all races and
shop at the Runners Expo from 2-9 p.m. Aug. 15 at the Parkersburg Municipal Building at 1 Government Square.
Packets for the Half Marathon and Two-Mile Race also can be
picked up on race day from 6-7 a.m. at the Parkersburg Municipal
Building.
THERE WILL BE NO RACE DAY REGISTRATION FOR THE HALF MARATHON OR TWO-MILE RACE
Pre-race pasta dinner
One of the outstanding features of the News
and Sentinel Half Marathon is our pre-race
pasta dinner. The dinner will be held from 4:30-
9 p.m. Friday, Aug. 15. The cost of the dinner
for Half Marathon participants is included in the
entry fee. Guests and
two-milers may buy
dinner tickets at the
door at St. Francis
Xavier Parish Hall, 609
Market St., near the
finish line. Gluten-free
pasta available by request.
Water stops
The News and Sentinel Half Marathon has 16 aid stations
serving water and Gatorade, starting at the 1.5 mile mark.
Health care professionals from WVU Medicine will be located at
various sites throughout the course to provide medical assistance. The Two-Mile Race will also have water stops.
Post-race pizza luncheon
There will be a post-race pizza luncheon
from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday. The luncheon
cost for half marathon participants is covered in
the entry fee. Runners must present their Half
Marathon race number for admission. Guests
and two-milers may buy luncheon tickets at the
door at St. Francis Xavier Parish Hall.
Two Mile Race awards presentation
10:30 a.m. day of race at Bicentennial Park, Third and Market streets. In case of rain, city council chambers. Must be present to obtain trophy. No trophies will be mailed.
