Blair Regional YMCA October Half Marathon, 10K & 5K

Runners and walkers in all three events start at the Hollidaysburg YMCA on Hewit Street. From there, the half marathon heads south along Penn Street toward Blair Street and in the direction of Chimney Rocks Park. Before they hit Blair, runners turn left on Allegheny Street and head east for about half a mile, before they turn left again onto Scotch Valley Road and follow it east toward Frankstown. Scotch Valley offers terrain just like its name sounds — runners will make their way through the valley between the hills along these two miles, surrounded by tree-covered hills in the distance. Much of the scenery along the race course is rural farm fields and forests, and the biggest hills occur on Scotch Valley Road twice — between mile markers 2 and 3, and then again on the return route between mile markers 10 and 11. Runners who wish to participate in the half marathon must be at least 16 years old by the day of the race; runners also will need to have arrived at the water station just past the mile 10 marker on Scotch Valley Road within 2 hours. For runners who haven’t reached this point within 2 hours, they may either wait for the van to ferry them to the finish line or continue on the course, though they will not be counted as official finishers in the race.