Saturday, May 5, 2018 • Kerens, WVÂ
Set for its 8th annual running this spring here in this tiny unincorporated community near the eastern state line in West Virginia, the Catholic Charities Race for Hope unfolds along the Allegheny Highlands Trail, a 24 1/2-mile-long trail that winds through the countryside along the old West Virginia Central and Pittsburg Railway, built back in the 1880s.
Runners start the race at the Leading Creek Fire Department, along Triplet Road, just off Seneca Trail. From there, the race jumps onto the Allegheny Highlands Trail, then remain on its crushed stone surface trail for the next 6 1/2 miles.
Once they reach the half-way turnaround point just north of Montrose, they’ll turn around and retrace their steps along the trail, all the way back to the fire department building in Kerens, where they’ll cross the finish line.
There’s a gradual rise in elevation over the course of the half marathon, rising more than 200 feet between the start the half-way point (and then descending by an equal amount on the way back).
For runners in the 5K, the race heads south from the fire department, running along the trail out-and-back.
Walkers are welcome, organizers say, and there will be 5 water stops out on the half marathon course, with a porta-potty available near the half-way turnaround point, near the Montrose trailhead.
Race Weather & Climate
Located just north of Elkins in the eastern part of the state, about 60 miles south of Morgantown and roughly 2 1/2 hours south of Pittsburgh, Kerens typically sees mild temperatures and its second-rainiest month of the year in May.
- May 5 average low temp: 41ºF
- May 5 average high temp: 69ºF
Starting Time
10:00 AM
Course Time Limit
4 hours
Fees
- $35 and up for the half marathon
- $20 and up for the 5K
Registration
To reserve your spot in the 2018 running of Kerens’ Catholic Charities Race for Hope Half Marathon or 5K race, register online at the event website here.
