Danville Half Marathon

Runners who’ve participated in this event in the past say the race offers plenty of scenery that’s unique to this part of the country, from its historic downtown storefronts and streets to its tree-lined country roads just outside town.

The out-and-back race starts and finishes at the Main Street Plaza, located downtown along the southern side of the river. From there, runners follow the first few miles of the course along the same side of the river.

After they complete the first 3.1 miles, runners then cross over the river at the Crossing at the Dan and run the rest of their race along the shaded and paved trails that follow along the northern side of the Dan River, most of which is fast and flat.

The half marathon at the Danville race usually draws the most entrants — just over 140 runners crossed the finish line in the 13.1-mile race in 2011, out of more than 220 runners and walkers for the overall event combined.

And while most of the greenway along the river is paved trails for bikers, walkers and joggers, portions of the course include some gravel and dirt surfaces. The starting time for the race is 8:00 AM and those running the half marathon have three hours to complete their race.