The streets of downtown Lewisburg will be filled with runners and “walkers” on Saturday, Oct. 25, as the Run United ½ Marathon and Run of the Living Dead Zombie 5K Run come to town. We invite all residents along the route to join in the fun! Please feel free to support runners and walkers as they trek through your neighborhood. Crowd support can immensely help runners.
Here are some tips for supporting runners as the pass by your home:
1. Runners love to read signs along the race course to help break the monotony. Try some of these phrases for signs: “We’re all United”; “You can do it!” or “All walls have doors” If you’re supporting a family member or friend, make a sign with his name!
2. Feel free to offer some goodies for the runners, such as jelly beans, gummy bears and orange slices. Tissues or paper towels also come in handy for runners.
3. Most of all, runners really appreciate noise – yelling, clapping, whistling, music or noisemakers, like a cowbell. Pick a phrase or two to yell as runners pass by your home. Some good ones include: “Way to run;” “You can do it;” “Looking strong;” “Nice job;” “You’re flying;” or “Looking good.”
4. Also, if you’ve got a furry friend that likes to “chase,” it’s a good idea to keep Fido secured for his safety, as well as the runners.
The Run United ½ Marathon starts at 9 a.m. at Church and Foster Streets. Runners will head south on Church Street to Court Street, turn right onto 2nd Avenue; toward S. Jefferson Street, head northwest on 1st Avenue heading back to Court Street. Runners will head North on Court Street, continuing North onto Fairview Road, turning right onto Arbuckle Lane, runners will head back along Arbuckle to South on Fairview Road, continuing South on Court Street to Foster Street and continuing onto the finish line at the intersection of Church and Foster Streets in downtown Lewisburg. Race should be complete by 1 p.m.
The Zombie 5K starts at 9:30 a.m. This fun-filled 5K will begin and end at Church and Foster streets and will wind throughout the downtown Lewisburg. Runners/walkers will head South on Court Street to Church Street, head North on to McElhenny Road, continuing through the Confederate Cemetery and past the Greenbrier Public Library. Runners head northeast on Maple Street and continue onto Gardner Street, turning onto Oak Street toward Feamster Road, and then South on Court Street to Randolph Street, turn South to Livesay Street toward Washington Street. Turn left onto Washington Street, right onto S. Court Street toward Foster Street and back to the finish line.
Roads on the routes will remain open to traffic, so be on the lookout for runners and walkers between 9 a.m and 1 p.m. In the interest of safety for runners and drivers, Fairview Road will be open to local traffic only between 8 a.m and 1 p.m. Please choose alternate routes during this time.