Runner's World Festival to Return to Bethlehem

Bethlehem Mayor John Callahan led a group of children in a short run around Clearview Park in West Bethlehem Thursday, as he announced plans for the Runner’s World Half & Festival in October.

Callahan was joined by officials from Rodale’s Runner’s World magazine, which launched its first and only half-marathon and festival in Bethlehem last year.

A full weekend of events, centered around the ArtsQuest SteelStacks campus, will take place from Oct. 18 to 20. The festival will feature music, running-themed speakers and seminars and runs, highlighted by the half-marathon on Oct. 19.

The festival is already proving to be yet another boost to the city’s tourism and hospitality industry. Runners from 47 states and seven foreign countries have already signed up to participate.

Organizers also announced that the festival will continue to support Bethlehem’s Mighty Milers—a program designed to introduce children to the sport of running.

The national program of the New York Roadrunners Club was brought to Bethlehem for the first time this summer with money donated from the 2012 Runner’s World festival.

Mighty Milers encourages children to walk or run to be physically fit and has been implemented in four Bethlehem summer park programs at Clearview Park, Higbee Park, Lincoln Elementary School and McNamara Park.

Children are taught the proper running techniques and are coached to log at least 13.1 miles of running throughout the program’s duration.

A series of free children’s runs will be hosted as part of the Runner’s World festival on Oct. 18.

Dave Willey, editor-in-chief of Runner’s World, said that the magazine supports Mighty Milers because, “We really want to make sure that we give back to the community.”

He also explained the magazine’s motivation for hosting a running-themed festival in Bethlehem.

“Having a race is a great new way for Runner’s World to connect with other runners in a new way beyond just the pages of the magazine and we learned that first-hand last year when we did this race for the first time,” Willey said.

“We felt it was really important and also an opportunity for us to have a lot of fun to do a race in our home town,” he continued.

“Rodale … is just about 12 miles down the road from where the race is going to be held. This is our hometown. We want to create something that lasts in our hometown and that helps build health habits for a lifetime, helps get kids running and active to combat the childhood obesity.”

Willey also introduced the festival’s keynote speaker, Dave McGillivray, the legendary race director of the Boston Marathon.

McGillivray is an accomplished runner who has completed 126 marathons and raced in eight Hawaii Ironman Triathlons. He first gained national attention in 1978 when he ran across the United States to raise money for childhood cancer patients.

McGillivray immediately complimented Callahan on his commitment to the sport of running.

“To have someone like this gentleman take such a vested interest in the health and well-being of the community in which he resides is really the spark that makes it all work,” McGillivray said. “Not to flatter you, but honestly, I wish there was a mayor in every city and town in America just like you.”

For more information on the races, half-marathon and festival and to register, go to www.rwhalf.com.