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Provo half marathon and kids race coming up soon

By Genelle Pugmire - | Apr 27, 2022

Daily Herald file photo

Runners pass Bridal Veil Falls in Provo Canyon during the Provo City Marathon and Half Marathon on Saturday, May 4, 2013.

Get your running shoes ready. The 15th Annual Run13 Provo City Half Marathon, 5K and kids race will be held at varying starting times Saturday, May 7, at South Fork Park in Provo Canyon.

Mayor Michelle Kaufusi, a long-time runner and supporter of the half marathon, will be at the start line to encourage the runners and lead them onto the course.

Kaufusi, who is among community leaders recognized by Run13, noted that this event “is more than a race … it is about community building.”

Joining Kaufusi at the start line will be Mallory Walbruch, singing the National Anthem. Walbruch is a 14-year-old freshman at American Fork High School who loves to sing, act and perform.

Half marathon

This officially authorized course is a Boston Marathon qualifier and is presented by Smile Center of Utah. The half marathon begins at 8 a.m. in South Fork Park in Provo Canyon and finishes in downtown Provo at University Avenue and Center Street.

“This point-to-point race starts in the mountains above the city on South Fork Road where it heads west and south toward downtown Provo,” according to Denny Thorne, organizing chairman of the race. “Runners will stay on the Provo River Parkway for much of the first half of the race, paralleling Provo Canyon Road as it descends from the mountains into the city.”

Runners leave the Provo River Parkway just after mile 8 and head onto University Avenue, which takes them into the race finish at the intersection with Center Street, Thorne added. The full half marathon is about 13 miles.

5K

As a less-strenuous option, runners can sign up for a 5-kilometer (about 3 mile) race. The 5K begins at 9 a.m. at 3610 N. University Ave. and finishes in downtown Provo, like the half marathon.

Kid’s race

Children in grades K-6 are invited to come be a part of the Provo City Kid’s Marathon at 9 a.m. on race day for registration. Members of the BYU women’s track and field team will be at the kid’s race to interact with these young runners and cheer them on.

At roughly 9:50 a.m. the kids will be lined up at their start line. At 10 a.m. the race will begin. All young speedsters will race from Provo Center Street to the Smile Center at 300 East and return.

Other highlights

In addition, race organizers are hoping to bring the running community together to join in supporting the Ukrainian people. They take their inspiration from Kyle Walbruch who has just returned from his LDS mission to Kyiv, Ukraine. Kyle served in Ukraine for 10 months before being evacuated when the conflict escalated.

Kyle said about the people of Ukraine, “They are the most kindhearted, selfless people that you will ever meet. There is always love between each of them and they are the hardest workers. I love the Ukrainian people and am so grateful that even though I served a short amount of time there, they made an everlasting impression on me. When you get a chance, please donate. I know they wouldn’t hesitate to do the same.”

To support this effort, the Provo City Half Marathon and Run13 communities are encouraging the public to learn about and participate in the work of Lifting Hands International, which assists refugees and displaced people across the globe.

According to Thorne, “This race is about so much more than running. It’s community. It’s family. It’s hope. We are so grateful to call Provo home. To be part of bringing us out of the pandemic, out of winter. To be together. To celebrate each other. That’s what PCHM is.”

For additional race information, visit run13.com.

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