Fall running festival open for registration
The Bethlehem Running Festival presented by Lehigh Valley Health Network is scheduled for Oct. 21 and 22. The Festival will feature a 5K, 10K, and half marathon that will start at the SteelStacks and take runners through the city on courses designed by “The Mayor of Running,” Bethlehem’s own Bart Yasso.
On Saturday, the 5K will start at 7:30 a.m., followed by the 10K at 9 a.m.
On Sunday, the Lehigh Valley Orthopedic Institute Half Marathon will begin at 8 a.m.
The Festival, organized by The RUNegades, will be the first major, multi-day running festival in Bethlehem since the Runner’s World Half and Festival last ran in 2019. At its peak, that event drew over 8,500 runners to the city.
The American Cancer Society is the Festival’s charitable partner, and will hold its 12th annual Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk at the SteelStacks shortly after Saturday’s 10K.
Race organizer Michael Ragozzino of the RUNegades said Bethlehem is the ideal setting for a running festival. “It has everything runners want in a weekend running getaway - great courses, shopping, dining, history and charm.”
Bruce Haines, owner of Aardvark Sports Shop, the official running store of the festival, concurs. “We anticipate this event will be a vital part of the race calendar moving forward, and a focus of the Lehigh Valley running community.”
The Festival is made possible by title sponsor Lehigh Valley Health Network, which also partners with the RUNegades for their Jim Thorpe Event. “LVHN really cares about the health of the community,” Ragozzino said. “They really wanted to make this happen.”
LVHN Senior Vice President of Operations Bob Begliomini said, “Lehigh Valley Health Network values our partnerships within the community, and we are excited to be the title sponsor for the Bethlehem Running Festival. We are proud to offer the highest quality care and training through the Lehigh Valley Orthopedic Institute to ensure participants have a safe and successful race. We can’t wait to see the excitement the festival will bring to the Bethlehem community in the fall.”
Register at www.runbethlehem.com.