15
October
2019
|
11:48 AM
America/New_York

Hershey Half Marathon: 13.1 Sweet Miles Through Hershey, PA

The 10th Annual Hershey Half Marathon takes to the streets on Sunday, October 20, 2019. Nearly 4,000 runners will 'run for chocolate' while helping sick kids around our region. The Hershey Half Marathon gives runners the opportunity to run through Hersheypark, dressed in its Halloween glory, and by iconic Hershey locations including Mr. Hershey's mansion, High Point, and Hershey Country Club. For many participants, the race has become an annual tradition. This year, an estimated 30 runners will join for the fifth time while nearly two dozen will run for the 10th consecutive year! Hundreds of volunteers will line the course route handing out water, Gatorade and loads of encouragement. 

The weekend kicks off on Saturday with the Expo featuring a dozen vendors and the opportunity for runners to pick up the much-coveted race shirt and runner bib. For the little runners, the Kids' Fun Run, open to children who are affiliated with a runner of the half marathon, starts at 5:15 p.m. in Hersheypark Stadium. The Stadium is abuzz by 6:30 a.m. on Sunday with runners arriving, stretching, comparing training schedules and greeting each other. Besides running past roller coasters and receiving a sweet treat at the Chocolate Aid Station, most runners note that the best part of running the race is seeing the students and staff of Milton Hershey School along the route with posters, cheers, music and endless enthusiasm! At the end of the race, finishers are greeted with accolades to carry them over the finish line and are adorned with a Kiss medal! 

A portion of the race proceeds goes to benefit the Children's Miracle Network (CMN) at Penn State Children's Hospital at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. CMN Hershey serves the Harrisburg, Lancaster, Lebanon and York region in Pennsylvania. Funds support life-saving equipment, family-centered care programs and innovative research to help provide the best possible care to sick and injured children in our community. This year’s Miracle Teen is Sam who created this drawing included on the volunteer shirts. Sam was with us for the first running of the Hershey Half Marathon and we are thrilled to welcome him once again this year! Many runners look forward to Miracle Mile, the CMN aid station between miles 11-12. Some of the best cheerleaders are there to say thank you for giving the #GiftofGrowingUp! 

New this year is the Conquer Run 5k supporting Four Diamonds at Penn State Children's Hospital! Four Diamonds’ mission is simple – to conquer childhood cancer. Four Diamonds covers the cost of treatment for all eligible patients not paid for by insurance and supports more than 30 specialty care providers who exclusively serve the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual needs of our children and families. Four Diamonds also funds a diverse platform of childhood cancer research, seeking improved treatments and cures to benefit kids around the world. This year’s Conquer Run Hero is Four Diamonds child Ashlyn, who embodies the four diamonds of courage, wisdom, honesty and strength, and inspires us to continue the fight to conquer childhood cancer. 

Best wishes to all of our race participants and run/walk safely through #HersheyPA! Thank you for joining us in The Sweetest Place On Earth