Participants running in the 3rd annual Valley of the Lilies Half Marathon and 5k
Saturday, April 1, it will be the perfect weather to…. run.
Come join the 260 runners registered to run in the seventh annual Valley of the Lilies Half Marathon and 5k from 6:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. hosted by Western Carolina University’s Department of Campus Recreation and Wellness as well as the School of Health Sciences.
All of the proceeds will be used to support students from the School of Health Sciences as well as students associated with Campus Recreation and Wellness. The funds will be used to assist these students in professional development and travel by funding professional presentations and covering the cost of travel to attend conferences.
For both the half marathon and 5k, runners can preregister or sign up on the day of the races. However, the price for the races will be their highest on April 1. The current price for the half marathon is $60 and the price for the 5k is $25. On April 1, the price for the 5k becomes $30 and the half marathon becomes $80. To register now, click here.
Valley of the Lilies Half Marathon Course 2017 courtesy of Shauna Sleight, director of Campus Recreation & Wellness.
Runners will be able to pick up their packets for the race in the Health and Human Sciences Building, room 204, on March 30 and 31 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Participants can also pick up packets on race day from 6:30 to 7:30 a.m. in the Campus Recreation Center.
The half marathon starts at 8 a.m. This year’s the course has changed due to local construction on Old Cullowhee Road. The Department of Transportation wanted to prevent participants from running through the construction due to the potential dangers the increased traffic in the area posed. Runners have three and a half hours to complete the course or they will be running at their own risk.
Valley of the Lilies 5K Course 2017 courtesy of Shauna Sleight, director of Campus Recreation & Wellness.
Awards for the half marathon will be presented at 11 a.m. even if there are still participants running. For the half marathon, all runners that complete the course are given prizes. Medals will be given to the overall male and female winner for both races. Medals will also be given to the top three females and males in each age group. The age groups are 13-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69 and 70 plus. The awards are custom made medals.
The 5k starts at 8:15 a.m. The course for the 5k will remains the same as previous years. The awards for the 5k are presented 45 minutes after the start of the race, at 9 a.m. by the finish line in Central Plaza.
