Belington Preps For Tygart Valley Half Marathon

Runners and local organizations are making final preparations for the inaugural Tygart Valley Half Marathon race in Belington on September 14. The Highlands Trail Foundation, based in Parsons, WV and Woodlands Development & Lending have come together to create this exciting event that showcases the best of our area’s scenery, small business community, and cross-county collaboration.

Faced with the cancellation of their regular fall event, the Blackwater Canyon Half Marathon, the Highlands Trail Foundation, who stewards the Allegheny Highlands Trail, was going to lose their biggest fundraiser of the year. Woodlands and the Belington community, who thought this would be a great opportunity to support an important local non-profit and show off some of Barbour County’s best scenery, stepped up to organize the Tygart Valley Half Marathon in its place.

Now over 60 runners are registered, coming in from as far away as Mississippi, and will toe the start line in Belington at 9 a.m. on September 14. Both of last year’s winners, Ian Voysey and Rachel Snyder will be on hand to defend their titles but they will have challengers. Belington’s own Scott Nesland and Morgantown’s Phillip White could steal the crown from Voysey, while Ariel Valentine and Charlotte Wales bring a lot of talent and fitness to the women’s race.

At least a dozen runners will be attempting to complete a double header made up of the Tygart Valley Half on Saturday and the Helvetia 10K on Sunday. Historically this feat is called the Black-Hel Double referring to the Blackwater Canyon Half and Helvetia 10K and athletes who successfully finish both races receive additional recognition. The Helvetia 10K Mountain Run, which starts at 9 a.m. at the Helvetia Post Office, is celebrating its 25th year and supports the Helvetia Community Fair. Registration is available Sunday morning the 15th of September, or at WVMTR.org.

Registration for the Tygart Valley Half Marathon is open through Thursday, September 12 with a limited amount of day-of entries possible. The race will start behind Tygart Supply and follow Talbott and then River Road through Junior and on past Pritt Hollow and back. Emily Miller and Jesse Milnes will be performing live music at the finish line next to the Golden Rule Building. Community members are encouraged to line the course to cheer on runners and to join us at the finish for a celebration and awards. The area around the bridges in Belington and Junior are great areas to cheer. For the runner’s safety, access will be restricted to the narrower sections of River Road.

The Tygart Valley Half Marathon features a lightly rolling course along Barbour County’s beautiful, wild Tygart Valley river, small town charm, and local food and prizes. Registration and more information at runsignup.com/tvhm.

For additional or larger format media, questions, or further information, please contact Katie Wolpert (kwolpert@woodlandswv.org) or Sarah Forbes (halfiron02@gmail.com).