New Half Marathon Event Coming To Barbour County This September

The Belington community is excited to announce that they are hosting the Tygart Valley Half Marathon on September 14, 2024 on behalf of the Highlands Trail Foundation. The flat course will take runners down quiet back roads along the Tygart Valley River, through the town of Junior and back to finish in the heart of Belington.

This event is a temporary replacement for the Blackwater Canyon Half Marathon. Organizers were unable to secure the private property permit needed to hold the race this year. The event is a major fundraiser for the Highlands Trail Foundation (HTF) which works to create, support, and advance the Allegheny Highlands Trail system in the Potomac Highlands of West Virginia. The multi-use pedestrian path that connects Elkins, Parsons, and Hendricks with proposed trail continuing to Thomas is a critical connector in the region and the Barbour County community is proud to be able to step up and support the Foundation in this challenging year.

The Barbour County community is excited for the opportunity to support a critical local foundation while at the same time bringing a new type of event to the county and showing off the local beauty and communities.

The Blackwater Canyon Half hosted over 150 runners in 2023, hailing from 12 states and other countries and this year’s Tygart Valley Half Marathon hopes to show off a new part of the state to past participants and introduce the work of the HTF to a new audience.

The Tygart Valley Half Marathon will feature Barbour County’s beautiful, wild river, small town charm, local food, and sponsorships. The event will showcase the ways our communities, organizations, and small businesses can rally to support each other. Registration is open now at runsignup.com/tvhm.