Register Kids to Race in Runner's World Festival

Register your kids for the children’s events at this weekend’s Runner’s World Half Marathon & Running Festival on Wednesday night and get some free swag along with expert advice for your young runner.

For those who don’t know, the festival is a weekend-long celebration of running at SteelStacks. It will feature 5-K and 10-K races on Saturday and a half-marathon on Sunday, as well as running-related seminars, movies, live music and a health and fitness expo.

But Friday night will be for the kids. Starting at 5 p.m., four races will be run:

• 2-5 years old: ¼-mile
• 6-8 years old: ½-mile
• 9-12 years old: 1 mile
• Competitive Kids Mile (12-and-younger)

To enter the new competitive race, boys must demonstrate the ability to run a six-minute mile-or-better and girls must able to run a 6:30 mile-or-better. Runner's World will make a donation to the school of the top three boys and girls finishers in the competitive race.

Register your children at the Capital BlueCross Store in the Promenade Shops at Saucon Valley from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday. In addition to early kids’ race bib pickup, the store will be giving away kid-friendly items such as coloring books, spoons and color changing cups. Experts from Runner’s World and Running Times will be on hand to discuss the best training methods for children.

Parents or guardians can also register their child at www.RWHalf.com. The runs are free but a $5 donation is suggested to benefit the NYRR Mighty Milers program. Donations will give kids the opportunity and encouragement to get moving, release energy, and improve their fitness and health with the Mighty Milers’ youth-based running initiative.

The Half & Festival, produced by Rodale Inc.'s Runner's World magazine, recently added the Eukanuba Dog Run on Saturday and announced that legendary race director, philanthropist, motivational speaker, and accomplished athlete Dave McGillivray will be the keynote speaker Saturday night. Olympic Gold–Medal swimmer Summer Sanders will also participate in the weekend.

The inaugural festival last year drew more than 6,000 participants.