Secret City Half Marathon this weekend features 5k, 10k races; health, fitness expo

The Secret City Half Marathon this weekend will feature 5k and 10k races, and a new health and fitness expo.

The first-ever Secret City 5k and 10k races start at 7:30 a.m. Saturday at the Oak Ridge Civic Center.

The inaugural Health and Fitness Expo is scheduled from noon to 6 p.m. Saturday, also at the Oak Ridge Civic Center. The event will include booths and exhibits from fitness and health professionals around the region.

“The Secret City Half Marathon Health and Fitness Expo provides the perfect setting to promote Oak Ridge as a top-notch visitor destination,” said Katy Brown, executive director of the Oak Ridge Convention and Visitors Bureau. “Around 600 runners from around the Southeast have registered to participate in the Half Marathon, and we hope every one of them will check in at the Health and Fitness Expo.”

More than 600 adults and children ran in the Secret City Half Marathon and Relay last year, organizer Frank Chmielewicz said.

“We’re excited to expand the Secret City Half Marathon weekend into a two-day event with different races that appeal to all ages and abilities,” said Chmielewicz, Half Marathon race director this year. ”Families can make plans to come to Oak Ridge for the entire weekend to participate in the races and enjoy the wonderful attractions and beautiful scenery of our community.”

The Secret City Half Marathon will be held at 7:30 a.m. Sunday. The scenic 13.1-mile certified course, which starts and ends at National Fitness Center on Briarcliff Avenue, runs along Oak Ridge city streets and greenways, including the Melton Lake Greenway. Half marathon participants can also choose to run the course as part of a two-person relay. The first leg will start with the Half Marathon and run the first loop of the double loop Half Marathon course. The second leg will complete the second loop of the Half Marathon.

For more information and online registration, visit www.secretcityhalfmarathon.com. Participants will also find information about packet pickup, parking, and registration fees.

Awards for the Half Marathon will be given to the top three male and female in the open and first place male and female in the masters (over 40), grand masters (over 50), and veterans (over 60) divisions. Awards for the 5K and 10K will be given to the first place male and female in the open, masters (over 40), grand masters (over 50), and veterans (over 60) divisions. Age group awards will be given for first, second, and third place using five-year age groups. All Half Marathon finishers will receive a unique medallion at the finish line.

Proceeds from the Secret City Half Marathon events go to the following organizations:

• ASAP (Allies for Substance Abuse Prevention of Anderson County)
• CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates of the Tennessee Heartland)
• TORCH (Trinity Out Reach Center of Hope)

The ORCVB is a local organization formed to strengthen the area economy through the marketing and promotion of Oak Ridge as a destination for sports, meetings, business, and leisure travel. Visit them online at oakridgevisitor.com for more information.