Parkersburg News and Sentinel Half Marathon and Two Mile Race
- Date
- August 15, 2026
- Location
- 519 JULIANA ST, Parkersburg, WV
- Distance
- Half Marathon Run · Half Marathon Competitive Walk · Half Marathon Wheelchair Rim Push/Hand Crank & more
From the Organizer
HALF MARATHON:
The Parkersburg News and Sentinel Half Marathon begins at 8:00 a.m. (Wheelchair division 7:50 a.m.) in downtown Parkersburg and is the RRCA WV State Championship. The rolling course will take you out of the city and into the scenic surroundings of West Virginia before looping back into the commercial area. You will finish the race to the cheers of thousands of spectators lined up on Market Street prior to the Parkersburg Homecoming Festival Parade.
All participants in the Half Marathon will get a tech shirt, pre-race pasta dinner, finishers medal, & post-race pizza luncheon.
TWO MILE RACE:
Starting line is at Third and Juliana streets at the Towne Square Parking Garage and the finish line is at Sixth and Market streets. The Two Mile Race is the RRCA West Virginia Championship. Race begins at 8:10 a.m.
To participate on a Company, Family, or School team for the 2 Mile Run, please select your existing team or create a new team during registration. Top 4 fastest team members determine the team score.
All participants in the 2 Mile will receive a T-shirt.
Schedule:
Friday, August 14, 2026, Locations Listed Below
2-9 p.m. - Registration/Packet Pickup for all Events - Parkersburg Municipal Building, 1 Government Sq, Parkersburg, WV 26101
5-9 p.m. - Pre-Race Pasta Dinner* - St. Francis Xavier Parish Center, near Finish Line (included with Half Marathon)
*2-mile participants, guest and children tickets may be purchased at the door. (2-mile tickets $3 with bib present, Guest tickets $7, & Children $4)
Saturday, August 15, 2026, Locations Listed Below
6-7 a.m. - Packet Pickup for Half Marathon & 2 Mile - Parkersburg Municipal Building, 1 Government Sq, Parkersburg, WV 26101
7:50 a.m. - Wheelchair Starts
8:00 a.m. - Half Marathon Run & Half Marathon Walk Starts
8:10 a.m. - 2 Mile Run & 2 Mile Walk Starts
9:30 a.m. - Awards for 2 Mile Run & 2 Mile Walk - Bicentennial Park, 201 3rd St, Parkersburg, WV 26101
11:00 a.m. -1 p.m. - Post-Race Pizza Lunch* - St. Francis Xavier Parish Center, near Finish Line (included with Half Marathon)
*2-mile participants, guest and children tickets may be purchased at the door. (2-mile/guest $5 & Children $4)
11:30 a.m. – Course Closed
12:30 p.m. – Awards for Half Marathon Run & Half Marathon Walk – St. Francis Xavier Parish Center, near Finish Line
12:30 p.m. – Parade begins (Market Street)
Odgen Newspaper Half Marathon & Parkersburg News and Sentinel Half Marathon:
Runners who complete in both the Odgen Newspaper Half Marathon & Parkersburg News and Sentinel Half Marathon will receive a special tech shirt!
*Must be preregister in the Parkersburg News and Sentinel Half Marathon by August 1 to get special shirt.
Distances & Pricing
Race Location
About This Sport
From Endurance Grid's Founder
Endurance Grid is here to help you understand the sport, decide if it's the right fit, and learn how to prepare. For course distances, logistics, and race-day specifics, always defer to the race organizer's event page.
The half marathon is the distance where you find out what you're actually made of. Long enough to demand real preparation. Short enough that it doesn't consume your life to train for it. Most people who run their first half describe it as the race that changed their relationship with what they're capable of. Once you cross this finish line, the bar moves. That's not a warning — that's the point.
Race day energy varies by event size, but the finish line feeling is the same regardless. Big races keep the noise going the whole way. Smaller races give you stretches where it's just you and the miles — and that solitude becomes its own kind of fuel.
The half marathon rewards people who show up for the boring training miles.
How long to train: 10–14 weeks. If you're already running consistently, 10 weeks of structured buildup is enough. If you're building from a casual base, give yourself 14.
Running
From 5K to marathon, running races are the most accessible entry point into endurance sport. There's a distance for every fitness level and a community at every start line.
Coming Up
More running races in WV
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- What is the Parkersburg News and Sentinel Half Marathon and Two Mile Race?
- Parkersburg News and Sentinel Half Marathon and Two Mile Race is a running event held in Parkersburg, WV. Learn more about the different endurance sports here.
- When and where is the Parkersburg News and Sentinel Half Marathon and Two Mile Race?
- Saturday, August 15, 2026 in Parkersburg, WV at 519 JULIANA ST, Parkersburg, WV. Check the official event page for exact start times and wave schedules.
- How do I register for the Parkersburg News and Sentinel Half Marathon and Two Mile Race?
- Registration is handled through their official registration page. Confirm pricing, distances available, and sign up there.
Parkersburg News and Sentinel Half Marathon and Two Mile Race
Aug 15, 2026