BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Organizers will reveal routes for the Bethlehem Running Festival at SteelStacks on Wednesday evening and preview the city’s first major multi-race event since 2019.
- Organizers will reveal courses for the Bethlehem Running Festival's upcoming 5k, 10k and half-marathon Wednesday evening at SteelStacks
- After the reveal, organizers will host a pair of runs previewing parts of October's races
- Bethlehem-area native Bart Yasso, a Running USA Hall of Fame inductee also known as the "mayor of running," designed the courses
Bethlehem-area native Bart Yasso, a former chief running officer at "Runner’s World" magazine also known as the unofficial “mayor of running,” designed the 5k, 10k and half-marathon courses.
“Bart and the team have worked closely with city officials to devise three incredible courses that will really highlight the charming neighborhoods of Bethlehem,” running festival Director Michael Ragozzino wrote in a news release.
“It’s by design a course to take in that you really get a feel of the city, You go through some quaint neighborhoods, go through some historic neighborhoods — we really take in all of the city...Of course, it will be challenging.”Bethlehem-area native Bart Yasso, a former chief running officer at "Runner’s World" magazine, at a previous news conference
“It’s by design a course to take in that you really get a feel of the city,” Yasso said in a news conference in January. “You go through some quaint neighborhoods, go through some historic neighborhoods — we really take in all of the city.
"Of course, it will be challenging.”
Runs scheduled after announcement
Yasso has competed in more than 1,200 races on all seven continents over his three decades serving as the public face of "Runner’s World." He may be best known for creating the “Yasso 800” workout for marathoners, and was inducted into Running USA’s Hall of Champions in 2007.
After the course reveal at 6 p.m. Wednesday, race organizers will lead a pair of runs: one showing off the 5k course, and another covering parts of the two longer races.
The Bethlehem Running Festival, scheduled for Oct. 21-22, will be the city’s first major multi-day running event since the Runner’s World Half and Festival in 2019.
In addition to the three races, the festival will include a Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk, raising money for the American Cancer Society.
Bethlehem Mayor J. William Reynolds previously said he intends to run all three races.
EDITOR'S NOTE: LehighValleyNews.com is the primary media sponsor of the Bethlehem Running Festival.
