Our Favorite Scenes From the 2017 Runner’s World Half & Festival
Races, seminars, kids, dogs, and good times filled the streets of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.
The sixth annual Runner's World Half & Festival took place in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, this weekend, offering RW editors and contributors the chance to meet, mingle, and run with readers. In addition to the half marathon, the festival featured a 5K, 10K, dog run, kids run, and 3.8-mile trail race, along with seminars, speakers, and a pasta dinner. See how the entire weekend brought Runner’s World to life for readers.
RW HALF & FESTIVAL: Sign up now for our 2018 event with early bird prices through March 19!
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Ryan Hulvat Photography
The racing for the weekend kicked off with the Altra 3.8 Mile Trail Race in Bethlehem’s South Mountain Park. The fun and challenging course included plenty of rocks and short, steep climbs and descents perfect for both veteran trail runners and first-timers. In the photo above, members of Team RWB carry the American flag and tear up the trail. (Learn more about Team RWB here.)
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Ryan Hulvat Photography
Dan Linkinhoker on nearby Easton, Pennsylvania, wins the trail race in a course-record time of 23:46. At the end of the weekend, Linkinhoker also won the overall Grand Slam title for fastest combined times in the trail, 5K, 10K, and half marathon races.
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Ryan Hulvat Photography
Fast couple Ryan and Sara Hall were the special guests for the entire RW Half & Festival weekend, and the parents of four adopted Ethiopian daughters embraced the family vibe of the event by bringing the entire family to Bethlehem. In the photo above, Ryan Hall meets with an excited race participant.
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Ryan Hulvat Photography
Our one and only Mayor of Running, Bart Yasso, met with his fans at an exclusive event to celebrate the launch of his new book, Race Everything, on Friday evening.
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Ryan Hulvat Photography
Members of columnist Ted Spiker’s famed Sub-30 Club gather before the start of Saturday’s 5K. The group has one main goal: break 30 minutes in the 5K. But the message goes a lot farther than that.
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Ryan Hulvat Photography
On a beautiful Saturday morning, the lead runners take off for the 5K.
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Ryan Hulvat Photography
A second wave of participants starts their 5K race.
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Ryan Hulvat Photography
Hana Hall, the 14-year-old daughter of Ryan and Sara Hall, breaks the tape as the overall winner in the women’s 5K in a time of 18:14.
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Ryan Hulvat Photography
Fans line the streets as runners tackle the 10K race, which started just 90 minutes after the start of the 5K for those wanting the challenge of running back-to-back races.
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Ryan Hulvat
The top three for women and men in the 10K. From left: Editor-in-Chief Betty Wong-Ortiz, Rosie Roessel (3rd), Meseret Hart (2nd), Jenn Cronin (1st); Matt Gillette (1st), Chris Mullin (2nd), Dave Alcock (3rd).
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Ryan Hulvat Photography
The ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks Campus was the home to the RW Half & Festival Health & Fitness Expo on Friday and Saturday. Along with picking up their runner swag, participants could browse and chat with several vendors on hand.
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Ryan Hulvat Photography
Enthusiastic fields were a part of each race. But to make sure everyone could join in, a Kids Race presented by Lifeway Foods took place on Saturday afternoon. Three races were available to keep even the youngest runners on the move.
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Ryan Hulvat Photography
If your dog loves running as much as you do, then we had something for them. In our 1-mile dog run, owners took their companions through the historic ArtsQuest campus. Afterward, they gathered at the dog yard for refreshments.
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Ryan Hulvat Photography
We just couldn’t resist sharing a photo of this happy pup.
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Ryan Hulvat Photography
Runners get ready and stretch before the start of the half marathon on Sunday morning.
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Ryan Hulvat Photography
Runner’s World Editor-in-Chief Betty Wong-Ortiz readies the field of more than 2,000 runners before they take the streets of Bethlehem.
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Ryan Hulvat Photography
Members of the Sub-30 Club in the early miles of the half marathon are greeted by a local school band on the course.
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Ryan Hulvat Photography
Trevor Van Ackeren of Bethlehem storms up the hill on historic Main Street. Ackeren cruised to his second win on the 13.1-mile course, taking the race in 1:07:57.
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Ryan Hulvat Photography
A high five is just what you need after cresting one of the fun hills on the course.
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Ryan Hulvat Photography
Rosie Roessel of Mount Laurel, New Jersey, crosses the finish line in first for the half marathon in a time of 1:24:42.
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