WABASH COUNTY, IN- Visit Wabash County is thrilled to announce the return of the Wabash Run the River (WRTR) race in downtown Wabash on Saturday, June 8. Registration is open for the half marathon (13.1 miles), 10K (6.2 miles), and 5K (3.1 miles). Cash prizes will be awarded to the top male and female finishers of each race thanks to this year’s title sponsor, Chittick Insurance.
Located at 563 Cass Street in Wabash, Chittick Insurance’s President Matthew Chittick reflected, “After participating in the race each year, I know firsthand the quality and attention to detail that is poured into the event organized by Visit Wabash County. It’s easy to support their efforts. At Chittick Insurance, we value people being active in their community, and sponsoring events like this is a part of our work culture.”
Wabash Run the River offers three distance options that lead runners to the Wabash River Trail and back, with the start/finish line being on Carroll Street this year, in front of Friendship Hill Inclusive Park. The 2024 race has been moved to a morning start time with the half marathon starting at 8:30 AM and the 10K and 5K run starting at 9:00 AM.
“Past WRTR runners requested a morning start time, especially with the heat that comes with hosting a summer race, said Stephanie Rogers, race director and experiences manager for Visit Wabash County. “We always evaluate and listen to feedback after each event. Changing the start time was an easy accommodation requested by the athletes.
In conjunction with the race, Visit Wabash County will also host a Block Party at 8 AM on Carroll Street thanks to support from Ben Bailey’s Construction, Elevate Development, and Downard Development. The free, family-friendly Block Party is designed to attract spectators to the race and offer entertainment to the friends and family members of the participating runners. Music, family-friendly activities, food & beverage trucks, and additional seating will be offered to create a community block party atmosphere. As an added bonus, Farmer’s Market is right around the corner for families and athletes to enjoy after the race.
To help local runners train for the event, Visit Wabash County in partnership with Alley Cat Outfitters will once again organize weekly free runs as part of the Wabash River Run Club. The group will begin meeting on Saturdays in March at 8:00 AM at the new Alley Cat Outfitters located at 100 Berry Street. The idea is to build a running community of friends of all ages and running levels.
More information about Wabash Run the River, the Block Party, or the Wabash River Run Club is available online at www.visitwabashcounty.com or contact Stephanie via email at stephanie@visitwabashcounty.com or by calling 260.563.7171.
