Half Marathon races near Belpre

The Bobcat trail race series takes place at Burr Oak State Park in Ohio, offering a marathon and a half marathon run primarily on dirt paths. Approximately 90 percent of the course is trail, and hikers are welcome, indicating the event is designed for participants seeking a lengthy experience on natural terrain, distinct from a road race format. The marathon features a single-loop course with rolling hills, multiple creek crossings, and segments of the Buckeye Trail. The half marathon is a point-to-point race utilizing the same trail network, with a substantial cutoff time accommodating both steady hikers and trail runners.

The Athens Ohio Marathon begins on the brick streets of Uptown Athens, adjacent to Ohio University’s College Green. The full marathon has commenced here since 1968, making it Ohio’s longest continuously operated marathon. A half marathon option has been included in the race weekend since 1994. The full marathon is a USATF-certified Boston qualifier, and both the marathon and half marathon courses are marked, designed for runners seeking a direct race day. Following the initial stretch through town, both races merge with the Hockhocking Adena Bikeway approximately 1.5 miles into the event. The route remains largely flat thereafter within the Hocking River valley. This is significant as Athens is situated in foothill terrain, but this course bypasses major ascents. Runners then loop back toward Ohio University, concluding on the track at Pruitt Field, thus providing the race with a campus start, a valley segment, and a track finish.