Neal Hanley used to run in the Frostbite Half Marathon in Starkville, so he is well accustomed to all of the activities available to Golden Triangle residents.
Hanley also used to be an early morning running partner of Brad Atkins when he lived in Columbus. Hanley fondly remembers the five- to seven-mile runs he and Atkins used to do probably three times a week about a year ago.
But Hanley moved away from Columbus to Chattanooga, Tennessee, in 2008, so it has been a while since he ran in this area. That will change Saturday when he and his wife, Angie run in the Columbus Pilgrimage Half Marathon and 5-Kilometer race.
The second-annual event will begin at Tennessee Williams Welcome Center on Main Street in downtown Columbus. It is a part of the city’s 75th-annual Spring Pilgrimage, a 16-day event that celebrates Southern history, architecture, food, and culture.
Neal Hanley said the trip he and his wife planned to make to Columbus to see his mother in law happened to coincide with the Columbus Pilgrimage Half Marathon, so he said it was natural for him to want to run in the event.
“Brad is a friend of mine and I wanted to support him in the venture,” said Hanley, who is a seventh-grade History teacher at Loftis Middle School in Chattanooga. “I like what he has going on there, and I want to support it to make sure Columbus has a half marathon.”
Atkins and his wife, Melissa, have been active in the local athletic scene. They were instrumental in organizing the Possum Town Triathlon into an annual event in August. Hanley said he is excited to see the Half Marathon/5-K continue into its second year because he doesn’t remember there being a lot of events like it when he and his wife lived in Columbus.
These days, Hanley prefers to do his running on trails. Although he doesn’t have a lot of time because he also is a baseball coach and he and Angie are caring for their 6-month-old son, Nolan, Neal said he enjoys running on the varied terrains that trails offer over the pavement normally found in road races.
Judging from the course layouts, Hanley, 36, said both races this weekend will offer flat courses, which he said should help him navigate the 13.1-mile half marathon course.
“The mileage is certainly not an issue whatsoever,” Hanley said. “I don’t know if I will be able to maintain as quick a pace as I want to because I have not run anything flat in a long time.”
Hanley said nearly all of the running he does these days is “off road” on the numerous trails in the Chattanooga area. He said he enjoys running on trails because he doesn’t have to worry about having to maintain a pace or getting up the next hill or the next curve. He said the terrain offers a constant challenge that fits his personality better.
On Saturday, though, Hanley will do his best to keep pace on a flatter course in an event he is happy to support.
“This is a tremendous asset to the community,” Hanley said. “It highlights some of the newer aspects and the ability to bring active people around. There didn’t seem to be enough of a presence when we were there.”
The registration fee for the half marathon in $65 through today. After today, it is $75. The registration fee for the 5-K is $30 through today. After today, it is $35.
Those interested can register online at . Online registration closes at 10 tonight.
Competitors can pick up their race packets at the Tennessee Williams Welcome Center from 4-7 p.m. Friday or from 5:30-6:30 a.m. Saturday. There also will be on-site registration at those times. To register, go to columbushalfmarathon5k.com.
The races will start and finish at the Tennessee Williams Welcome Center. The half marathon will start at 7 a.m. Saturday. The 5-K will start at 7:15 a.m. Courses for both events are at columbushalfmarathon5k.com.
Robert Scribner, of Starkville, was the top overall male finisher in the half marathon last year with a time of 1 hour, 10 minutes, 48 seconds. Sarah Hammes, of Meridian, was the top overall female finisher (1:32.17).
Mike Thrailkill, of Hickory, was the top overall male finisher in the 5-K (17:31). Myriam Sanders, of Belden, was the top overall female finisher (22:52).
Follow Dispatch sports editor Adam Minichino on Twitter @ctsportseditor
Adam Minichino is the former Sports Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
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