More than 600 runners will participate in the Run the Line Half Marathon which kicks off at 7:30 a.m. Sunday morning at Broad and Main streets in downtown Texarkana. Proceeds benefit Partnership for the Pathway.
Race organizers expect to have a record number of runners.
"We have 646 people signed up at this point," said Julie-Ray Harrison, race co-director and board member for Partnership for the Pathway. "One year we had 656 runners and we're going to top that. I feel sure we are. We have 15 to 20 people signing up every day."
It looks like it will be decent weather for the race.
"The weather looks like it's going to be pretty good. It's going to be a little warm. Temperatures are predicted to be in the mid 40s to mid 50s. We do have what the meteorologist calls a 20 percent chance of rain but I say it's an 80 percent chance it's not going to rain," Harrison said.
Traffic isn't expected to be a big issue at that time of day on a Sunday morning.
"We contact all the churches along the course so they can put it in their program or speak to their parishioners about being on the look-out for runners. The race starts at 7:30 a.m. and will be over by 11:30 a.m. so for most people that's church time," Harrison said.
There will be a celebration for runners at the end of the event at Wood and Third streets with food and beverages.
"It's a very festive atmosphere. There's music and food. It's a celebration. Everyone who has finished the race is so proud. They've gotten their finisher medals. It's a time to enjoy the moment or the day with their friends and family," she said.
There will be runners from 14 states, Connecticut and Washington State, participating in the race.
More volunteers are needed.
"We can always use more volunteers," Harrison said.
Not everyone has to be an official volunteer. Those who live along the race route are invited to participate.
"If the course goes by their house, they can come out and cheer, play music or wave signs. We get a lot of feedback from runners about how many people come out on the course. It gives people such a positive feeling for Texarkana. I think it helps to build the community spirit too," she said. "The only thing I can say is it truly takes a village to put this race on. It is a big event. We have over 225 volunteers who participate and we couldn't do this without the support we get from the community, individuals, businesses, organizations and schools. They make it possible."
To volunteer contact [email protected]. Runners can register at txkruntheline.org until race day. Participants can run as individuals or as part of a two-person or four-person team.
Run the Line Half Marathon was founded in 2006 as a fundraiser for Partnership for the Pathway, an all-volunteer non-profit organization committed to helping the cities build a safe walking and bicycling trail system throughout Texarkana.