We're here to support our runners and hikers as they train for the Barley Half Marathon! From May 26 until race week, we will hold regular training runs every Tuesday at 6pm in Delta Junction at the Delta River Walk Park Trail, located across the street from the Delta State Recreation Site campground. These are intended to be "easy" effort days with a distance target of 5 miles for half marathon runners (hopefully, 5 miles will seem "easy" by the time race week arrives!), but runners and walkers may go shorter, longer, or faster as desired, and 9K runners should shoot for 2-3 miles. Just show up and run!  We will also hold a variety of training runs and hikes on select Saturdays meant to increase your endurance and liven up your training schedule. (See schedule below.) These events are free, lowkey, and open to all. Walkers are welcome at every event, and advanced runners can easily add some extra miles as desired. 

If you're used to training on the road or cranking out miles on the treadmill, you'll find these runs helpful in conditioning your body to handle uneven terrain like the kind you'll encounter on race day. For runners trying to hit a time goal, these are not meant to replace a regular training plan, but you may easily substitute some of these runs into your schedule. But for those planning to walk the entirety of the race, or for beginner runners trying to work their way up to the 13.1 mile half marathon distance, these runs & hikes should help you become comfortable reaching 8-10 miles, enough that you can push yourself to complete the entire half marathon distance on race day.

Participants from the Fairbanks area are encouraged to join the Saturday events, but they may find many other opportunities in the Fairbanks area for training if the travel distance to Delta is prohibitive. Frosty Feet holds weekly beer runs (beer is optional) every Thursday starting at HooDoo Brewery, and Running Club North holds a wide variety of races and training events throughout the summer. Check them out for more details! Those with access to Fort Greely can train on the Bison Trail, a 3.3 mile trail looping around the main area of post; two loops around the trail is half of a half marathon!     

Training Event Schedule:

Every Tuesday at 6pm
May 25 through July 20
Delta River Walk Park  
Just show up! 

Saturdays at 11am 
Directions will be provided for each event a few days in advance. Please let us know if you are coming in advance!
May 22 – Delta Junction Pipeline Jaunt 4 Miler Run/Walk (starting at the ice rink parking lot)
May 29 – No Meeting! Memorial Day Weekend
June 5 - Donnelly Dome Hike w/Delta Junction Trails Association (good cross training for trail running & opportunity for hill sprints!)
June 12 – Delta Junction MilTan Medley 6 Miler Run/Walk (starting from lot next to the cemetery at Jack Warren and Miltan)
June 19 – No meeting! Go run the Midnight Sun Run 10K in Fairbanks!
June 26 – Delta Junction Clearwater State Rec Site to Hanson Rd 8 Miler Run/Walk
July 3 – No Meeting! Independence Day Weekend
July 10 – Delta Junction 10 Mi Tour Of Town (meet at the baseball/soccer fields on Aurora Ave)
July 17 – Barley Way/Hanson Rd Course Preview 8 Mile Taper Run/Walk
July 24 – Race Day!