Reading Hospital Road Run

1) EVENT TIMING:

Friday, October 13:
   o   Deadline for requests to change races - No requests to change races will - No requests to change races will be accommodated on race morning. If you want to change races, please email ReadingRoadRun@2LRaceServices.com no later than Noon on Friday, October 13. 

Sunday, October 15:
6:30 to 8:00 a.m. - Race Packet Pickup (Indoor)
   o   No one else can pick up your race bib for you
   o   Anyone not yet registered can still do so until 8:00am (new runners must register themselves and pay online on their own device before proceeding to packet pickup) 
7:40 a.m. - ROAD CLOSURES around Race Headquarters begin
   o   PLEASE attempt to arrive by this time to avoid traffic delays/closures. 
   o   Participants arriving after this time can only reach parking lot via 5th Street / North Parkside Drive / Park Road, and still may be subject to brief delays.  
7:50 a.m. - Half Marathon Pre-Race Announcements / National Anthem
8:00 a.m. - Half Marathon Start
8:05 a.m. - 5K Pre-Race Announcements
8:15 a.m. - 5K Start
9:00 a.m. - 5K Awards Ceremony
10:30 a.m. - Half Marathon Awards Ceremony

 

2) LOCATION / PARKING: 

PARKING / **RACE ADDRESS FOR GPS**:

• PLEASE Use 504 S. Park Rd, Wyomissing, PA for GPS to participant parking entrance.
• PLEASE ARRIVE NO LATER THAN 7:40 a.m.; AFTER THAT TIME YOU MAY EXPERIENCE TRAFFIC CLOSURES/DELAYS DUE TO THE 8:00 a.m. HALF MARATHON START. Don’t get stuck in traffic, and come cheer on the other runners! Participants arriving after 7:40 a.m. can only reach parking lot via 5th Street / North Parkside Drive / Park Road, and still may be subject to brief delays. 

All race parking will be in the free parking lots and parking garage bounded by 7th Avenue, N. Parkside Drive, Park Road, and Spruce Street. All participants must enter the parking area from Park Road. Please follow all parking signage and volunteer directions. The parking area on 7th Avenue closest to the start/finish location is NOT open to runners and is reserved for hospital visitors only; please respect this restriction. 

START/FINISH LINE:
7th Avenue between Reading HealthPlex (T-building) and Scottish Rite Cathedral

DIRECTIONS:
From Philadelphia and points east
Take US-422W to US-422 BUS W/Penn Ave in West Reading. Continue on US-422 BUS W/Penn Ave for 0.5 miles to S. 5th Ave. Turn left on S. 5th Ave. Continue for 0.5 miles (passing Reading Hospital to your right), and turn right on Parkside Drive North. Go 2 blocks and turn right on Park Road. Parking entrance is directly ahead on right.

From Lancaster/222N 
From US-222N, take the US-422 BUS/Penn Ave/US-422W exit toward Lebanon, and turn right onto US-422E/Penn Ave toward Wyomissing. Go 1.7 miles on Penn Ave, and turn right onto S. 5th Ave. Continue for 0.5 miles (passing Reading Hospital to your right), and turn right on Parkside Drive North. Go 2 blocks and turn right on Park Road. Parking entrance is directly ahead on right.

 

3) BIB / SHIRT PICKUP:

RACE PACKET PICK-UP - Sunday 10/15 only - 6:30 to 8:00 a.m.:
Scottish Rite Cathedral 
430 S. 7th Ave.
West Reading, PA 19611

• Please arrive early to ensure adequate time for parking, pick-up, and your pre-race routines.
• 5K runners will wear orange bibs, Half Marathon runners will wear blue bibs. 

 

4) RACE COURSE:

Maps
The course maps for the Half Marathon and 5K events are available at the Course Maps tab of this website. 

Water Stations

• The 5K race will have one water station at approximately Mile 1.3.
• The Half Marathon will pass five water stations along the course, at approximately Miles 1.3, 3.3, 4.2, 5.4, 6.5, 7.4, 9.4, and 11.3. Each station will have water and Gatorade.
• All our water station and course volunteers are there to help you succeed. Please thank them for their assistance!

Course Marking

• Both courses will be marked with a combination of markings on the ground and signage at critical locations. Volunteers/Police will be located at most turns, but pay attention to course markings.
• The 5K will be marked on the ground with bright colored arrows, as well as signage.
• The Half Marathon will be marked on the ground with a combination of spray chalk and colored arrows, as well as signage. 
• Please pay attention during race announcements for further details about marks. 
• Miles will be marked for both the Half Marathon and 5K.

Vehicle Traffic on Course
Many course roadways WILL REMAIN OPEN TO TRAFFIC during the race, with police control at key intersections. Except when specifically directed otherwise by the location of marking arrows on the ground or volunteer instructions, runners should run on their left side of the road facing traffic. Runners should exercise caution, be aware of their surroundings at all times, and follow all volunteer and police directions.

Fleet Feet Pace Runners - Half Marathon
Half Marathon runners should look for our team of Fleet Feet West Reading pace runners, who will be running a consistent pace throughout the event to help participants reach their goal time of 1:30, 1:35, 1:40, 1:45, 1:50, 1:55, 2:00, 2:05, 2:10, 2:15, 2:20, 2:25, and 2:30. Look for their tent and pace signs near the start line area before the event! 

Time Cutoffs
The cutoff time for Half Marathon runners is 3 hours 30 minutes (11:30 a.m.), and therefore runners must maintain a 16-minute-per-mile average pace for the distance covered, with a race sweeper enforcing cutoffs. Portions of the course will reopen to traffic on a rolling basis based on that pace, and runners who fall behind pace may be asked to move to sidewalks along the race route, as no on-course support will be present. Any runners who continue after being passed by the sweeper do so at their own risk.

Strollers, Pets, Music Devices
For your safety, strollers and pets are explicitly prohibited during the 5K and Half Marathon events. We strongly discourage the use of personal music devices during the race for your safety.

Toilets
There will be portable toilets at the Start/Finish area, as well as at every water station on the course.

 

5) RACE TIMING & RESULTS:
The 5K and Half Marathon events are chip timed by 2L Race Services. The chip is affixed to your race bib; please do not tamper with the chip. Race bibs must be attached to the front of your shirt or outermost layer of clothing. Be sure the race bib is clearly visible when crossing the timing line (start and finish), and that nothing, including arms and hands, is in front of race bib. This may obstruct the signal from the race chip as well as obstruct the view for the race officials.

• Race Results will be available online within minutes of finish. 

 

6) FINISH LINE & AWARDS:

• Half Marathon finishers will get a customized finisher medal after they cross the finish line.
• Bottled water will be available for runners to grab-and-go near the finish line, and post-race food will be on display near the awards area.
• The 5K Awards Ceremony will be held at 9:00 a.m.
• The Half Marathon Awards Ceremony will be held at 10:30 a.m.