Run For Home races to celebrate eclipse

NEW PHILADELPHIA (WJER) (Feb. 19, 2024) – This spring’s Cleveland Clinic Union Hospital Run For Home half marathon and other races have a special tie in with a once in a lifetime occurrence for this region.

The total solar eclipse will be happening Monday, April 8^th, one day after race weekend.

Race director Matt Ritzert says that will be featured prominently throughout the race events out of Tuscora Park that Saturday and Sunday. The event’s logo this year has an eclipse design that they’re using on the shirts and medals for runners.

Ritzert says the little kids’ run on Saturday of race weekend will have eclipse-themed activities at each stop. This year’s race packet will also include eclipse viewing glasses for the first 500 runners who sign up.

He says it’s all been getting a good response so far as registration is up about 40 percent from this time a year ago.

Ritzert says it’ll be the 17^th year for the half marathon on that Sunday.  Saturday’s shorter races were added in later years.

He says Run For Home to date has raised $256,000 for Habitat For Humanity projects in Tuscarawas County.

People can register for the races or learn about volunteer opportunities for the race at www.runforhome.org.

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