The North Carolina-based Race 13.1 half marathon series is up and running and branching out to Cleveland, Tenn., in 2015.
The spring schedule begins Feb. 22 in Wilmington, N.C., goes to Roanoke, Va., on March 1 and concludes in Raleigh on June 6, according to a Tuesday release. The "Tennessee Valley" event in Cleveland will start and finish at Bradley Square Mall on May 2, six days after a Race 13.1 event in Evans, Ga., and a week before one in Richmond, Va. Farragut, Tenn., and Greensboro, N.C., have races scheduled the same day, May 17.
Each of the eight gatherings will include a half marathon, a 10k and a 5k. Kids' activities, sign-making stations, music and vendors will be part of the atmosphere.
There will be "10 to 12" fall races announced later, the release said. "More than seven states" will be involved in those.
"We launched Race 13.1 (in 2014) with five races in the North Carolina market to lay the foundation for what we think can be the premier half marathon race series in the country," Race 13.1 chairman and CEO John Kane said in the release. "The positive feedback from runners inspired us to extend our first-class race experience throughout the Southeast even faster than we originally had planned.
"With close to 20 races planned for 2015, we are on track for tremendous growth."
Kane added that Race 13.1 provides "the perks of a large race along with the personal touch and convenience of a local race" and is committed to "great customer service" and helping charities in the communities hosting the races.
"We pride ourselves on providing our runners with an unparalleled experience from the time they register until the time they cross the finish line," he said, "all while giving back to communities through our partnerships with local charities and businesses in each race city."
The release said that 97.1 percent of the 2014 race participants said they would recommend a Race 13.1 event to others.