Ohio · Friday, August 7, 2026
The Run Baileys Trail Races is a running and trail running event held on Friday, August 7, 2026.
HALF MARATHON:
The Parkersburg News and Sentinel Half Marathon begins at 8:00 a.m. (Wheelchair division 7:50 a.m.) in downtown Parkersburg and is the RRCA WV State Championship. The rolling course will take you out of the city and into the scenic surroundings of West Virginia before looping back into the commercial area. You will finish the race to the cheers of thousands of spectators lined up on Market Street prior to the Parkersburg Homecoming Festival Parade.
All participants in the Half Marathon will get a tech shirt, pre-race pasta dinner, finishers medal, & post-race pizza luncheon.
TWO MILE RACE:
Starting line is at Third and Juliana streets at the Towne Square Parking Garage and the finish line is at Sixth and Market streets. The Two Mile Race is the RRCA West Virginia Championship. Race begins at 8:10 a.m.
To participate on a Company, Family, or School team for the 2 Mile Run, please select your existing team or create a new team during registration. Top 4 fastest team members determine the team score.
All participants in the 2 Mile will receive a T-shirt.
Schedule:
Friday, August 14, 2026, Locations Listed Below
2-9 p.m. - Registration/Packet Pickup for all Events - Parkersburg Municipal Building, 1 Government Sq, Parkersburg, WV 26101
5-9 p.m. - Pre-Race Pasta Dinner* - St. Francis Xavier Parish Center, near Finish Line (included with Half Marathon)
*2-mile participants, guest and children tickets may be purchased at the door. (2-mile tickets $3 with bib present, Guest tickets $7, & Children $4)
Saturday, August 15, 2026, Locations Listed Below
6-7 a.m. - Packet Pickup for Half Marathon & 2 Mile - Parkersburg Municipal Building, 1 Government Sq, Parkersburg, WV 26101
7:50 a.m. - Wheelchair Starts
8:00 a.m. - Half Marathon Run & Half Marathon Walk Starts
8:10 a.m. - 2 Mile Run & 2 Mile Walk Starts
9:30 a.m. - Awards for 2 Mile Run & 2 Mile Walk - Bicentennial Park, 201 3rd St, Parkersburg, WV 26101
11:00 a.m. -1 p.m. - Post-Race Pizza Lunch* - St. Francis Xavier Parish Center, near Finish Line (included with Half Marathon)
*2-mile participants, guest and children tickets may be purchased at the door. (2-mile/guest $5 & Children $4)
11:30 a.m. – Course Closed
12:30 p.m. – Awards for Half Marathon Run & Half Marathon Walk – St. Francis Xavier Parish Center, near Finish Line
12:30 p.m. – Parade begins (Market Street)
Odgen Newspaper Half Marathon & Parkersburg News and Sentinel Half Marathon:
Runners who complete in both the Odgen Newspaper Half Marathon & Parkersburg News and Sentinel Half Marathon will receive a special tech shirt!
*Must be preregister in the Parkersburg News and Sentinel Half Marathon by August 1 to get special shirt.
The Blue Blaze Festival - Run, Hike & Backpack on the Buckeye Trail
The Blue Blaze Festival is a celebration of Ohio's Buckeye Trail in conjunction with National Public Lands Day. Whether you are a trail runner, hiker, or would like to learn more about backpacking you are welcome to be a part of our celebration of the Buckeye Trail (BT). Join us for the 2026 Blue Blaze Festival and explore the diversity and beauty of the outdoors. This year we will be joining forces with Destination Shawnee, the Tecumseh Theater and outdoor recreational organizations to bring together runners, hikers and outdoor enthusiasts to the Village of Shawnee. This section of the Buckeye Trail, in the Wayne National Forest, is mostly single-track trail and provides some very challenging terrain. The Blue Blaze Festival will be highlighting the BT as an outdoor destination for running, hiking and backpacking, plus all of the excitement happening in the historic Village of Shawnee.
There is a trail experience and distance right for you: Half Marathon (13.1 miles), 10K, 5K run/walk, 10 Mile Hike and an overnight Backpacking trek. All events are on the Buckeye Trail in the Wayne National Forest.
Running Events - Half Marathon, 10K and 5K
9:00am Half Marathon and 10K, 9:15am 5K start.
All running events are chip timed with live results posted.
Hiking the Buckeye Trail
The 10-Mile Hike will start at 8:00am (1 hour before the running events) in Shawnee. All hikers will be given a race bib/number with a timing chip used to monitor when hikers start and finish the hike. The hike is designed and lead by the Little Cities of the Forest Chapter of the BTA, with a number of historical points following the Blue Blazes of the Buckeye Trail. A guide with historical points of interest and the route map will be provided to participants.
Prepare to immerse yourself in the rugged beauty of Burr Oak State Park at Bobcat. This trail marathon and half marathon offers a unique opportunity for trail running enthusiasts and hikers to experience the wild and challenging terrain of Ohio wilderness. The marathon's single-loop course provides a diverse and scenic adventure, featuring rolling hills, several creek crossings, and portions of the Buckeye Trail. The half marathon offers an equally thrilling point-to-point experience on the same trails as the marathon.
This race is all about embracing the untamed beauty of Burr Oak – 90% of the course is pure trail! Whether you're a seasoned trail runner, a hiker, or new to the trails, all are welcome and encouraged to come and experience the Bobcat adventure at your own pace. Bobcat is your chance to get wild, be challenged, and reconnect with nature on an extraordinary course in one of Ohio's most pristine state parks.