Octoberfest Half Marathon

For those with an interest in early American history, Peru also played an important role in the Revolutionary War, as the site of the October 1776 Battle of Valcour Island, at which the U.S. scored an important victory over the British.Nestled among the Adirondack Mountains of northernmost New York state lies the small town of Peru, home to roughly 7,000 residents and perhaps best known today for its abundant apple orchards, which runners will have the chance to run past on their way around the course at the Octoberfest Half Marathon.Mid October marks the running of the Annual Octoberfest Half Marathon, Octoberfest 10K, 5K Course & Octoberfest 40K Bike!!!Runners will enjoy an exhilarating run through the Town of Peru & Peru's Apple Country while viewing the beautiful Adirondacks fall foliage. Bikers will enjoy breathtaking views of Lake Champlain as well as Peru's Apple Country. There will be a post race party following the race with entertainment, food and FREE COLD BEER! Thank you to all who continue to support and celebrate with us!There will be limited items available to purchase such as t-shirts, hats & magnets for sale.

For those with an interest in early American history, Peru also played an important role in the Revolutionary War, as the site of the October 1776 Battle of Valcour Island, at which the U.S. scored an important victory over the British.Nestled among the Adirondack Mountains of northernmost New York state lies the small town of Peru, home to roughly 7,000 residents and perhaps best known today for its abundant apple orchards, which runners will have the chance to run past on their way around the course at the Octoberfest Half Marathon.Mid October marks the running of the Annual Octoberfest Half Marathon, Octoberfest 10K, 5K Course & Octoberfest 40K Bike!!!Runners will enjoy an exhilarating run through the Town of Peru & Peru's Apple Country while viewing the beautiful Adirondacks fall foliage. Bikers will enjoy breathtaking views of Lake Champlain as well as Peru's Apple Country. There will be a post race party following the race with entertainment, food and FREE COLD BEER! Thank you to all who continue to support and celebrate with us!There will be limited items available to purchase such as t-shirts, hats & magnets for sale.

An out-and-back course that starts and finishes at the Peru Fire Department headquarters on Bearswamp Road.From there, runners head out on what is roughly a clockwise loop route around the edges of the town and into the farm fields just beyond downtown.Runners can expect plenty of rolling hills along paved country roads, though the elevation changes are mostly gradual — the course rises from a low point of about 200 feet above sea level just past the mile 2 marker to a peak elevation of about 480 feet between the mile 5 and mile 6 markers.After that, the course begins a long, gradual descent (with a few uphills in between) all the way back in to the finish line at the fire department.Proceeds from the race will go to benefit the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation, which is dedicated to providing support to those living with this degenerative lung disease, which can cause great difficulty in breathing and can interfere with the lungs’ ability to deliver oxygen to the rest of the body.These proceeds will go toward the foundation’s efforts in research to finding better treatments and hopefully a cure someday. Roughly half a million Americans are estimated to be living with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis today, and the disease kills an estimated 40,000 people in the U.S. each year.

The race is timed to coincide with the peak viewing season for fall foliage in Upstate New York, and runners can expect to see every shade of red, gold and yellow on the apple trees and woodlands along the race route.

Water stops will be handed out to the runners by volunteers. Run past them as they cheer you on and encourage you throughout the course. HALF MARATHON - Water and Gatorade will be at miles 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11. Port-a-johns will be around miles 3, 7, and 10. 10K – Water and Gatorade will be handed out at mile 3. Port-a-johns will be around mile 3. There will be onsite medical services. 5K and 40K will not have water, Gatorade or port-a-johns. 13.1, 10K, 5K and 40K courses will be VERY well marked. Volunteers will be helping to guide runners, however, the 40K will not have traffic control, please be cautious. Please listen to the volunteers and remember they are donating their time and are at the race to help with your safety!!

HALF MARATHON - Awards will be given to the top three finishers of the overall race for men and women, as well as, to the top men and women finishers in the following age groups: 19 and under, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69 and 70+. 10K/5K/40K – Awards will be given to the top three finishers of the overall race for men and women only! YOU MUST BE PRESENT TO COLLECT AWARD!