Worcester could see a half-marathon return for the first time in a decade

Runners next year could be lining up for a half-marathon in Worcester for the first time in a decade.

The United Way of Central Massachusetts, a nonprofit that partners with other nonprofits to support education, family stability and health, is working to revive the 13.1-mile race in New England’s second-largest city.

‍ Christy Kosak, manager of corporate and institutional partnerships for United Way, has been working with running clubs, businesses and the Worcester Police Department to help put the half-marathon together.

United Way’s board of directors still needs to approve the half-marathon proposal, but if they approve it, Kosak anticipates the first half-marathon to take place in late March or early April of 2027. The board will review the proposal sometime in May, she said.

The last half-marathon took place in 2017 at the Worcester Running Festival. The following year, the event was postponed due to a lack of sponsorships, according to a post pinned on the Worcester Running Festival’s Facebook page. The race has not returned since.

“We have many, many 5Ks, lots of charity 5Ks, which are all really great, but there isn’t anything larger than a 5K here in Worcester,” said Kosak. “And just with how running has grown within the last few years, we saw it as a great opportunity to bring that larger race back to Central Massachusetts.”

The proposed route for the half-marathon will begin and end at Polar Park, according to Kosak. She said that United Way has been collaborating with the Worcester Red Sox to determine an exact date for the race.

Additionally, Kosak has been reaching out to business owners in the Canal District to involve them in the event.

“I really want it to be more than just a running event,” she said. “I’m potentially looking at doing some sort of block party type event right after the race.”

Kosak is optimistic that the half-marathon will get 2,500 runners, just 100 shy of the 2,600 runners who ran in Worcester’s Guinness Celtic 5K in March.

She also estimates 500 and 1,000 volunteers will help with the event and is encouraging others to get involved, even if they aren’t racing.

“I want people to think of it not just as a half-marathon,” Kosak said. “We really want it to be a community-centered event.”
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By: Adam Bass, Mass Live