First run in 1984 as part of the final running of the Nittany Valley Marathon, the Nittany Valley Half Marathon has since blossomed into one of the region’s most popular road races, drawing several hundred runners each year. The race, which is open to both runners and walkers, remains open to traffic throughout the event, so participants need to be aware of their surroundings as well as the two-hour, 45-minute time limit for the event. The terrain for the half-marathon is a mixture of paved roadways and gravel surfaces along both suburban and rural roads, and unfolds across mostly flat ground for much of the course – though certainly not all of it. The total elevation change throughout the 13.1-mile course amounts to roughly 300 feet, and includes some seriously challenging hills.
