Col. Sanders half marathon expects over 170 runners

Over 170 runners will be seeking to break Collin Wesco’s record of one hour, 18 minutes, 50 seconds, as the second annual Colonel Sanders Half Marathon takes to the streets of Corbin Saturday morning.

“We are excited about it,” said Corbin Tourism Director Maggy Monhollen of the return of the event.

Along with the 13.1-mile half marathon course, Monhollen said the 2021 event will also feature a 10K race.

“That will be run over the back half of the course,” Monhollen said of the 10K.

There are a total of 258 runners registered for the race, which is more than last year. This includes 174 registered for the half marathon, and 84 registered for the 10K, Monhollen said Tuesday.

The half marathon will be run over the same course as 2020.

The races will begin and end on Depot Street, with the half marathon beginning at 8:30 a.m. and the 10K going off at 8:45 a.m.

From the starting line, the runners will go onto Roy Kidd Ave., winding through east Corbin, back to Depot Street, and then to Fourth and Fifth Street, before going south on Kentucky Street.

It will then wind around the streets near Corbin High School before continuing south on Main Street to the Corbin bypass.

A U-turn will send the racers back up Main Street, turning onto Seventh Street and to the finish line on Depot Street.

Monhollen said streets along the course will be closed to traffic as the runners pass through each area, with the exception of Depot Street, which will remain closed throughout the event.

Waiting at the finish line along with the medals featuring a likeness of the famous KFC chicken bucket, will be Colonel Harland Sanders impersonator Johnny D. Miller.

Miss NIBROC Katelynn Johnson will also be on hand to give out awards.

Cora Physical Therapy will be doing pre and post-race physical therapy and injury treatment.

“Legacy Ford and Legacy Nissan will be providing new cars to serve as the pace cars for the race,” Monhollen said.

Monhollen said that in addition to runners from around the region and state, the races have attracted a large number of out of state runners.

“About 60 percent of our runners are from out of state,” Monhollen said noting that registrations have come from as far away as New Jersey and South Carolina.

Monhollen emphasized that there will be no day-of-race registration. Registration closed last Saturday.

The races will go off, rain, snow or shine.

More information is available online at www.colonelsandershalfmarathon.com.