Bird-in-Hand Half Marathon

Bird-in-Hand Half Marathon

The Bird-in-Hand Half Marathon is set in Lancaster County Amish Country, with the half marathon listed for Sep. 12, 2026. The event weekend includes a separate 5K run and a Fire Company Challenge that combines the 5K (Friday evening) and the half marathon (Saturday morning). All proceeds benefit the Hand-in-Hand Fire Company, a volunteer organization that serves the local community.

Race format and course features

• Half Marathon
• 5K Run
• Fire Company Challenge (both races)

Registration details and race services stated by the organizer:

• Half marathon registration includes a technical shirt, a Friday evening bonfire/s'mores party, and a Saturday post-race picnic; there is no race day registration for the half marathon.
• 5K registration also includes a technical shirt, bonfire/s'mores party, and post-race picnic; race day registration is permitted (if not sold out) from 11am-5pm, and shirts are only guaranteed for pre-registered runners.
• A Friday Pizza & Pasta meal is offered with up to 1,200 plates served (4pm-8pm).

Course and support: Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.

• The course passes rolling hills, grazing cattle, and horse-drawn buggies, and includes an area called the "Valley of No Wires."
• Aid and cooling features include 12 water stations (six located in Amish one-room schoolhouses), sports drink, ice buckets, and sprinklers on hot days.
• Finishers receive authentic horseshoe medals; the organizer notes 1,800 horseshoes are available. There is also a "Road Apple Award" for runners who finish both the BIH Half and the Garden Spot Half.

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