The annual Spring Thaw Run is scheduled for 10 a.m. Feb. 24 at the Boathouse in North Park, 10301 Pearce Mill Road, McCandless.
Runners can register to complete in distances of 5, 10, 15 and 20 miles.
The event, presented by GCXC Race Timing and Management, supports 412 Food Rescue, which has a mission “to prevent perfectly good food from entering the waste stream by redirecting it to those who are experiencing food insecurity.”
Now in its 48th year, the race started in 1977 as “the First Annual Boston Qualifier Marathon.” Originally the only spring marathon event in the Pittsburgh area, it boasted 24 finishers.
This year, registration is steadily climbing through 600 participants on its way toward its mid-2000s peak of more than 1,000.
The course winds counter-clockwise around the 5-mile loop of North Park Lake and features scenic views and volunteer-led course support, including three aid stations along the way. After the race, participants are invited to enjoy hot soup in the Rose Barn.
All participants receive custom socks and a hat ,and finishers receive a medal. New this year, overall male and female winners of the signature 10-mile event will receive a free pair of shoes from event partner Pro Bike + Run.
Awards will be given to the top three overall male and female, male and female masters (40-plus), and in 10-year male and female age groups.
Ohio-based GCXC is an event timing and management company that specializes in staging athletic events and chip-timing/scoring for races. With over 30 years of combined experience, the company times anything from a local 5K foot race to marathons and ultra distances.
GCXC Pennsylvania served approximately 20,000 registrants at 78 events in 2022.