City of Paducah Human Resources Director, Cindy Medford, says, “I’ve talked with Mother Nature, and I think she is going to cooperate for this year’s Lourdes Paducah Iron Mom Half Marathon.”  Medford, along with Rehab Associates, Lourdes Hospital, and Family Service Society, is organizing the second annual running event which involves a half marathon (13.1 miles) for individuals and for two-person and four-person relay teams.  Lourdes Hospital is the title sponsor for the race.  The co-ed event will be held May 12 at 6:30 a.m. with the start and finish along the floodwall near Schultz Park.  Last year, the event had to be delayed for several weeks due to historic flooding.

The race route takes runners along Jefferson Street, through several neighborhoods in Paducah’s West End, through Stuart Nelson Park, the Greenway Trail, and Bob Noble Park, around Lang Park in the Fountain Avenue Neighborhood, beside galleries in Lower Town, and along Madison Street to the finish.  Public Information Officer Pam Spencer says, “Runners will get to see several of Paducah’s parks and lovely homes and neighborhoods.  When you look at the list of participants, many of them are not from Paducah.  I urge people to come outside, cheer on the runners, and welcome them to Paducah.”  Spencer adds, “This event attracts some of the best runners.  The winners from last year’s half marathon competed this year in the Boston Marathon.

Medford says, “The planning for this event started at the end of last year’s event.  We listened to the runners suggestions.”  This year’s course is slightly altered by eliminating the stretch of the course on Cairo Road and instead extending the route through neighborhoods.  The finish line also has been shifted so that runners don’t start and finish on the cobblestones.  Volunteers and the coordinated help from several agencies including the Paducah Police Department, McCracken County Sheriff’s Department, Kentucky State Police, the U.S. Coast Guard, VIPS, DES, and Civil Air Patrol will be at the various intersections along the route to assist traffic and to keep the runners safe.  Drivers need to be prepared for delays especially on Park Avenue as traffic will be temporarily stopped to allow runners to safely cross.

To date, more than 700 runners from 12 states are registered to participate.  There are 78 teams registered to take part in the relay.  All proceeds from the Lourdes Paducah Iron Mom will go to Family Service Society, Inc.  Founded in 1927, Family Service Society, Inc. provides immediate emergency relief to residents of Paducah and McCracken County.  The Lourdes Paducah Iron Mom raised $20,000 for the organization in 2011.  Family Service Society Executive Director Pam Truitt says, “Without the community’s support, we wouldn’t be able to meet people’s needs.  I hope the Lourdes Paducah Iron Mom Half Marathon can continue to grow.”

For more information about the Lourdes Paducah Iron Mom Half Marathon including registration information, the course map, and a participant list, visit the official race website at www.paducahironmom.com.   

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