Happy Valley Half Marathon & 5k

October 20, 2024

Northampton, MA

We are so excited to have you join us at the Happy Valley Half Marathon & 5K. See below for all event details!

The Post Race Experience

At Happy Valley your experience is just getting started at the finish line! See below for all of the post event details!

On your bib, you'll have two tearaway tabs. One tab is your ticket for one food item from your choice of food trucks. Each truck will have one menu item that you can redeem your ticket for. Other menu items will be available for purchase.

Below is a list of participating food trucks and their menu offering that you can redeem your food tab for. Each truck will also have a full menu available for purchase.

Jeannie’s Weenies: Runner’s Special Hot Dog

Thai Chili: Pumpkin Rice Soup

Caravan Kitchen: ½ panini or full size grilled cheese

La Veracruzana: Your food tab can be applied as a $6 voucher toward any menu item. You will be responsible for paying the different if the menu item costs more than $6. Your voucher does not have cash value if the menu item is below $6.

Island Spice: You can choose 1 item from this list: Curry Fries, Chicken Curry Bowl, Potato Curry Bowl, Two Rolls or Two Patties or Two tenders w/fries.

The other tab on your bib is for post race beverages! Headwater Cider, Four Phantoms Brewing Company, Abandoned Building Brewery and Drawing Board Brewery will be at the 2024 Happy Valley Half Marathon & 5K.

Food and beverages are great but we have a lot more than that waiting for you at the finish line party! DJ Eric Guyette will be emceeing, DJ-ing and playing your favorite hits. He is an emcee, DJ and musician all in one. We also promise lots of positive vibes and a celebration for each and every runner that crosses the finish line!

SWAG!

You want swag? We got it! All runners will get a locally printed finisher’s medal along with a finisher’s shirt. We will also have trucker hats for sale. The medal design will be revealed soon but we promise it is awesome!

Parking

Parking is available inside of Look Park (300 N Main St, Florence, MA 01062). Please note that there is a $5 fee to enter the park. Please arrive as early as possible to ensure you are parked, checked in and ready to run.

Once you are in the park we will have signs directing you to the start/finish area.

Location/Time

Both races start and stop at the start/finish area inside Look Park. Here is a link to the exact start/finish area inside the park.

The Half Marathon starts at 9:00 am and the 5K starts at 9:30 am. 

Porta-Potties and Aid Stations

We will have aid stations every 2-3 miles with water and electrolyte beverages. Porta-potties will be at the start/finish area.

Merchandise

We will have Trucker Hats for sale for $25 and a limited selection of t-shirts available.

Awards

Top male and female half marathon finishers will receive a $150 cash prize.

Second place finishers will receive a $100 cash prize.

Third place finishers will receive a $50 cash prize.

The top finisher in each age group will receive a prize.

Bib Pickup Info

Bib pick-up will begin on Saturday, October 19th. You can pick up your bib at the Old Mill Inn, 87 School Street, Hatfield anytime between 11:00 AM and 1:00 PM.

You will be able to pick up your bib on race day at the race start area at Look Park starting at 7:00 am.

Course Info:

Please stay to the left of the road during the race. We will have course marshals, police officers and signs along the route to ensure your safety.

Half Marathon

The half marathon has a 4 hour time limit.

The foliage, rural roads and scenery will take you on a 13.1 mile tour of what it is like to experience fall in New England. The USATF certified course starts with a 1 mile loop of the Look Park road to give your legs a chance to warm up. After that you will head out of the park and onto the bike path; this is your chance to take in the scenery and get ready for the slightly more inclined sections that lie ahead. The course takes a left on Mulberry Street and onto Audubon Road where you will find stone walls, peak foliage and barns along the road to distract you from the increasing incline. You will do most of the course's climbing between miles 2 and 4  but this is paying it forward for a fast finish! You will make a sharp left onto Kennedy Street where you will take on the steepest climb of the day around mile 4. You can pick up your pace and give your legs a break as the course becomes a downhill roller coaster through quiet country roads until you make a left turn on Ryan Road around mile 7. You are now more than half way there as the course evolves into a flat and fast sprint through neighborhoods and historic Florence MA. At mile ten you will make a left turn onto Spring Street where you will find some climbing but don't worry because the end is almost in sight! Spring Street becomes Main Street as you head into downtown Leeds before making a right turn back onto Mulberry Street. This is the time to pick up the pace because only a flat and straight section of bike path stands between you and the finish line in Look Park. 

5K

The USATF certfieid 5k course will take you around the Look Park loop road with an out and back on the bike path. The course is plentiful in scenery but not elevation so this is your chance to take on your first 5K or go for a PR!