PITTSFIELD, Mass. -- Berkshire Running Center has teamed up with lead sponsor Berkshire Bank for the fourth annual Steel Rail Half Marathon on Sunday.

 

The USTAF-certified half marathon course begins in the Berkshire Mall parking lot in Lanesboro and descends onto the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail continuing until the finish line, 13.1 miles way at the Adams Visitor Center. The trail is open to the public, although it is strongly encouraged to make way for the runners between the hours of 9:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. 

 

Race directors Kent and Shiobbean Lemme, owners of Berkshire Running Center, confirmed the sold out registration for the event for the third straight year.

 

“We are thrilled to have the community coming together again for such a great event," Shiobbean Lemme said.

 

The attendees this year are comprised of everyone from first timers, to several wheelchair competitors, to two recent Olympic Trials USA marathon runners.  

 

On the men’s field, two-time defending champion Eric Ashe is back to race against against fellow Olympic trials qualifier Jake Sienko and inaugural SRHM winner Mark Rabasco.  

 

The women’s field has 2015 second place finisher Jackie Lemme, who just came off of a time of 1 hour, 29 minutes at the New Bedford half marathon.  Also in the field is the SRHM inaugural female winner Megan Anello. 

 

Steve Ferro, a 2007 Hoosac Valley graduate and 2006 Western Mass. Division II cross country champion who was paralyzed in a motorcycle accident in May, 2012 will participate with a few other disabled runners in a wheelchair division. 

 

“Half marathons are sought out to run for either beauty or time and this half marathon has both”, Kent Lemme said. “Having runners come in from all over the country means the word is spreading.”

 

Although the numbers of those from other states is growing, the core of the race is that there are so many of local Berkshire County runners, families and business vested in this race. In addition to Berkshire Bank there are eight silver sponsors; Balance Rock, Coakley, Pierpan, Dolan&Collins, Donovan & O’Connor, Lipton Energy and Berkshire Photo Booth. In addition twenty plus bronze sponsors.

 

The proceeds from the race go right back to the Department of Conservation and Recreation for the maintenance and expansion of the Ashuwillticook Bike Path. Over the previous three races, Berkshire Running Center has donated more than $25,000 to the DCR.