Lace Up Your Running Shoes
Lace Up Your Running Shoes
Happy Half Marathon, 5K & Beer Mile returning to Holiday Valley
photo / EnduranceFactor
There’s a lot to be happy about heading into spring in Ellicottville. While many of us mourn the end of another fun-filled snowsports season, knowing it will feel like an eternity before it comes again, I’d like to offer some encouragement heading into the warmer months: the fun keeps going as the days get longer! It’s time for your share of swings on the golf course, hours biking amongst the trees, and adventurous hikes with breathtaking views.
And to kick off the spring season, EnduranceFactor is bringing their Happy Half Marathon & 5k back to Ellicottville for the 10th time. Why so happy? The races are little about the distance and more about the fun of running. And I can tell you - that’s the name of the game. As a former cross country athlete myself, the only way to make a 7:00am race in mid-October on a Sunday fun is to put a smile on your face and make sure you have friends close by. For the Happy Half event, you won’t have to wake up that early, but you WILL have to bring the smiles to run the miles!
Three races will take place on Saturday, May 10th: a half marathon, a 5k race, and a beer mile, sponsored by Southern Tier Brewing. All races start and finish at Holiday Valley, making for a surefire good time.
“It definitely brings people to Ellicottville in what was traditionally a slow time of year,” said Doug Bush, owner of EnduranceFactor.
EnduranceFactor is Doug’s endurance event company, which hosts a number of races and triathlons throughout the year. Doug and his wife, Gwen, have certainly created a name for themselves in the industry. The power couple hosts five local events, and Doug is involved in 15 other events around the country.
An endurance athlete himself, Doug is a nine-time Ironman and holds a degree in exercise science. “I’ve been involved with endurance events essentially my whole life, and then I got involved with the former owner of Ironman and worked on some of his events,” Doug said. “Eventually, I decided to pursue it on my own.” Some might say he’s the master of hosting fun-filled races.
The Happy Half will bring approximately 500-700 runners to the starting line. What separates this race from your standard running event is the addition of the Southern Tier Beer Mile sponsored by Southern Tier Brewing. Doug thinks this partnership is a great fit for both companies. “They wanted to create an event that promoted their brand but is still associated with running. That’s where the beer mile came in,” said Doug.
EnduranceFactor also offers coaching services to endurance athletes. Doug is the head coach, but they have a whole team who specialize and are masters in different endurance sports - from cycling, to running, to Xterra, which is a series of triathlon races like Ironman but on all off-road terrain.
If you feel happy at the Happy Half, you’ll enjoy other EnduranceFactor events including the Halloween Half & 5k. You can check out the full list online at endurancefactor.com, and on Instagram and Facebook @evlhalf_happyhalf. As for May 10th, complete your registration at happyhalfrun.com, tie up your running shoes and hit the pavement. The happiest of races will be here before you know it!