MOTHER’S DAY DISCOUNT FOR PLANO BALLOON FESTIVAL HALF MARATHON, RELAY, 5K AND 1K

Mother's Day Discounts
Mother’s Day Discounts
This month we celebrate Mom with a special gift of 14% off runner registration fees for the Plano Balloon Festival Half Marathon, Relay, Sky-High Challenge, 5k and 1k.  Simply use the discount code RUNNINGMOMS between May 8-15, 2017 to receive instant savings off the general registration fee.
Saturday, September 23, 2017 is the 5k and 1k starting at 7:30 a.m. and Sunday, September 24, 2017 is the Half Marathon and Relay beginning at 7:00 a.m.
HALF MARATHON
$ 85.00 – General Registration -> $73.10

HALF MARATHON RELAY
$130.00 – General Registration -> $111.80
 
SKY-HIGH CHALLENGE
Interested in running both days? Register for both race distances – Half Marathon and 5K. Includes a Bonus Medal!
$115.00 – General Registration -> $98.90
 
5K RUN/WALK
Adults, 14 and over
 $35.00 – General Registration -> $30.10
Youth, 13 and under
$20.00 – Registration -> $17.20
 
1K FUN RUN/WALK
Adults, 14 and over
$35.00 – General Registration -> $30.10
Youth, 13 and under
$20.00 – Registration -> $17.20
 
 

1/2 MARATHON RELAY INFORMATION

COURSE MAPS

Adobe PDF
Plano Balloon 2016 logo
Plano Balloon 2016 logo
Race times and additional details are listed on the website www.PBFRaces.org and be sure to check out photo albums and up-to-date event info on the Plano Balloon Festival Races Facebook page!  #PBFRaces #PlanoBalloon

PBF RACES: ALL ABOUT THE BLING & BALLOONS

Guest contributor:  Mike Kohl, Race Coordinator and Board of Directors, Plano Balloon Festival, Inc.

Plano Balloon 2015 logo
Plano Balloon 2016 logo

The Plano Balloon Festival Races (PBF Races) include a 1k, 5k, Half Marathon, and Relay that match a runner’s love of a challenging course and family friendly environment, complete with hot air balloons.  We are proud of the races this event offers for runners and it shows in the participation numbers.  Over the past six years, the race has grown from less than 1,000 entrants in 2010 to over 4,000 runners in 2015.  The PBF Races now represent one of the largest in North Texas and we estimate 1,750 half marathon runners this year.

T-shirts and medals for 2016
T-shirts and medals for 2016

With the coordinated efforts by the Plano Balloon Festival, Inc. and DFW Runs, Eric Lindberg, the team provides the experience, knowledge and passion to continue with a well-organized and competently executed Race Series. The success of PBF Races can be attributed to the total focus and value offered to runners and family members.  This is reflected in the custom finisher medals, race shirts, capes for kids, catered food, tickets to the InTouch Credit Union Plano Balloon Festival, age bracket awards, water stations, volunteers, and the immense attention to detail provided by race coordinators.

The race course was changed in 2014 for three reasons: 1) Finish closer to the start to make it a true loop course, 2) Maintain close proximity to Runner’s Village, and 3) Better running experience.  The Half Marathon Relay was added in 2016 as a direct result of the survey of runners from last year. PBF Races truly values the input and feedback from runners and this is one result of many in our collaborative efforts.

PBF Races attracts many first time half marathon runners within the metroplex and we are honored to have them at our starting line and proud to cheer them across the finish line.  For those training we suggest that you join a running group from Run On!, Cooper Fitness, Frisco Running Club or any place that has others also training for PBF Races.  Stick with the program and if you can’t do a short race during the week, make sure you extend to longer runs on the weekend.  Don’t over-train.  It’s just as easy to over-train as under-train and this causes injuries.  Listen to your body and if you do become injured, avoid pushing yourself further until fully healed.  Hydration is key because the Texas heat requires replenishing your body with a lot of fluids.

PBF Races Course Elevation Map
PBF Races Course Elevation Map

Incidents during the PBF Races are minimal because this is our #1 goal.  Annual briefings are held to discuss the safety of the runners during the event and have an established evacuation plan in case of inclement weather.  Plano Fire and Plano Police Department are onsite during the race to provide immediate assistance.

Prior participants have come from Ireland (a race team came over specifically for the event), Canada, Mexico and every contiguous state.  PBF Races has become a part of people’s stories shown in race selfies, marriage proposals at the finish line, cancer survivors, Olympic Qualifiers, company sponsored teams, super heroes, tu-tus, and even a hot dog once ran in our race – truly a festival atmosphere.  Lastly, we have award winning Finisher’s medals, which are given to all racers who complete the course.  This year, the half marathon medal will be no exception – large, colorful and the center spins around making it a dazzling piece of bling.

Registration for PBF Races is available www.pbfraces.org and you can follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pbfraces/ for updates and conversations with other runners.   Saturday, September 24, 2016 the 5K run will start at 7:30 a.m. and the 1K fun run will begin at 9:00 a.m. with the awards ceremony scheduled for 9:30 a.m.  Sunday, September 25, 2016 the Half Marathon and Relay will begin at 7:00 a.m. and the awards ceremony scheduled for 9:30 a.m.  More information about the InTouch Credit Union Plano Balloon Festival “Dazzling Autumn Skies” being held September 23-25, 2016 at Oak Point Park, may be found at www.planoballoonfest.org.

To Hill, or Not To Hill – The Half Marathon Dilemma

Guest blogger: Erica Haynes

September has arrived and the City of Plano will host their biggest event of the year, the InTouch Credit Union Plano Balloon Festival. The festival will run from Friday September 19 through Sunday the 21. This event does a great job of offering a source of fun and entertainment for everyone. There’s food, hot air balloons, concerts, kid areas and much more, so how could this weekend possibly get better? End it with a half marathon of course!

About a year and half ago I started running, and very shortly after I wanted to do a half marathon. I always had my mind set on the Plano Balloon Festival Half Marathon, however I was terrified after someone mentioned that the course was very hilly. At the time, I would consider myself to be an infant runner, I did not understand that it’s next to impossible to find a flat half marathon and hills make you a better runner. Fast forward a year and I’m back at the dilemma again of do I attempt to battle the hills?

Of course I want battle the hills, but I need to at least drive the course to get some sort of an idea of the actual elevations. What one person considers hilly, another will call flat so it’s best to drive a course if possible to get your own feeling about the course. I set out in my car and drove what I could of the course. Yes, I saw two hills that made me question why I would run this race but then I realized something important. Two hills over 13.1 miles is a pretty good ratio, and the view the hills offers are absolutely amazing. The drive around the course was peaceful, and I can only imagine what it would be like to actually run it.

Finisher Medal

The beautiful parks, trees, clear view of the sky, the neighborhood, and the small lake eased any nervousness I had about the course. I strongly believe this is the ideal local half marathon to run. Not only does the course offer scenery you can’t get while sitting in a car, the swag is amazing. Each half marathoner will get a technical shirt, VIP parking pass, catered breakfast (yum), custom finisher’s medal, and two tickets to the festival.

I look forward to Sunday, September 21 when I’m standing at the starting line watching the balloons float up and away in the sky. I’m excited for the sound of running a race with other runners by my side supporting me, and me doing the same for them along a beautiful course. The medal, which is the most important part to some, will be the greatest and most priceless achievement. It is the concrete symbol of accomplishment that I hope to be wearing soon. Register online and join me at the epic Plano Balloon Festival Half Marathon adventure.