If running up the roads in Brown County State Park on a Saturday morning, then back down them after a swig of beer, sounds like fun to you, then the Brown County Hilly Half is where you should be Nov. 11.

Registration is now underway for the second annual fundraising run for the Brown County YMCA.

The Brown County Hilly Half was launched last year to help get a new ventilation system installed in the YMCA’s pool. With the help of many donors, that goal was reached. But the 15-year-old YMCA in Nashville has many other maintenance projects on its to-do list, and events such as this one help make them possible.

The main route for the race in Brown County State Park starts at the Lower Shelter inside the covered bridge gate, then goes up Saddle Barn road and connects with the main park road. Runners who choose the 13.1-mile course also go through the campgrounds and to Hohen Point, then turn back around to go the way they came.

[sc:text-divider text-divider-title=”Story continues below gallery” ]

There are also 5K and 10K race options.

The last mile is the “beer mile,” where runners can choose to drink a Quaff ON! beer before running down the steep hill back to home base.

Big Woods Brewing Co., the maker of Quaff ON! beer, is the race’s presenting sponsor this year, said YMCA board member Brian Fenneman.

Big Woods restaurant food and beer will be served at the post-race party tent at the Lower Shelter while a live band plays. That’s where awards will be given at around 10:30 a.m.

The race is starting one hour later this year — at 9 a.m. instead of 8 — to catch people at “more of a party time” afterward, Fenneman said.

The fee to participate in the half-marathon will go up to $60 starting Oct. 1. Runners who register this week can still get the $50 rate.

For the 10K and 5K races, the fee is $30 and $25, respectively, until Nov. 1, when it goes up by $5.

For the kids

A kids’ fun run also will occur this year in conjunction with the Hilly Half. However, the date and place are changing.

Last year’s run took place on the Salt Creek Trail on Friday evening before the park race.

This year, kids will gather at the Brown County High School track on Thursday night, Nov. 9, Fenneman said.

Brown County students will have been running in their gym classes leading up to this event, Fenneman said. On Nov. 9, they’ll join with other classmates at the track to finish the last mile, he said.

Participation in the kids’ fun run will be free this year, he said. Students will be able to buy a shirt in their school color, but it won’t be required.

Medallions will be given to all participants, and Ronald McDonald will be there to cheer children on. McDonald’s is sponsoring the run again, Fenneman said.

“This will maybe make gym class a little more fun, with an end goal,” he said.

[sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”On the Web” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]

Hilly Half registration and information: signmeup.com/site/online-event-registration/117349

[sc:pullout-text-end]