Running the Abandoned Turnpike: A Unique Experience at the End of the Road Half Marathon

Randy Riley (HF16432, DA3218, MM14470) – End of the Road Half Marathon & 4 Miler Sunday edition. In 1968 Pennsylvania abandoned a section of their turnpike including two tunnels just east of Breezewood, PA. There’s a half marathon on both Saturday and Sunday. It’s an out and back course that goes mostly uphill on the way out. The road surface is pretty rough in many places. We ran through two tunnels, turned around and came back through them for a total of 5 miles underground. There’s no light at all in the tunnels so you have to wear a headlamp. During the first half there were a lot of runners still packed together and that put a lot of light in the tunnels but on the last tunnel on the way back we were spread out enough that I couldn’t see another runner just the small spot of light from my headlamp. I didn’t wear headphones and the tunnel was so quiet all I could hear was a small distant echo of someone’s running footsteps. The tunnels were long enough you couldn’t see the other end. Here’s a life lesson: When you finally see the light at the end of the tunnel you may still have a long way to go in the darkness.
At the halfway turn around I was 4:10 behind 1st in my AG but I ran the second half 6:37 faster and worked my way up to first AG. To my Half Marathon friends, if you like unusual and low key races with parking close to the start put this one on your list.
100 Half Marathons Club Half Fanatics #medalmonday.

Photo and Post Credit Randy Riley