Mother's Day Run for the Roses: Half Marathon, 10K and 5K

The Mother's Day Run for the Roses takes place in Whitehall, Pennsylvania, in early May, with the course on the Ironton Rail Trail near Coplay. It is an inclusive event with divisions for different runners, including a non-binary registration option. The half marathon (13.1 miles) leaves at 8:00 a.m. The 5K starts at 8:15, together with a combo of the 5K and 10K that adds up to about 9.3 miles, and the 10K follows at 9:15.

Participants receive promotional items such as a shirt, running socks and a finisher medal, and anyone completing a first half marathon gets a commemorative plaque. Food and drinks are served after the race, and military members and their families receive a discount. Rail trails are typically flat and shaded in places, which makes them a comfortable choice for a first long race.