In less than 24 hours you will be competing in either the News and Sentinel Half Marathon or Two-Mile Race.

Wait, what? You haven’t signed up yet. Well, fortunately, there is still time to sign up and take part in the fun.

Beginning at 2 p.m. you can sign up in person at the Parkersburg Municipal Building at 1 Government Square. If you are not that familiar with downtown Parkersburg, it is at the bottom of Market Street.

At registration you will get your running number as well as a shirt. It’s also a great place to share race stories with everyone.

Many people pick up their race materials and then go directly to the pasta dinner at the St. Xavier Social Hall on Market Street. Most just walk up, stopping to check out the freshly painted finish line on their way. The hall is just a few feet from the finish line. The pasta is prepared and served by volunteers from Camden Clark Medical Center. It’s a meal, but it is also a homecoming for racers, many of whom have been doing the races for years. For many, it’s a generational event. My own children started off doing the Tiny Tot Trot but as adults now, do half marathons. Every person in my family has now done our Half Marathon at least once. When I ask if I am running the race I always reply “I run it every year.” It’s one of my favorite dad jokes because the person asking means athletically and I mean administratively.

The meal is free for those taking part in the half marathon and is offered at a reduced price for those doing the two-mile.

Tomorrow of course is the big day. Race Day.

The closer you get to the time of the races, the more streets you will find closed, so arriving early is aways a good idea. You will find a lot of parking lots being used as fundraisers for different groups. They are a good place to park. You can also park in our parking lot at 519 Juliana St. If you do, please do not park in the spots with numbers.

They are rented to health care workers at nearby WVU Medicine Camden Clark Medical Center. If you get here real early, please respect the cones near Juliana Street. It is reserved for Parkersburg’s Fire Department’s giant Tower Truck that will hold an equally large American Flag.

Once the race starts, remember to be yourself. If you are not an eight-minute miler, you should not try to be one at 8 a.m. You should do you. The race will soon sort itself out and you will find yourself surrounded by people who athletically are a lot like you. Some great friendships have been formed along racecourses.

The last mile of both races is along Market Street. A nice gentle downhill encourages people to run and walk a little faster than they have earlier in the race. The crowd along the road is an extra boost as well.

As you pass the Highmark West Virginia offices, you will cross a mat that is hooked to a computer that allows us to announce your name around the time you cross the finish line.

We will have water, Gatorade and other snacks waiting for you. The finish line is always a bit of a party. A party where everyone has just done a really hard workout.

Following the finish, there is a pizza lunch where we also pass out the half awards. The two-mile awards are passed out following that race at Bicentennial Park near the city building.

Have a great race. I’ll be waiting for you at the finish line.

Art Smith is co-race director of the News and Sentinel Half Marathon and online manager of the newspaper. He can be reached at asmith@newsandSentinel.com