Kingston area to have serious and not-so-serious runs

  • 2023-12-06
Two local runs are on the Running USA schedule for late December and early January, although the tone of the two will be somewhat different.

One will be a serious Back Mountain Trail 5k, while the other will be a more fun New Year’s Day event.

All skills level runners are invited to run the end-of-the-year Back Mountain Trail 5K Run/Walk. The route, which used to be the rail corridor for the Wilke-Barre and Harveys Lake Railroad, will begin and end at 59 Parry Street, Luzerne, and will take runners through a picturesque landscape.

Entry fee is $40, and swag will include light blue hoodies sporting a graphic design on both front and back. These will be guaranteed to those registering before next Wednesday, December 13.

The Back Mountain Trail 5K Swag Store will have these hoodies and other racing apparel such as T-shirts, beanies, hats, magnets, and stickers available for purchase.

Check-in will start at 2:30 pm on race day. Awards will go to the overall best finishers, and to the top three female and male finishers within each age category.

The Back Mountain Trial 5K Run/Walk will take place Sunday, December 31.

The following day, many Kingston runners will greet the new year by heading to the free Wyoming Valley Striders 39th News Year’s Day Run. The run will allow runners to choose their own speed and distances. Refreshments will be available at the finish line.

This social run will begin at noon on Monday, January 1 in Kirby Park, Wilkes-Barre.