The seventh annual Run to Read Half-Marathon will be held Sunday afternoon, Jan. 8, at Pricketts Fort State Park.

Packet pickup and late regis­tration begins at 12:30 p.m. at the visitor’s center and the race starts at 2 p.m. With 147 runners from 10 states (West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Ohio, Virginia, New York, New Jersey, North Carolina, South Carolina and California) pre-registered, 2012 totals may exceed 2011’s record turnout of 248 finishers.

The 13.1-mile course starts near the trailhead at the park, takes MCTRAIL through the historic Meredith Tunnel and returns to the fort. Going down the connector trail to the Mon River Trail, runners turn around about 4 miles out and return. The finish is under the old bridge that crosses the river.

This should be quite a mid­winter test for area runners.

Entrants will receive a knit hat and a pair of gloves. Chili and refreshments are provided after the race at the visitor’s cen­ter.

Dave Burnham of Arlington, Va., and Laura Mason of Buckhannon won the 2011 Run to Read Half Marathon.

The event benefits Literacy Volunteers of Marion County (LVMC), a United Way agency. LVMC provides free tutoring to adults and children in reading, math and ESL (English as a sec­ond language). Sponsors include MCPARC, Pepsi and Rider’s Pharmacy.

Those interested may call the LVMC office at 304-366-6055. Runners may register the after­noon of the race.

Jim Woolfitt, as usual, will be directing the race.

It’s been blessed with good weather in the past. Maybe that will continue.