Experience a Race Like No Other

Bird-in-Hand Half Marathon on Sep. 7, 2024

Old-world practices. Lush countryside. Hard-working people. All these things and more make BIH Half a special experience. But some things can’t be described – like the sense of community that follows well after you cross the finish line.

Come Run With Us

Be a part of our community. Run the Bird-in-Hand Half Marathon.

Volunteers offer water to runners at aid station

Half Marathon

Registration includes tech shirt and Friday evening bonfire/s’mores party and Saturday post-race picnic.  Sells out early – sign up today!  

Sorry, no race day registration for the Half Marathon. 
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5K Run

Pre-registration is recommended, however 5k race day registration is permitted (if not sold out) from 11am-5pm. Includes tech shirt, Friday evening bonfire/s’mores party and Saturday post-race picnic. Shirts only guaranteed for pre-registered runners.
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Fire Company Challenge

The Hand-in-Hand Fire Company challenges you to run two races – 5K on Friday evening and Half Marathon on Saturday morning! Show your strength and earn a bonus premium item. Registration includes everything from both races at a discounted rate. 
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Why Run BIH Half?

Voted the #3 “Can’t Miss Half Marathons in the Country” by active.com!

Take a Piece of Our Community Home

Horses put a lot of miles on their shoes — just as runners do. Our coveted horseshoe medal reflects our course and community.

From Our Runners

About Our Sponsors

Special Thanks To Our Sponsors

Glick's Exteriors

About Our Race

Run with BIH

12 Water Stations

We’re always prepared to keep you hydrated and safe. Water, sports drink and rest stations are staged throughout the course staffed by community families including 6 located in authentic Amish one-room schoolhouses. Ice buckets and sprinklers can also be found throughout the course on exceptionally hot race days.

0 Wires

Rolling hills, grazing cattle, horse-drawn buggies — it’s hard to say which view is the most celebrated on the BIH course. Many runners are wowed when they enter “The Valley of No Wires”, an area of Lancaster County completely off the grid and experienced by few outside the Plain Community.

1200 Plates of Food

Carb up before the race and join runners and locals alike for a Pizza & Pasta Meal on Friday night from 4pm-8pm. Family and friends are welcome too! Pre-register with race registration and don’t pass up the shoofly pie!

1800 Horseshoes

Or 450 horses, depending on how you look at it. Named among Runner’s World magazine’s Top Ten Race Awards in the USA, each of our horseshoe medals are completely authentic. These medals are designed to reflect our community and our course – hardworking, unique and a step back in time.

1000s of Road Apples

“Drett net nei” Don’t step in it! When running through Lancaster County it’s smart to look down occasionally to avoid stepping in a road apple left behind by horses pulling buggies. Our one-of-a-kind Road Apple Award celebrates runners who finish both the BIH Half and Garden Spot Half Marathons.

800 Homes Protected

For over 100 years, unpaid volunteers of Hand-in-Hand Fire Company have protected the Bird-in-Hand community. All proceeds from these races and surrounding special events support the fire company. Your participation ensures that help will arrive in the case of an emergency with our local businesses and families. And for that we proudly call you our friend.

Share Your Race Photos

Share your race photos using #BIHhalf and #BIH5k

Contact Us

Let us know if you have any questions. We are here to help!