The idea, Tim Reichert, media relations specialist for the PBF, said is to raise money to help families who have lost a beloved law enforcement officer in the line of duty.
"All proceeds go to the Fallen Officer Fund to help the families," Reichert said. "We also have scholarships available for the kids."
Open to the general public, people from Maine to California have signed up to be a part of the event, which is designed as a half marathon race with an awards ceremony to close the morning.
The race is registered on Active.com, a site Reichert said avid runners across the country use to seek out races to be involved in.
"We set a quota to try to have 300 racers this year and we're close to that. We hope to eventually get up to a thousand in the future and plan to make this an annual thing. Next year's date is already set for Sept. 15 and we plan to do this at Red Top every time," Reichert said.
Every participant will receive a T-shirt and a finisher's medal, just for completing the race. Specific medals go to winners of various categories, including the first three males overall, first three females overall, first three finishers by age group for both genders and the first three law enforcement officers to finish, both male and female. The age groups are divided as 13 to 19, 20 to 29, 30 to 39, 40 to 49, 50 to 59 and 60 and older.
The course, set at Red Top Mountain State Park, includes a portion of the roadway but is mainly designated to trails, offering a few hilly challenges. Water stops will be stationed at mile markers four, seven and nine. The half marathon itself totals 13.1 miles and, as Reichert said, it's "not your normal five or 10k."
"It's a pretty cool thing and spectators are encouraged to come out as well," he said. "It's important to us because of the rise of law enforcement deaths. The numbers of law enforcement deaths have risen substantially this year. We're always looking for ways to memorialize officers."
Reichert said in a news release that "more than 140 officers leave for work and don't return home" each year.
Parking for the event will be available for up to 300 vehicles behind the regular parking lot at the beginning of Iron Hill Trail. Volunteers and signs will be available to direct racers and overflow parking will be made available if necessary.
The gate will open at 6 a.m. and check-in begins at 6:30. The race will start at 8 a.m. and officially closes by 11:30, giving racers three and a half hours to complete the trek.
A timing system, using the MYLAPS BibTag disposal chip system, will be utilized to time the runners.
Currently, the registration fee is set at $65 through race day.
For more information, or to register to participate in the event, visit the event's website at http://sspba.org/foundation/halfmarathon/index.htm, or check out the event Facebook page under Race for the Fallen.