Go Fest is only a few months away from welcoming thousands of people to the Roanoke Valley. And, organizers are making some major changes to the annual outdoor festival.
Urban kayaking on the Roanoke River: You don’t know what you’re missing
We asked the experts if the river deserves to be in the top three in the
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Urban kayaking on the Roanoke River: You don’t know what you’re missing
If that seems like high praise for a relatively small river once considered too dirty to play in, those who use it regularly say you need to look again.
During a day of paddling with four certified paddling instructors who have taken their boats all over the country, it became apparent that Roanoke’s waterway has a lot to offer.
As they stretched, jogged in place to warm their legs or bounced on the balls of their feet, John Carlin pumped them up with some motivation.
âGet ready to tackle Americaâs toughest half-marathon ⦠We have a lot of people testing their mettle,â he said, with his voice booming through the speakers at the starting line. âGet those legs warmed up, youâre going to need it.â
And at each blast of the bullhorn, separate herds of runners passed under a pair of inflatable arches and jogged off into the distance.
The annual Foot Levelers Blue Ridge Marathon, often billed as Americaâs toughest road marathon, returned Saturday after it was canceled last year due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.