About the Baptist Health: The American Bluegrass Classic
The course runs a short loop repeated through downtown Paducah, along the Ohio River waterfront. Because runners pass the same stretches multiple times, crowds can actually watch the race unfold rather than seeing runners once and waiting. The pavement is smooth and the terrain stays flat the whole way, which draws people chasing personal bests alongside those running their first long race.
The race falls during Oktoberfest weekend, so the finish area is already alive with live music and food before the last runners come in. Cars and Guitars, a separate street event with vintage vehicles, runs in the same neighborhood afterward, which means the downtown stays busy well past the finish line.
Free race emails
Get the Weekly RunSesh
In for this one or still deciding, keep race season near PADUCAH on your radar: a Monday look ahead and a Thursday rundown of the weekend's races.
Two helpful emails per week. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Distances & Start Times
26.2 Miles10/17/2026 07:00$100
13.1 Miles10/17/2026 07:00$85
4 Person Relay10/17/2026 07:00$70
Going for a Time?
Set a goal and get a pace band: every mile split on a card sized for your phone lock screen, so race morning needs no math.
Where to Stay
Traveling for this race? The map shows hotels and rentals in and around PADUCAH — pan or zoom to compare what's nearby.
The map is provided by Stay22. If you book through it, RunSesh may earn a commission at no extra cost to you — it never affects the races we list.
