The Bear Creek Run Half Marathon has quickly become a favorite race in Mid-Missouri. Runners and walkers have come to love the scenic course along the Bear Creek Trail as well as the encouraging volunteers, great race shirts, finisher medals, and awards by local artists. The 13.1-mile course starts and finishes at Albert-Oakland Park and takes participants to Columbia’s Cosmo Park and back on an 80 percent gravel trail. “Inspiration Hill” will keep runners motivated as they approach the halfway point. There are aid stations (water stops) every mile to mile-and-a-half along the well-marked course.