The Roots N Blues N BBQ Festival puts on a half marathon and a 10K run every fall in Columbia. The two runs have been held for five years and attract about 1,500 runners yearly.

“I run the 10K race because it’s a great event that brings together Midwest’s finest,” says runner Ben Chesang of Lawrence, Kan. “It’s an opportunity for people to meet and have fun while staying fit.”

There is a fee to run in the races, but with that fee runners can get a half-priced festival ticket, free barbeque, a free beer, a shirt and a prize if they place in either of the races.

“We partner with Blues in the Schools, which is a charity that helps bring active and former blues musicians into schools to help teach the benefit of music,” run coordinator Patrick Hanson says.

The half marathon normally edges out the 10K in number of entries, but both races are popular, each drawing several hundred runners. Each year, the festival gets larger and offers new surprises for runners.

“A few years ago we had a vendor giving out free milkshakes after the race, made in a blender that was on a stationary bicycle,” Hanson says. “It ended up being one of the most popular post-run treats. I was amazed how quickly we ran out.”

The races attract advanced runners, as well as newcomers to the running world. Overall, the races are a way to attract more people to the festival and bring people together.

“The race is a great way to get ready for the day on Saturday and to incorporate some fitness into the festival weekend,” Hanson says. “We have runners come out looking for all sorts of different aspects of the race, from the fastest elite runners looking for the 10K prize money to walkers wanting to enjoy a beautiful day in Columbia.”

The races originally grew out of the Columbia Half Marathon Challenge, which previously had a relay option.

“The festival is great because it brings such wonderful music into Columbia in a format we don’t get otherwise: an outdoor festival,” Chesang says. “ There is great food, great music and great festival goers. I always love the crowd on Saturday night of the festival. It’s magical.”