If you are a fan of half marathons, things are starting to get interesting around here thanks to the Patrick Henry Half Marathon set for Aug. 23 in Ashland.

Now in its second year, this race is well on track to fulfilling its promise as another great running event for the area. With an earlier start time of 7 a.m., a revamped, faster course that starts and finishes in Poor Farm Park and a co-organization effort by the Sports Backers and the Richmond Road Runners Club, it will be everything a half-marathoner could want.

"Half marathons are fun," says Mechelle Lafon, 37, of Richmond, who counts herself as a half marathon kind of gal, and who has entered for the Patrick Henry Half for the second year in a row.  "They are less wear and tear on your body and they are enough of a challenge. I can actually race those because I know my body can handle the mileage."

Lafon, who is prepping for the SunTrust Richmond Marathon with the Sports Backers Marathon Training Team for the fifth straight year, is a veteran of a half dozen marathons. Even so, she's looking to do two within two weeks this November -- the Marshall University Marathon (Nov. 2) and the SunTrust Richmond Marathon (Nov. 15).

"I'd like to do two this year, and if I can do it in two weeks, that would be great," she said.

But it's the half marathon distance where she truly hits her stride. Her fastest time for a halfer is 1:42:00 for the 13.2-mile distance, a pace which should put her at comfortably below the four-hour mark for the 26.2-mile marathon, but that isn't the case.

"I've only just gotten below the four-hour mark," she said, indicating that her marathon times reflect a nine- or 10-minute mile pace, while her half marathon times put her at eight minutes per mile or less. 

Nor does the 10k distance get her motor running.

"My pace is faster for a half marathon than a 10k," she says.  "I think I just need a little bit more of warm up."

For more information on the Patrick Henry Half Marathon, go to http://www.sportsbackers.org/.

Mike McCormick, the communications director for the Sports Backers, moved to Richmond a year ago from Washington, D.C., where he spent four years working for the White House Press Office. He is a former national champion whitewater kayaker and father of two.