Tuscaloosa’s half marathon returns in March, but it won’t be the same 13 miles as last year.

Marketing Chair Kelsey Colglazier said last year’s course allowed runners to see the progress made after the April 27, 2011, tornado. She said it also gave runners a chance to cope with the tragedy.

Brianne Kobeck traveled four hours from Jackson, Tenn., to run the half marathon last year. For five and a half years, Kobeck lived in Tuscaloosa and attended The University of Alabama where she completed her master’s and Ph.D. in Spanish.

“Having been in the city during the tornado and having seen the destruction firsthand, the run was personal for me,” she said. “I wanted to run the half marathon for those who were devastated by the tornado, and, in a way, it served as closure for myself after the tornado.”

(See also “Tuscaloosa’s first half marathon to help rebuild schools“)

While last year focused on tornado recovery, the goals this year are different.

“Our focus this year, our tagline, has been celebrating the past, present and future of Tuscaloosa,” Colglazier said. “And this course really allows that.”

Instead of following the path of the 2011 tornado, this year’s course starts at the Tuscaloosa Amphitheater, continues through historic neighborhoods and campus and returns to the Amphitheater for the finish.

Money raised by the event will go toward two local charities, ReadBAMARead and the Kiwanis Club of Greater Tuscaloosa. The Kiwanis Club helps local children’s charities while ReadBAMARead works to replace school library books destroyed by the tornado.

(See also “Residents discuss tornado recovery“)

The founders of ReadBAMARead, Donna Benjamin and Dana Duckworth, are also involved with the half marathon. Duckworth works as sponsor chairman for the event, and Benjamin helps with the children’s training program and fun run.

Along with a different course, the Tuscaloosa Half Marathon has a new sponsor, UR Fed Foundation. The race is also offering a half marathon training program for children from kindergarten to fifth grade.

Colglazier said by spreading the word at area schools, around 100 children signed up for the training program. Meanwhile, another 250 participants are expected for the fun run.

“We want to encourage people to be healthy and get fit in any way that we can,” she said. “Especially for our children.”

Duckworth said the idea for a children’s training program was simple.

“If you’re going to have a reading goal in elementary school, why not have a physical goal as well?” Duckworth said.

(See also “Charities team up for city’s inaugural half marathon“)

Benjamin said the manpower donated by the city was crucial to last year’s event. She said people who are unable to run are welcome to volunteer, donate or sponsor a child.

The Tuscaloosa Half Marathon is Saturday, March 8. Registration is open until March 5, and the price to enter is $80. More information about the event is available online at tuscaloosahalfmarathon.org.