PEMBERVILLE — The Pemberville Free Fair’s “5 Miler” returns for its 42nd annual running.

This year the race will be on Friday beginning at 6:30 p.m. Runners will start the race at the fire station, run a mile through town, then head out of town for a few miles and finally finish the race in front of the American Legion.

When runners reach the finish, they will be greeted by a crowd of people watching. Keith Madaras, the race director, said each year a crowd forms at the finish to cheer the runners on.

“It all takes place during the Pemberville fair so we usually have a pretty decent sized crowd there cheering for everybody when they’re coming back into town,” Madaras said.

Runners don’t have to be from Pemberville to participate and Madaras said each year they get a variety of people from the Northwest Ohio area and even some groups from farther south.

At the end of the race, runners are given water and snacks and Madaras said the swimming pool will even be open for runners to take a quick dip in. Awards will also be handed out shortly after the race.

Overall awards are given, but a local category is also available for those with a Pemberville address. Madaras said the local awards are special for this race as they give the local runners who maybe aren’t as competitive an opportunity to still win an award.

“This is their chance to shine because now they’re just competing against other Pemberville people,” Madaras said. “So, it’s neat, just offers opportunities to lots of people.”

After the five-mile race is finished, a kid’s one-mile fun run will start around 7:45 p.m. The fun run is something they do each year and Madaras said he hopes it promotes fitness and get kids into running.

The five-mile is one of the oldest races in Northwest Ohio and Madaras said it’s something many people look forward to each year.

“I know a lot of people, local people, really look forward to the fair and a part of that is looking forward to the 5 Miler,” Madaras said. “They just kind of go hand in hand.”

Even if runners haven’t competed in a five-mile race yet, Madaras said he encourages them to give the race a try.

“Try it, you’ll never know until you give it a try,” Madaras said. “Sometimes you have to step outside your comfort zone.”

The fair begins today and runs through Saturday.