To feel the culture. To experience the heritage. To learn a little bit about oneself.

To be a Bird-in-Hand resident for just a short period of time.

That's the beauty of the Bird-in-Hand Half Marathon, 5K and Kids Fun Run.

"At many longer races, runners leave as soon as it's over," said Amy Wissing, a member of the event's planning committee. "Here, people stick around and get to mingle with the locals and be truly part of our little town and its people for a while. Runners are some of the most positive people you'll meet.

"As humans today, I believe shared experiences are what people are missing out on," she added. "Your differences melt away when you're together for a common cause or shared interest. All of a sudden, it's not about you and me; it's we. And wow, that is the start of something powerful."

This year's edition of the Bird-in-Hand Half Marathon, 5K and Kids Fun Run, which is sponsored by the Hand-in-Hand Fire Company, will be oozing with a feeling of community. The event will be staged over two days, Friday, Sept. 11, and Saturday, Sept. 12, in downtown Bird-in-Hand, at 2727 Old Philadelphia Pike to be precise.

The festivities will begin at 4 p.m. on Sept. 11 with a pizza and pasta meal, followed by the kids fun run at 6:10 p.m., the Bird-in-Hand 5K at 6:30 p.m. and then a bonfire and s'mores party at 7:30 p.m. Then on the following day, Sept. 12, the Bird-in-Hand Half Marathon will kick off at 7:30 a.m.

Prizes will be awarded to the top female and male finishers in 15 age categories, and among the unique prizes are handmade horseshoe medals and road apples on plaques. Contestants can register online at http://www.bihhalfmarathon.com/road-apple/ or in person on the days of the events.

"The course features rolling hills and lush countryside," said Wissing. "All these things make the Bird-in-Hand Marathon and 5K a special experience. But some things can't be described, like the sense of community that follows well after the finish line is crossed."

More than 2,000 runners, some from around the world, are expected to compete during the series of events. Organizers are aiming to make over $140,000, which will be applied to Hand-in-Hand Fire Company's purchase of a $1.4 million fire engine, which will replace a 26-year-old model.

More than 300 community volunteers will pitch in to assure the event runs smoothly.

"In our community, as in most small towns, it's the fire company that arrives on the scene first," said Wissing, a native of Bird-in-Hand and a resident of East Hempfield Township, "whether that be a vehicle accident, an emergency call or an actual fire. For over 100 years, our unpaid volunteers of the Hand-in-Hand Fire Company have protected the Bird-in-Hand community. Time and time again, we answer the call of service to care for our community."

Hand-in-Hand Fire Company, which is located at 313 Enterprise Drive, Bird-in-Hand, has been staging its community running event for 16 years. The local fire company will also conduct a chicken barbecue dinner from 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 5.