The Running Road Race has been a staple of the Tri-State Pottery Festival since 1978.
The original Road Race course was a tough 4.5 mile course that started in East Liverpool, crossed the Ohio River via the Jennings Randolph bridge, through Chester, past the "Narrows" between Chester and Newell, crossed the Ohio River again via the Newell toll bridge, then back through East Liverpool streets to the finish.
The Road Race kept this course for 17 years through the 1994 Pottery Festival.
From 1995 through 1998 the Road Race was not held as an event.
The Road Race returned in 1999 as a very challenging, hilly 5k Run through East Liverpool's Thompson Park and the surrounding area. The Road Race continued there in 2000, but then again lapsed from 2001 through 2003.
In 2004 the Road Race returned to the downtown area of East Liverpool as a 5k Run/Walk. The new course is moderately flat with 1 major hill of about 100 yards.