Endurance Running Events
The second annual GAP Trestles Marathon and Half Marathon is set for Thursday, September 24, 2015. Both the marathon and half marathon will start at 8:00AM. This event will take place in its entirety in Pennsylvania on the outstanding Great Allegheny Passage. Runners will cross three trestles on the course – to include the 1908 foot long Salisbury Viaduct (pictured above) over the Casselman River Valley, the 910 foot long Keystone Viaduct, and the historic Wills Creek Bollman Truss Bridge.
To register click here. Entrant fees: $45 for the half/$60 for the marathon until June 30th; $55 for the half and $75 for the marathon from July 1st to August 31st, and $65 for the half and $85 for the marathon after August 31st. Online registration closes at 9:00PM Tuesday September 22nd.
REGISTRATION SPECIAL – The first ten entrants in the marathon and first ten entrants in the half can enter the race for 50 percent off the registration fee. Enter code first10halfoff!! when registering for the race.
Runners can also register for the race race morning starting at 7:15 AM on race day at the start/finish or at the the Wednesday pre-race packet pick-up at the Hampton Inn located at 11200 New George’s Creek Road Frostburg, MD 21532 from 7:00-8:00 PM in the hotel lobby common area.
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The race start/finish is on the Great Allegheny Passage near the Western Maryland Railway Station at 529 Main Street Meyersdale, PA 15552.
Pre-race packet pick-up will take place on Wednesday at the Hampton Inn located at 11200 New George’s Creek Road Frostburg, MD 21532 from 7:00-8:00 PM in the hotel lobby common area. Thursday race morning packet pick-up will commence at 7:15 AM at the race start/finish.
↑There is a parking lot at the Meyersdale Station adjacent to the trail. Please drive through Meyersdale Station asphalt parking lot and park in the gravel covered parking area. A good satellite image of the Meyersdale Station and parking lot just feet from the start/finish can be seen here. After running the event, it is recommended that you enjoy a tour of the Station.
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Use this link to obtain directions to the start/finish.
Use this link to view the airports closest to Meyersdale, PA. Runners who will complete all five days of the Mid-Atlantic Marathon and Half Marathon Series should consider using the DC area airports (Dulles (IAD), Ronald Reagan National (DCA), or Baltimore/Washington (BWI)).
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There are no hotels in Meyersdale, but there are four Bed and Breakfast locations in Meyersdale. This Trip Advisor link provides some info on those hotels.
The Frostburg, MD hotels are 30 minutes from the race start/finish. Runners conducting all four days of the Mid-Atlantic Marathon and Half Marathon Series should also consider staying at one of the conveniently located Frostburg area hotels for the series. This Trip Advisor link provides some info on the six Frostburg, MD hotels.
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Runners start on the Great Allegheny Passage at the Western Maryland Railway Station and head northwest on the trail. After crossing the Salisbury Viaduct runners turn around and head southeast on the trail for 6.56 miles to the southeast turnaround between Miller Run Road and Warrens Mill Road. At the southeast turnaround runners turn around again and head northwest on the trail back to the start/finish. The Half Marathon runners will finish their race upon reaching the start/finish at the Railway Station. Marathon runners will do another loop of the course to complete the marathon. Half marathon entrants will cross each trestle twice while the marathon runners will cross each trestle four times. The trail surface is a fantastic crushed stone surface which is great for running. The course map link below also shows the elevation profile of the course. The course is not flat, but the elevation change is gradual. The half marathon has about 1166 feet of gain and loss, and the marathon runners will experience about 2332 feet of gain and loss on the course.
The course map can be viewed at http://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/fullscreen/428785976/
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If you would like to be a race volunteer please contact Mike at events@altisendurance.com. Volunteers earn free race entries for themselves (or to donate to a friend/relative) in any Altis Endurance race and/or donations to a favorite charity/non-profit organization.
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The finisher awards are being produced by Steel Images. An image of the award artwork is above. There are no age group awards or first finisher awards. Great thanks to Steel Images for the fantastic finisher awards!
Historical average high and low temperatures in Meyersdale, PA on September 24th are 68 and 48 degrees.
↑The 2014 half marathon results are posted here, and the 2014 marathon results are posted here.
↑Half marathon runners will pass seven aid stations during their race, and the marathon runners will have 15 aid stations.
Aid stations for the half marathon are located at miles 1.0, 3.0, 4.0, 5.5, 7.6, 9.5, and 11.6
Aid stations for the marathon are located at miles 1.0, 3.0, 4.0, 5.5, 7.6, 9.5, 11.6, 13.1, 14.1, 16.1, 17.1, 18.6, 20.7, 22.6, and 24.7
↑Runners have eight hours to complete their respective races.
↑2015 Mid-Atlantic Marathon and Half Marathon Series swag is yet to be determined. All finishers will receive a quality finisher medal.
↑As is the case with most races, there will be no refunds of entry fees to entrants. Transfers of race bibs from one runner to another is also not allowed. This event is limited to 200 entrants. There will not be a waiting list if the race fills.
↑If you have any questions please contact Mike at events@altisendurance.com.
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