Endurance Running Events
The inaugural GAP Trestles Marathon and Half Marathon is set for Monday, September 22, 2014. 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 and the historic Wills Creek Bollman Truss Bridge.
To register, click here. Entrant fees: $60 for the half and $75 for the marathon to August 31; $70 for the half and $85 for the marathon after August 31.
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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 Sunday in Frostburg, MD – time and place TBD. Monday morning packet pick-up will commence at 7:15 AM at the race start/finish.
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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 five 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 first three races in 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.
↑All finishers will receive a quality finisher award produced by Steel Images. There are no age group awards or first finisher awards.
↑Historical average high and low temperatures in Meyersdale, PA on September 22nd are 78 and 52 degrees.
↑The results links will be 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.
↑A Mid-Atlantic Marathon and Half Marathon Series shirt will be provided to entrants who enter before the yet-to-be-determined shirt maker deadline for printing the shirts. 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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