Cumberland C&O Towpath Marathon and Half Marathon

The third annual race is set for Sunday September 24, 2017 at Cumberland, MD. This race will be the fifth and final event in the 2017 Mid-Atlantic Marathon and Half Marathon Series. The other events in the Series are the Brush Tunnel Marathon and Half, the GAP Marathon and Half, the GAP Trestles Marathon and Half, and the Barnum Rail Trail Marathon and Half. In order, the series races take place in MD, MD, PA, WV, and MD.

The race start/finish is located on the C&O Canal Towpath at the Canal Place located at 13 Canal Street Cumberland, MD 21502. The marathon starts at 7:30AM and the half marathon starts at 8:00AM.

The Cumberland C&O Towpath Marathon and Half Marathon is a Trail Runner Magazine 2017 Trophy Series event. To learn more about the Trophy Series click here or navigate over to trailrunnermag.com.

“This is a wonderful series of friendly races with tremendous organization in beautiful locations that runners need to experience.”

Steve Hughes,
Marathon Maniacs Hall of Fame

Registration

To register click here. Entrant fees: $65 for the half and $80 for the marathon. Online registration closes at 8:00PM Friday September 22nd. Runners can also register for the race at Saturday night packet pickup from 7:00-8:00PM at the Fairfield Inn and Suites located about 100 yards from the race start/finish. The Fairfield Inn and Suites address is 21 Wineow Street Cumberland, MD 21502.

***There is no race day registration for this event.***

Since many runners have more shirts than they can possibly use, this race is a shirt optional race, ie. runners have the option to purchase the race shirt for $10 when registering for the event.

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Race Location/Info

The race start/finish is located on the towpath about 300 feet south of the C&O Canal Towpath Cumberland Visitor Center located in the Western Maryland Railroad Station. The start/finish can be seen in this link just a few feet from the Cumberland Trail Connection seen in the center of the screen or input 17 Howard Street Cumberland, MD 21502 into a maps program.

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Packet Pickup

Packet pickup on race morning will commence at 6:45 at the start/finish line.

Saturday night pre-race packet pickup is from 7:00-8:00PM at the Fairfield Inn and Suites located about 100 yards from the race start/finish. The Fairfield Inn and Suites address is 21 Wineow Street Cumberland, MD 21502.

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Parking

This link shows the location of two parking lots and a parking garage near the start/finish.

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Directions

Use this link to obtain directions to the short term parking lot near the race start/finish.

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Travel

Use this link to view the airports closest to Cumberland, MD. According to the Travel Math link, the distances to Cumberland from major airports are: PIT – 122 miles; Dulles (IAD) – 130 miles; DCA – 138 miles; BWI – 140 miles

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Hotels

Runners who are only running the Cumberland C&O Towpath Marathon and Half might consider staying at the Cumberland Fairfield Inn and Suites (21 N Wineow Street Cumberland, MD 21502) which is located about 100 yards from the race start/finish.

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Course Info

The event will use 3.28 miles of the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal Towpath. Half marathoners will complete two out and backs of the course and marathoners will complete four out and backs of the course. The course is a flat one. The half marathon has about 250 feet of gain and loss, and the marathon runners will experience about 500 feet of gain and loss on the course. A great deal of information on the fantastic C&O Canal Towpath can be found at the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy Trail Link website at traillink.com at http://www.traillink.com/trail/chesapeake–ohio-canal-national-historic-park.aspx

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Course Map/Map Link

The course map can be viewed at http://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/fullscreen/572080606/

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Awards

The finisher awards for this event are made by Steel Images Inc. An image of the award is posted at the top of this web page.

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Weather

Historical average high and low temperatures in Cumberland, MD on September 24th are 77 and 51 degrees.

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Results

The 2016 marathon results are here, and the 2016 half marathon results are here. The 2015 marathon results are linked here, and the 2015 half marathon results are here.

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Aid Stations

Aid stations for the half marathon are located at miles 2.0, 2.8, 3.8, 4.6, 6.6, 8.6, 9.4, 10.3, and 11.1

Aid stations for the marathon are located at miles 2.0, 2.8, 3.8, 4.6, 6.6, 8.6, 9.4, 10.3, 11.1, 13.1, 15.1, 15.9, 16.9, 17.7, 19.7, 21.7, 22.5, 23.4, 24.2

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Cutoffs

Runners have eight hours to complete the marathon, and 7.5 hours to complete the half marathon.

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Refunds/Transfers/Miscellaneous

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 a total of 200 entrants, 100 entrants in the marathon and 100 entrants in the half marathon. There will not be a waiting list if the race fills.

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Questions

If you have any questions please contact Mike at events@altisendurance.com.

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