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Western Maryland Rail Trail Marathon and Half Marathon

Event Date: April 15, 2018Event Location: Hancock, MD

The 2017 marathon results are linked here, and the 2017 half marathon results are linked here.

Update 4-25-17: Thanks to the great photographers Ted and Leo all the photos taken at the finish of the 2017 Western Maryland Rail Trail can be found at the Hancock Parks and Recreation Facebook album at  https://www.facebook.com/pg/HancockParksandRecreation/photos/?tab=album&album_id=42322121801099

The initial Facebook post of the event can be viewed at https://www.facebook.com/AltisEnduranceSports/.

The fifth annual WMRT Marathon and Half Marathon is planned for Sunday, April 15, 2018. The marathon will start at 7:30 AM and the half marathon will start at 8:00 AM. The race will take place on the paved Western Maryland Rail Trail. The start/finish is located on the Western Maryland Rail Trail just north of C&O Bicycle at 9 S Pennsylvania Ave Hancock, MD 21750. Join us for fun on a fast and scenic course. The WMRT Marathon and Half Marathon are USATF Certified courses. The marathon certification is MD17006NP, and the half marathon certification is MD17005NP.

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Registration

Registration for the 2018 race will open in the Fall of 2017.

$60 for the half marathon and $80 for the marathon. Online registration closes at 5:00PM Friday April 13th.

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Race Location/Info

The race takes place on the paved Western Maryland Rail Trail (WMRT). The start/finish is located on the Western Maryland Rail Trail just north of the C&O Bicycle Shop at 9 S Pennsylvania Ave Hancock, MD 21750.

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Packet Pickup

Packet pickup will commence on race day at 6:45 AM at the race start/finish.

TWO SATURDAY NIGHT PACKET PICKUP OPTIONS

The first Saturday night pre-race packet pickup will take place from 4:30PM-6:00PM at Buddy Lou’s at 11 E. Main St, Hancock, MD 21750 just down the road from the race start/finish.

The second Saturday night pre-race packet pickup will take place in the lobby of the Hagerstown Holiday Inn Express located at 241 Railway Lane Hagerstown, MD 21740 from 7:30-8:00PM. This hotel is located 30 minutes from the race start/finish.

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Parking

There are two parking lots located near the start/finish. One block east of the start/finish is the closest parking lot which is located just south of the WMRT between Williams St and Taney St S. A second lot is another block east located just south of the intersection of East Main Street and Church St. There is also free Sunday street parking on Main Street and a couple smaller lots in the start area.

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Directions

Hancock is located at the intersection of I-68, I-70, and U.S. 522.

Use this link to obtain directions to the parking lot one block east of the start/finish.

 

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Travel

Use this link to see all the airports close to Hancock, MD. Info on the closest major airports follow: Dulles is 91 miles from Hancock, and BWI is 102 miles from Hancock.

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Hotels

There are two hotels located a half mile from the start. The Super 8 is located at 118 Limestone Rd, Hancock, MD and the America’s Best Value Inn is located at 2 Blue Hill Rd, Hancock, MD 21750.

There are two bed and breakfasts in Hancock within walking distance to the race start/finish. The 1828 Trail Inn is located at 10 West Main Street Hancock, MD 21750. Room and contact info is at www.1828-trail-inn.com. The Riverrun Bed and Breakfast is located at 7 Taney Street S. Hancock, MD 21750. Room and contact info is at www.riverrunbnb.com.

Another hotel option which is 30 minutes from the race start: Holiday Inn Express located at 241 Railway Lane Hagerstown, MD 21740. This hotel is located 30 minutes from the race start/finish.

There are two more bed and breakfast options located ten minutes from the race start/finish. The Highlawn Inn is located at 171 Market Street Berkeley Springs, WV 25411. Room and contact info is at www.highlawninn.com. The Manor Inn Bed and Breakfast is located at 234 Fairfax Street Berkeley Springs, WV 25411. Room and contact info is at www.bathmanorinn.com.

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Course Info

This race takes place on the fairly flat and paved Western Maryland Rail Trail with the occasional fantastic view of the Potomac River. Runners will head southwest on the trail for 6.56 miles before turning around to head northeast back to the start/finish. Half marathon runners will cross the finish line at Pennsylvania Avenue to complete their race. Marathon runners will turn around at Pennsylvania Avenue and complete another out and back on the course to finish the marathon. There is approximately 558 feet of elevation gain and loss in the half marathon and 1116 feet of gain and loss in the marathon. The course map and elevation profile can be viewed at http://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/1480659466. Additional photos of the trail can be seen at http://www.westernmarylandrailtrail.org/WMRT/slides/index.html.

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WMRT pic 4The course map and elevation profile can be viewed at http://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/1480659466.

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Volunteer

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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Awards

All finishers receive a quality finishers awards. There are no age group awards or first finisher awards. There will be a new award for the 2018 race. Thanks to Crown Awards for providing the super awards for the 2014-2017 races.

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Proceeds

Great thanks again to the Hancock High School Baseball Team for taking super care of the WMRT runners in 2017. Altis donated $1500 to the team for their much appreciated volunteer efforts in 2016 and 2017.

The Hancock High School Boys Baseball Team earned $1100 by volunteering at the 2015 event. $125 was also donated to the SPCA, and $75 was donated to the Wounded Warrior Project. Great thanks to all the 2015 event volunteers!!!

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Weather

WMRT pic 3Historical average high and low temperatures in Hancock, MD on April 15th are 63 and 42 degrees.

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Results

The 2017 marathon results are linked here, and the 2017 half marathon results are linked here.

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

The 2015 marathon results are linked here, and the 2015 half marathon results are linked here. The 2014 marathon results are linked here, and the 2014 half marathon results are linked here.

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Aid Stations

Aid stations for the half marathon are located at miles 2.0, 3.8 (water only), 5.5, 6.6 (water only), 7.7, 9.4 (water only), and 11.1.

Aid stations for the marathon are located at miles 2.0, 3.8 (water only), 5.5, 6.6 (water only), 7.7, 9.4 (water only), 11.1, 13.1, 15.1, 16.9 (water only), 18.6, 19.7 (water only), 20.8, 22.5 (water only), and 24.2.

The usual race food will be provided at the aid stations, ie. cookies, chips, water, candy, and Gatorade.  It is recommended that runners bring their own energy gels, electrolytes, and water bottle to the race as needed

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Cutoffs

Runners have seven hours to complete the marathon and six and half hours to complete the half marathon.

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Swag

A race shirt will be provided to entrants. All finishers will receive the finisher medal pictured in the Awards section of the race web page.

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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 250 entrants. If the race fills there will not be a waiting list.

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Questions

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

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