Race & Course Info
The Course Map and legs are complete. For all legs we now have:
- A map;
- An elevation chart;
- Detailed turn by turn directions with mileage for each segment noted;
- Van directions; and
- Points of Interest including sightseeing opportunities, bathrooms and food availability.
As with previous years, the race will start in Gettysburg, PA in the shadow of the Civil War battlefields. We strongly recommend that you take full advantage of the amazing Gettysburg National Military Park by arriving early.
From Gettysburg we will head out to Fairfield, PA. We will cross a beautiful covered bridge, climb a monster hill (Leg 6), run the dirt roads in Michaux State Forest (twice) and slowly begin to make our way toward MD. Our Gettysburg/Fairfield running buddy, Nancy Petrosky, has her fingerprints all over this fantastic part of the course.
It will be getting dark as many of you cross the famed Mason Dixon line from the old north into the old south. Leg 12 will end at Smithsburg High School. Smithsburg High cross country coach Ray Shriver has been great at working with us on this portion of the course.
From Smithsburg we head to Boonsboro and the Odyssey Oasis festival. Leg 16 will end at the Boonsboro High School complex (BHS) and we will then run legs 17 and 18 in a cloverleaf fashion such that each one starts and ends on the BHS campus. So, that means that not only will the runners from Van 2 be hanging out at BHS for a while, but so will the runners from Van 1, so all teammates can actually interact with each other! We will have food, showers, music and massage at the Odyssey Oasis. Thanks to Boonsboro cross county coach, Becky Walter, and Principal Pugh for their enthusiastic support of the Oasis. Becky and local runner, Mary Zielinski, have also shared some great running routes that we have included.
From Boonsboro we will head to Keedysville, where former town manager, Amy Simmons, and her family will greet you in the middle of the night before sending you off to Amy's sister, Wendy's farm just down the road a piece! Then, it's off to Sharpsburg, home of the Antietam Battlefield. We will run through the battlefield during the middle of the night and on into the wee hours of the morning. From Antietam we will head to Shepherdstown, WV and the Bavarian Inn for a great early morning transition 24 complete with a pancake breakfast before coming back towards Harpers Ferry, another famous Civil War landmark. Along the way to DC we will pass historic Riley's Lock and Great Falls, MD.
The final runner will get to run over the Key Bridge into VA and then back over the 14th Street Bridge before finishing with teammates at the SW Waterfront in Washington, DC. We are working on a fantastic finish for 2013!
