The Course
Overview
The Course Map and legs have been revised. Changes were made to legs 10, 17, 25, 26, 28 and 29. These changes reflect requirements from permitting authorities, construction detours and safety and logistics concerns. Unless we learn of last minute construction we have no intention of making further changes to the runners legs. We have included "off van" directions for the van full of runners who are trying to get to the next van transition. We are now going to concentrate on van directions to get them complete and as efficient as possible before race day.
We currently have for each leg:
- 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 last year, 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 two beautiful covered bridges, climb a monster hill (Leg 6), run the dirt roads in Michaux State Forest 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 and we are in her debt for the great legs in this area!
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. 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 Green and Athletic Director Wadel 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 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 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 into Georgetown, over the Key Bridge to VA, along the Potomac River and back over the 14th St. Bridge and past the Jefferson Memorial before finishing with teammates at the SW Waterfront in Washington, DC.
