Howard's Run Festival

Howard's 25K Run is a point-to-point race beginning at the Frostburg trailhead of the Great Allegheny Passage and finishing at the zero marker in front of the Western Maryland Station. The distance is 25 kilometers or approximately 15.54 miles. The course is exclusively on the Great Allegheny Passage and there will be mile markers at each mile of the course for the race.

The race begins on the GAP in Frostburg, MD. Runners may have someone drop them off before the start of the race OR they may board a shuttle bus (leaving from 13 Canal St. at 7am, do not miss the bus). There is NO shuttle bus back to the start line after the race.

Parking or Runner drop off at the Start line is located at 10105 New Hope Road NW, Frostburg, MD 21532 (Again, there is no return shuttle to this location after the race.

Parking at the finish line is at 13 Canal St, Cumberland MD 21502 (runners may take a shuttle to the start line, shuttle leaves at 7am)

To qualify as completing the course, participants must finish within a 4 hour time limit. That is approximately a 15:26 pace, so someone that would be run/walking the course would probably complete it successfully. Even walking the entire course, it could feasibly be completed at a very brisk walking pace.

Six aid stations will be in place to serve runners water and Gatorade. They will be located at Trimble Ln (3 miles), Woodcock Hollow Rd (6 miles), the course halfway point (approximately 7.77 miles), Cash Valley Rd (10 miles), Dakota St/Ave (13 miles), and Valley St (15 miles). We do encourage runners with more significant hydration needs to carry additional supplies on person. We will guarantee the distance to be accurately measured, however it is NOT USATF certified and will not qualify for official records as recognized by that body.

Howard's 5K is a course designed for participants that are interested in a shorter event that is easily attainable running or walking. The course begins at the origin or "0" of the Great Allegheny Passage in front of Western Maryland Station. Participants will traverse the last 1.55 miles of the Howard's 25K Run course to the southern edge of the Narrows before turning around and retracing their path back to Western Maryland Station.

Parking for the 5K is at 13 Canal St, Cumberland MD 21502

To qualify as completing the course, participants must finish within a 1 hour time limit. That is approximately a 19:20 pace, so someone that would be run/walking the course would easily complete it. Even walking the entire course, it could feasibly be completed at a moderate walking pace.

The lone aid station is located just shy of the 1 mile point at the Valley St. underpass and is shared with the 25K participants (aid station #6 for the 25K course). We do encourage runners with more significant hydration needs to carry additional supplies on person. We will guarantee the distance to be accurately measured, however it is NOT USATF certified and will not qualify for official records as recognized by that body.