Website:  Freedom’s Run Marathon

Date: Saturday, October 10, 2015.

Location: Start at Harper’s Ferry National Park, end at Shepherd University in Shepherdstown, WV.  Although I think this is OK as a WV race, note that most of the course is on the MD side of the river.

Weather: 50s-60s, sunny, perfect running weather.

Size: Small marathon (around 350 runnings); other distances, including a larger half, start elsewhere but end at the same point.  Few crowds and easy parking.

What I Wore:  Adidas Ultra Boost shoes, Nike running shorts, Lululemon racerback tank, long sleeved tech tee around my waist, FlipBelt, hat with visor, no sunglasses.

What I Ate:  Candy corn.  Really.  One bite of a peanut butter sandwich at mile 16.  Gels were offered on course, but I did not take any.  Water stops placed every 3 miles or so; did not bring my own water.

Terrain:  About half on a flat crushed gravel rail-to-trail with minor rocks and roots, and half on pavement.  Rolling hills for miles 15-22.  Note that there are no mile markers on the canal portion of the course.

Amenities and Swag:  Nice blue long sleeved tech shirts, cute handmade ceramic medal with a nice and special WV vibe, a water bottle.  Plenty of restrooms.  Easy race morning packet pickup.  Post-race showers available, although I did not check them out.  After-party at the Bavarian Inn with free pint glasses.

Finish Time and Splits:  I was really happy with my time at this race, as I was expecting to come in around 4:15 or so.  My wedding was the weekend before, so although I did my 20 miler run, I had skipped a couple of the other longer runs and was worried that the post-wedding adrenaline crash would affect my legs.  But it was a lovely day and a lovely course, so I just kept pushing it.  I finished just over 3:54.  I’m so glad to be back in sub-4 hour territory!  Here are my splits, via Strava:

Overall Impression: Love It!

Other Race Notes:  Low-drama, well-executed event.  Not far from DC-area airports, but not accessible by public transportation.  Most of this course is incredibly scenic with river views and just-changing leaves.  Several “wow” moments.  Half merges with the full after the C&O Canal portion, during the hillier run through Antietam National Battlefield.  Expect lots of walkers because of the way the races are staggered.  The final 6 or so miles were less majestic through the town of Sharpsburg, MD and finishing anticlimactically on the campus of Shepherd University.  At finish, runners are directed to a tent (with a line!) to get re-usable water bottles that they can refill.  It was slightly annoying not to be handed water right at the finish, and the process took about 5 minutes to get water.  The food tent was out of pizza for the moment when I finished and only had bagels, so we skipped the food and instead grabbed a beverage at a local coffeeshop before hitting the road.  Appeared to be a nice post-race festival at the Bavarian Inn.  Would highly recommend this race to those preferring smaller crowds and less hoopla, and especially to those who love history.  Not a particularly fast course but really very pretty without too much climbing or tough terrain.