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The race course begins at Windemere Point and will take you through historic downtown Mackinac Island, turning onto a challenging uphill, and over rolling hills through the wooded-center of the Island. The last leg of the race is on the shore road, offering the unique opportunity to take in the beautiful Straits of Mackinac. The entire run is on paved roads.

The race course starts on the Atlantic City Boardwalk with 5 miles on the Boardwalk and streets of Atlantic City & Ventnor, NJ. The final dash to the finish line is on the beach.

Hydration Stations

Water & Gatorade will be supplied at miles 1, 2, 3, 4 & finish line.

RunnerBags

There will not be any bag check at the start and finish area of this event. No bags can be left at the starting line. Any untendeditems will be removed and disposed of. Runners are encouraged to leave personal items and baggagein their cars, or with spectators.

Recognized as the World’s Fastest Half Marathon Course by the USATF in 1985. The Half Marathon starting line is located at the Applewhite Campground in Lytle Creek. The first 6 miles of the Half Marathon include fast and steep, downhill running through the scenic San Bernardino National Forest and Lytle Creek Community. The last 7.1 miles of the course are also fast, but more of a moderate to gradual downhill run along Sierra Avenue towards Fontana City Hall. There is an elevation drop of 2,125 feet from start to finish.

About the course.

THE FIRST SIX MILES
The first six miles of the course travel through historic Woodstock. Here, the fighting minister, Peter Muhlenberg preached his sermon then removed his robe to reveal the Revoluntionary uniform and led his fellow townmen out to win liberty, saying “there is a time to pray and a time to fight.”

SIX TO THIRTY-FIVE MILES
Reaching the Shenandoah River at Burnshire Dam, the course crosses by bridge, approaches its first major ascent to Woodstock Gap on a steep gravel switchback and enters the George Washington National Forest. Descending into Fort Valley’s natural fortress, created by the encircling Massanutten Mountains, is more gradual until approx. 10 mi. upon reaching the fairly rugged 2.5 mi. Lavender Trail up and along the West ridgeline, then down to a Forest Service road winding into the Foley Loop on country roads and leading to another stretch of good country which gives way to the climb up to the 675 Overlook and continuing down to Four Points #1 at approximately 32.5. Here the course enters Duncan Hollow on trail that exacts the “just do it” attitude, but does lead to good footing for five miles on Crisman Hollow.

MORELAND GAP AND MORE
The course turns to climb Moreland Gap with good footing, reaching Edinburg Gap at 55 miles and enters Powell Mountain Trail. The next eight miles have become a heavily utilitized ATV route. Ascending Opechee Peak the trail becomes rugged and steep. The last half, still rugged is not so steep. Reaching Little Fort Campground the course turns up Woodstock Mountain on forest road for five miles to Mudhole Gap. The next mile is trail as lovely as any you will ever visit, running with Little Passage Creek and through it five times.

LOGGING ROAD
The course turns onto a fine logging road leading to a turn onto a short, rocky, trail, then crossing the Valley Road, Passage Creek by bridge and into Elizabeth Furance Picnic Area, the Second and final Medical Check at 74.95 miles. This is the only point with a cut-off time. Runners much check-out of Elizabeth Furance by midnight. The next three miles are best left undescribed but are summed up in the phrase “Sherman Gap”. Rumor has it that the gap was not named for any great explorer but rather for the first (and possibly the last) endurance race runner to try to run up it. It is said that you can see his grave ten feet from the top, especially if you are one of the masses trying to do this part of the course in the dark.

VEACH GAP
Runners are then greeted with a steep trail run down to a gravel road, leading to the wagon road, built by Gen. Daniel Morgan during the Revolution for possible retreat of Washignton’s forces, up Veach Gap and down the boulder falls on the west side. Because most runners will traverse in darkness the difficult stretch from Elizabeth Furnace to the Aid-Station located at the foot of the Veach Gap descent, this is the one part of the race where the runner, if he so chooses, may be accompanied by a safety runner. After descending the western side of Veach Gap at 86.58 miles the competitors are again on their own.

THE FINISH LINE
Crossing the Valley road the course now has good footing on country lanes to complete the circle around the Massanuttens, then turns back up and over Woodstock Mountain, across the Shenandoah and through town to the finish back at the County Fairgrounds.