You start at Shepherd University at 7:00 a.m. with the town still quiet, drop down to the C&O Canal towpath and settle into a few flat miles of crushed gravel along the Potomac before the course turns uphill on Millers Sawmill Road toward Antietam. That climb is the honest part of this race: the organizers list about 1,300 feet of gain, and the battlefield section is run on grass trails past Burnside Bridge, so plan on a slower day than your road PR. The field is small by design, capped at 500 marathoners because of National Park permits, and there are no pacers. You get seven hours, with a hard cutoff at mile 16.7. Bring shoes that handle gravel and wet grass, and give yourself time afterward in Shepherdstown; proceeds fund local trails through the Freedom's Run Grant.
Starts at Shepherd University at 7:00 a.m., drops to the C&O Canal towpath for an out-and-back, climbs Millers Sawmill Road into Antietam National Battlefield (Branch Ave, Rodman Ave, Old Burnside Bridge Road, Final Attack Trails, Snavely Connector), then returns to finish at Ram Stadium on a mix of road, crushed gravel and grass with about 1,300 ft of gain. Course map ↗
2026 registration opened January 24, 2026 (official site); 2027 opening date not yet posted. Register on RunSignup. Entries capped at 500 for the marathon and 1,000 for the half (official FAQ). No pacers allowed because National Park permits limit numbers. Close date, prices and refund policy not shown on fetched pages. Register ↗
- The marathon route follows the bridge down to the C&O Canal towpath, does an out-and-back on the canal, runs the length of Millers Sawmill Road, follows the historic route through the Antietam battlefield and heads back to finish at Ram Stadium; the surface is a mix of grass, crushed gravel and road. ↗
- The official FAQ lists 1,300 feet of elevation gain for the marathon (almost 1,000 for the half), a 7-hour limit with all courses open until 2 p.m., and caps of 500 marathoners and 1,000 half marathoners. ↗
- The race was created by Dr. Mark Cucuzzella and Lois Turco to promote a healthier lifestyle in West Virginia's Eastern Panhandle; proceeds go to the Freedom's Run Grant, which has funded local trails at schools and youth and adult camps. ↗
- In 2025 the half and full marathon courses used an alternate route because of the federal government shutdown affecting National Park land, with details in the athlete guide. ↗
- Runner reviews on RaceRaves describe the course as challenging and hilly, particularly the Antietam Battlefield section, and note time limits of 7 hours for the full and 5 hours for the half. ↗
Checked 2026-10-13. Always confirm on the official site before booking travel.