Where:

Course: 31 miles of trails, old woods roads, open fields and plenty of hills with a couple of stream crossing thrown in just for fun.

What's it Like? Read the report from 2008.

Questions? E-mail the race director, Alan Gowen at alangowen@gmail.com.

Entry Fee: For the past two years the entry fee has been an exorbitant $20.00, but we really want you to get your money's worth so in 2012 the entry fee will be $19.85.

Entry Limit: 120 applicants

Registration: Is closed. The wait list is closed.

Note about registration for 2013: We were a little embarrassed by the speed with which Hashawha Hills filled up this year. Because the race filled so quickly, we feel it wasn't as fair as we would have liked it to be. In the spirit of fairness our entry procedure in 2013 will be different and we hope, more equitable. Our new process will be transparent and as fair as we can make it. It will likely be based on an unweighted lottery. Application for entry into next year's race will open in mid January 2013. Please check back here or details.

Sponsorship: The Hashawha Hills Trail Run is another event sponsored by the Virginia Happy Trails Running club.

What You Get: For your entry fee, you will receive a great trail race with a very well-marked route, well-stocked aid stations, and hot post race food and drink indoors. All finishers will receive a unique finisher's award hand made by a local potter. There will be special awards for the top male and female finishers.

Details: Pre-race and post-race will be indoors. We’ve reserved the heated auditorium and bathrooms located indoors at the Bear Branch Nature Center. There will be hot food and drink indoors at the finish.

The start/finish is at a covered pavilion just a two minute walk from the Nature Center. The course has about two miles of asphalt, three miles of gravel road, and 26 miles of trail. The course is mostly single track trails along with some old woods roads and open fields. The entire course is runnable. There are no mountains, no rocks, and no roots, but there are a few stream crossings (you WILL get your feet wet) and never ending small hills to wear you down with a few bigger hills thrown in just for fun. The scenery changes from mostly woods to meadows and open fields with beautiful views of rolling farmland. The course will be well marked for the entire distance; however, runners will have to pay attention to remain on course.

Weather: Whereas it may be cold, wet, snowy, icy, or just plain miserable, it's extremely improbable the race will be canceled due to weather. The race is on unless we're in the midst of a howling blizzard (a real blizzard, not what the TV guys call a blizzard), and we will try to notify everyone by email should this occur, but help us out here and get in touch if in doubt.

Start – Finish: The start, finish, and mid-point of the race will be at a covered picnic pavilion just a two minute walk from the Bear Branch auditorium. After you finish your race, join us indoors in the Bear Branch Auditorium for hot food and drink.

Time Cutoff: The race will start at 7:30 AM. There will be a 9 hour time limit (4:30 PM) to complete the course. Course record for men: 4:09 (Olivier Leblond - 2011). Course record for women: 4:45 (Gaby Gorman - 2011)

Pre-Race: Please arrive in time for a pre-race briefing in the Bear Branch auditorium at 7:10 AM. When you arrive, park near the Bear Branch Nature Center, which is the building on your right at the top of the hill beside the parking lot, and make your way inside the building. If the parking lot becomes full, please park as directed along the outside perimeter of the parking lot and entrance road, and if you park here, please pull as far off the pavement on the shoulder as is practical. The Bear Branch Nature Center will remain open to the public during our race, and we need to allow access for, and be courteous to, the public. The start/finish is at a covered pavilion located just a two minute walk from the Bear Branch nature Center. Take your drop bag with you to the start after the pre-race briefing.

Post-Race: After the race, celebrate your accomplishment and swap lies with everyone else while you warm up with hot food and drinks in the Bear Branch auditorium. The park has a no alcohol policy.

Drop Bags: The start-finish line is at the same location as the 15.5 mile aid station #3. This is a covered pavilion where there is plenty of space for you to leave a drop bag if you so desire. Bring your drop bag to the indoors pre-race briefing and then carry it with you to the start-finish after the pre-race briefing

Volunteers: If this race is to be a success, we'll need to have some help on race day. Feel good about yourself and make us look good too by volunteering. Email us: alangowen@gmail.com

Awards: There will be unique handmade awards for the first male and female finishers.

The Course: The course will be marked with BLUE ribbons hung from branches, sign posts, small blue flags stuck in the ground, and blue arrow signs. Most intersecting trails will be blocked with RED ribbons across them

Aid Station	Sec Dist	Cum Dist	Note
1	8.46	8.46
2	2.3	10.76
3	4.74	15.5	Start/Finish
4	8.46	23.96
5	2.3	26.26
Finish	4.74	31.1

1. Always follow the closest blue marking
2. Disregard arrow signs seen from the back or side
3. Never cross red

There will be five opportunities for aid. The aid stations will be fully stocked with water, Gatorade, PB&J sandwiches, chips, pretzels, cookies, M&M's, Coke, Mt Dew, etc. Please note that you will have to run up to 8.5 miles between aid so be sure to come prepared to do that.

Lodging:

• Days Inn
  Westminster, MD
  410-857-0500
• Boston Inn
  Westminster, MD
  410-848-9095
• Best Western
  Westminster, MD
  410-857-1900

Map: Here is a map on Google Maps. Note: What Google lists as "Rhinehart Road" is actually "Hashawha Road."

View Hashawha Hills Start in a larger map

Directions from Northern VA, DC and Montgomery County

• Take I-270 North.
• Exit 16 onto Father Hurley Blvd. East or north following MD 27, ridge Road north
• Continue north on MD 27 through Damascus & Mt. Airy into downtown Westminster.
• Cross Main St, continue thru underpass & turn right onto ramp for MD 140 West and MD 97 North. Continue on MD 140 west / MD97 North.
• Bear right on ramp leaving MD 140 onto MD 97 North. Follow MD 97 North.
• After passing the air park on your left and a plant nursery on your right, turn right onto John Owings Road at the park sign for Hashawha Environmental Center and the Bear Branch Nature Center.
• Turn left on Hashawha Road at the sign for Hashawha and Bear Branch.
• Proceed to the right hand turn into the Bear Branch parking lot.

Directions from US-15 and areas north and west

Take US-15 north or south to Emmitsburg. Exit onto MD140 East. Follow MD 140 east through Taneytown to MD-97 north. Follow above directions on MD 97 north

Directions from the Baltimore and areas north and east

• From I-695 exit onto I-795 west. Follow I-795 west toward Owings Mills.
• Bear to the right as I-795 becomes MD 140 west
• Follow MD 140 west to MD-97 north.
• Turn right off MD 140 onto MD 97 north and follow above directions north on MD 97

Any questions, inquiries or suggestions contact the race director, Alan Gowen at alangowen@gmail.com

Prior Results

2011 | 2009 | 2008

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