Hashawha Hills Trail Run

Results: 2009 | 2008

The Hashawha Hills Trail Run 50K will return in 2010 as a fully supported 50K trail race.

When:    7:30AM February 28, 2009

Where:

Cost: This is a fat ass event, so it’s free

Your Hosts: Pam and Alan Gowen

IMPORTANT NEW INFORMATION
THE 2009 HASHAWHA HILLS TRAIL RUN COURSE WILL BE WELL MARKED

All runners can run any pace they want. We will NOT be requiring participants to run in groups.

The course will be very clearly marked for its entire distance, so that runners of all abilities from the very fastest to the very not so very fast can come out and run an old school fat ass winter run.

In 2009 the Hashawha Hills Trail Run will be a fat ass run just for fun. The course will be the same as in 2008 and will consist of two loops of a 15.5 mile route. What just for fun means is that there is no aid. Just for fun means we are promising nothing but a good time and intend to fulfill that promise.

The parking is at the start (different than last year) which is also the mid-point and is also the finish. So you will be at your car prior to the run, again at the end of the first 15.5 mile loop, and again at the finish.

There will be no aid except for water. You must bring your own aid except for water. Come prepared to run 15.5 miles without aid. Bring some aid to share if you wish but everyone should provide for his or her own needs.

The run is two times around a 15.5 mile loop. The course has old forest roads, single track trails, open fields, some get your feet wet stream crossings, a little bit of gravel road, a tiny bit of pavement, and plenty of hills There is nothing that I'd call technical.

We won't have any indoor facilities although there are some indoor restrooms a short walk from where we’ll be.

If you let us know you’re coming, we’ll be emailing you with any updates. E-mail: alangowen@gmail.com

Please get in touch if you have any questions at all.

Course: The run is two circuits of a 15.5-mile loop course. The course has about one mile of asphalt, one mile of gravel road, and 13.5 miles of trail per loop. The trails are mostly single track, along with some old woods roads, and open fields. The course is all quite runnable. There are no mountains, no rocks, and no roots, but there are a few small stream crossings and constant small hills to wear you down, with a couple of bigger ones 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 not be marked. Come prepared to cover 15.5 miles of trail without aid.

Map: Here is a map on Mapquest.

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

Contact us if you have any questions at all, and we hope to see everyone on February 28, 2009.

Alan & Pam Gowen
alangowen@gmail.com

Joe Clapper and Diana Widdowson won the first Hashawha Hills 50km. Results, a report, and photos are now available.