The Friends of the Medicine Bow Rail Trail host the Med Bow Rail Marathon & Half Marathon this August. The races showcase the beautiful Medicine Bow Rail Trail and provide a unique high-elevation racing experience.
The marathon course covers the Rail Trail from end-to-end with loops around Lake Owen. It averages 8,926 feet in elevation. The trail is a gently graded, wide, gravel path. Marathon participants follow the course through two states (the trail briefly dips into Colorado after starting just north of the state line) and finish at a serene mountain lake.
The half-marathon course mirrors much of the northern portion of the marathon course, including two loops around Lake Owen with the remainder of the course on the Rail Trail..
All race proceeds fund trail upkeep and improvement, and the races are intended to promote use of the trail. The event provides a fun and safe way to experience the trail, both competitively and non-competitively. The race is open to all-comers. The races are timed and fully staffed at six aid stations, with a start/finish area at Lake Owen, near Albany, WY.
The Medicine Bow Rail Trail is a 21-mile gravel pathway through the Medicine Bow National Forest in the Snowy Range mountains. Completed in 2007, the trail winds through scenic aspen and conifer forests from the Wyoming-Colorado state border to Dry Park along what was formerly the Laramie, Hahns Peak, and Pacific Railroad. The trail is open year-round to bikers, hikers, horseback riders, runners, skiers, and other non-motorized uses.
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warm day but amazing scenery
great aid station support, small race but awesome trail fantastic volunteers and energetic but small fan support. difficult to find start line the morning of, don't recommend last minute arrival. … MORE
great aid station support, small race but awesome trail fantastic volunteers and energetic but small fan support. difficult to find start line the morning of, don’t recommend last minute arrival. great race to relax and enjoy the wonderful trail.
Beautiful scenery
When I saw this race, the small town, small race seems like a wonderful idea. When it came to running the race, it actually was. With only about 45 full … MORE
When I saw this race, the small town, small race seems like a wonderful idea. When it came to running the race, it actually was. With only about 45 full marathoners, it has a very small town field. Staying in Laramie offered many different lodging and food choices and about an hour drive to the race start. The race, Director Amber, did a wonderful job and answered all my questions. We met her the day before, as she was marking out. Part of the course was very pleasant and helpful. Although the elevation was it 9000 feet, I was worried at first, but it really didn’t play a large role as I just took my time in adjusted my face.
All in all a great race, and would definitely recommend it. The course was just full of scenery, and we even saw plenty of wildlife as we were running.