Eastern Continental Divide Marathon & Half Marathon

The inaugural Eastern Continental Divide Marathon and Half Marathon will take place in its entirety in Pennsylvania on the outstanding Great Allegheny Passage (GAP). The primary highlights of the course include crossing the Eastern Continental Divide and a view of the north end of the 3294 foot long Big Savage Tunnel. The eastern end of the course is just a few feet from the tunnel entrance tunnel. The race course does not enter the tunnel. Marathoners and halfers will run a slightly different course which allows the marathoners to run across the scenic 910 foot long Keystone Viaduct twice.

The half marathon course is a typical Altis Endurance course that uses a quarter marathon length (6.56 miles) of trail. Halfers head west on the GAP from the start. After running west for 4.5 miles halfers reach their west turnaround. Runners turn around at this point and head east on the GAP for 6.56 miles. Upon reaching the east turnaround at the entrance to the Big Savage Tunnel, runners turn around and head two miles back to their race finish at the Deal Road GAP parking area. The course has 963 feet of elevation gain. Since the elevation chart shows a bunch of hills or bumps on the course that do not exist, it is likely that the 963 feet of elevation gain is a high number.

The marathon course is slightly different from the half course to allow the marathoners the chance to run the fantastic 910 foot long Keystone Viaduct. Marathoners head west on the GAP from the start for 1.73 miles. Shortly after crossing the Keystone Viaduct runners hit the course marathon west turnaround. At this point runners turn around and head east on the GAP back to the start.

This race is the second event in the 2020 Mid-Atlantic Marathon and Half Marathon Series taking place in October. The other events in the Series are the GAP Marathon and Half, the GAP Trestles Marathon and Half, the Salisbury Trestle Marathon and Half, and the Hancock Marathon and Half.