Buzz Sawyer Western Maryland Marathon/Half Marathon/10k
About this race
The WMRT Marathon/half marathon/10k is back for the 11th edition in 2026. The course is the same, the history is the same, BUT the race has been renamed for one of Washington County Maryland's greatest distance runners and the creator of the JFK50 Miler, Buzz Sawyer.
Frank and Mike of Altis Endurance have passed the race on to Katie and Adam Lowe of 2Lowe Run Company to continue the race's traditions.
The Buzz Sawyer Western Maryland Marathon, Half Marathon and 10K is set for Sunday October 18th, 2026. This race takes place in its entirety on the fantastic Western Maryland Rail Trail (WMRT) located in - wait for it - Western Maryland.
The race start/finish is located in the wonderful town of Hancock. The town of Hancock is a super trail town with great C&O Canal history and scenery in addition to the WMRT. Hancock is definitely a place to visit for those who love trails.
The marathon MD17006NP and half marathon MD17005NP courses are USATF Certified Courses. This is a good Boston qualifying course!
The marathon starts at 7:30 AM, the half marathon starts at 8:00 AM, and the 10K start at 8:15. The start/finish is located on the Western Maryland Rail Trail just north of C&O Bicycle at 9 S Pennsylvania Ave Hancock, MD 21750.
Pick your distance
Running
Marathon
The race will start at 7:30 a.m. on October 18, 2026. Cutoff time is 3:00 p.m. (allowing for a pace of 17 minutes and 11 seconds per mile). The start/finish is located on the Western Maryland Rail Trail just north of C&O Bicycle at 9 S Pennsylvania Ave Hancock, MD 21750. Participants will run/walk 6.56 miles Southwest (towards Little Orleans) before turning around and traveling 6.56 miles back to the start/finish line. Participants will complete this out-and-back loop twice. Aid stations will be at the s/f line, miles 2, 3.5, 5, 6.56. Participants will pass the same AS on their return.
Half Marathon
The race will start at 8:00 a.m. on October 18, 2026. Cutoff time is 1:00 p.m. The start/finish is located on the Western Maryland Rail Trail just north of C&O Bicycle at 9 S Pennsylvania Ave Hancock, MD 21750. Participants will run/walk 6.56 miles Southwest (towards Little Orleans) before turning around and traveling 6.56 miles back to the start/finish line. Aid stations will be at the s/f line, miles 2, 3.5, 5, 6.56. Participants will pass the same AS on their return.
10k
The race will start at 8:15 a.m. on October 18, 2026. Cutoff time is 11:15 a.m. The start/finish is located on the Western Maryland Rail Trail just north of C&O Bicycle at 9 S Pennsylvania Ave Hancock, MD 21750. Participants will run/walk 3.11 miles Southwest (towards Little Orleans) before turning around and traveling 3.11 miles back to the start/finish line. Aid stations will be at the s/f line, miles 2. Runners will pass the same AS on their return.
Typical race-day weather
Based on 1 year of Open-Meteo archive data for this event's race dates in Hancock, plus the 3 days either side.
The sun rises at 7:26 AM and sets at 6:29 PM local time (EDT) in Hancock on October 18, 2026 — 11h 03m of daylight.
Course
No course map published yet.
The organizer hasn't released a route for this event, and we don't publish guesses. If you're the organizer, send us a GPX file and we'll draw the profile.
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Results — Buzz Sawyer Western Maryland Marathon/Half Marathon/10k
Other races near Hancock
Different organizers, within 40 miles, in the next three months
Apple Butter Festival 5k Run
Spring Mills Rotary Ready, Set, Glow 5K Fun Run and Tot Trot
Wvu Hospitals East Foundation Bob Baronner Apple Trample 5k
Spring Mills 5k Zombie Fun Run & Pumpkin Smash
Where this page comes from. Race details were last updated on . We re-check listings regularly and again in the week before race day.
- Entries, prices, waves and inclusions — the event's official registration page
- Temperature and humidity — Copernicus ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0)
- Elevation and terrain relief — Copernicus DEM GLO-90, ESA (CC BY 4.0)
- Comparisons and counts — Race Discovery calendar, 1 Hancock event
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