Remember to sign the waiver form at Registration.
Before starting, clear and check your e-punch card at the boxes located at Registration or adjacent to the start area (this erases any stored data from the card).
Allow for a five minute walk to the start from the Tea Barn (follow the orange streamers). Pre-starters will punch a start box. Mass starters will start on the clock at 9:00 am sharp. Please assemble at the start area 10 minutes prior to the mass start to get your maps.
Those using the 1:10,000 maps will carry two map bags. One bag will contain the Big Elk Chapel map. The second bag will contain the Mason Dixon map on one side and the Little Egypt map on the other side.
Fair Hill is a multi-use park and you may encounter horses or mountain bikers on your course. Horses have the right of way – give them wide berth and announce your presence well in advance. Bow hunters may also be active in the park at this time of year.
Stable and paddock areas are out-of-bounds.
Most road crossings utilize tunnels, bridges, or underpasses. Only one or two at-grade crossings are required. There are high (~ 6 ft) super fences bordering some roadways and fields. These are mapped as uncrossable – do not attempt to cross them.
The mapped trails are still quite accurate in most areas. One new trail has been overprinted onto the map on the Half Marathon course and a second new trail has been overprinted on the second half of the Marathon course.
Controls must be taken in numerical order. If you inadvertently punch an extra control or two, it is not a problem provided all the correct controls are punched in the proper sequence.
There are some controls near the Mason-Dixon line. The land north of the Mason-Dixon line is private property and is out-of bounds. A few controls are located very close to the edge of the map – be careful not to run off the map!
Aid station controls are shown on the map with a cup symbol. There are several restrooms located throughout the park (generally portable toilets). These are shown on the map with an “R.” Most are not located directly on the course routes.
Budget your energy wisely. Keep in mind that your actual distance traveled will likely be 10-15% longer than the straight-line distance. Consider walking on uphills to conserve energy.
Lanyards are provided with the e-punch cards. Please make use of them to prevent losing the card. The fee for lost or non-returned e-punch cards will be $70. After completing your course, remember to go to the Tea Barn to download and turn in your epunch card.
Special notes for Marathoners:
Be careful to go to control #1 leaving the start triangle and not control #23.
After reaching control #22, you will pass through the Half Marathon finish area. There is no need to punch the finish box at the halfway point (if you do, it is not a problem) – just continue on to control #23.
If you reach the halfway point and decide not to continue on the second half of the course, punch the finish box. Your results will be included with the Half Marathon finishers.
If you do not make it to the halfway point by the 12:45 pm cut-off, you will not be permitted to start the second half of the course. If you do not make it to Aid Station 5 (34.5 km) by the 3:15 pm cut-off, you will be asked to stop and will be transported back to the finish.
If you decide you need to drop out, proceed to the nearest Aid Station - the volunteers there will make arrangements to have you transported back to the finish.
The second half of the Marathon course is a little easier than the first half. Be sure to save enough energy for the final gradual uphill to the finish area.
