The Great Allegheny Passage at the Cash Valley trailhead is free of snow and  ice and the forecast is nearly perfect for the first New Year's Eve midnight resolution  run, a 1-mile jaunt from the Brush Tunnel downhill to the trailhead.

An overnight low of 35 degrees is expected Friday night into Saturday - mostly clear with  only a very small chance of precipitation. As the trail winds northwest toward Mount  Savage and Frostburg, the crushed limestone surface is hidden under a layer of snow and ice.

However, the 1-mile section to be used Friday night and Saturday morning are in near-perfect condition, according to a handful of area runners who took to the course Tuesday afternoon.

Entry fees for the low-key run are just $3 for children 12-and-under and $5 for ages 13-99. Registration on New Year's Eve begins at 11:15 p.m. and fees increase to $7 each for all participants. Pre-registration is strongly encouraged. Runners should assure they arrive early enough to complete the 1-mile trek from the registration/finish line area to the start line.

For safety purposes, each participant must carry a flashlight or wear a headlamp. Having both is encouraged but not mandatory. Well-behaved pets are encouraged to join their human partners.

What makes this event unique - other than its midnight start time - is another built-in safety option for those who don't believe they can make it on time - or simply don't want to break way from their New Year's Eve party too soon. For the same entry fee, a runner can complete the 1-mile distance on a treadmill. That time must be emailed to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it by 1 a.m. Saturday to count in the event's official standings.

For more information, log on to www.marathonclub.org or call 301-264-3147.


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Mountain Maryland Marathon Club
www.marathonclub.org
301-264-3147
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it