2024 Report

May 26, 2024 • McConnellsburg, PA

40 starters, 30 finishers

Cowans Gap Lake forms a scenic backdrop at the start and finish

The 12th running of the challenging Holy Cowans Gap 50k was May 26, 2024. The weather was perfect – sunny, clear, and with relatively low humidity, when not under the thick canopy of the surrounding Buchanan State Forest or climbing the steep Allen Trail.

Of the 40 runners who started, there were 30 official finishers, 6 runners who stopped at the halfway mark, and 4 runners who ran between 28 and 38 miles (with the longest distance being a modified route that missed part of the course). This year Chris Pabian was the overall winner with a time of 7:02. He was soon followed by Matt Burke (7:11) and Chad Cato (7:33).

The first woman to finish was Kate Fletcher (7:58), followed by Jane Bruno (8:32) and Jamie Greenawalt (9:30). All the runners enjoyed a BBQ put on by the VHTRC, and many went swimming in the beautiful lake adjacent to the start/finish area.

Runner comments after the event included:
“It was an absolutely amazing event!”;

Sharing the view from an overlook with a Pennsylvania Parrot

“HCG was a wonderful event and I am so happy we participated!”;

“Wow, those hills kicked my a55. I guess it’s a love-hate thing.”;

“I had the GPX course on my watch but thought you all did a fabulous job marking the course. My first time doing the event and although it kicked my arse I enjoyed it.”; and

“This was my first time running this run, and you put on a great, difficult run. The check station helpers did a great job, and everything about this was top notch and I plan to be back next year.”

The next Holy Cowans Gap 50k will be May 25, 2025, pending timing of the planned dam reconstruction at the lake in Cowans Gap State Park. Stay tuned. Entry will open on April 11, 2025.

Thank you to all the volunteers who committed their Memorial Day weekends to making this event possible, and to VHTRC for its ongoing sponsorship. Special thanks to Sheila and Brett Martin, who worked hard to organize this event in 2023, and to co-race founder Alisa Springman, who also helped coordinate it (with Sheila Martin) in 2022.

Photos

Other reports

A New Runner's Report, by Robby Nixon

Results

Place	Name	Age	Sex	State	Results	Distance
1	Chris Pabian	48	M	PA	7:02	50k
2	Matt Burke	36	M	MD	7:11	50k
3	Chad Cato	51	M	NC	7:33	50k
4	Joe Schramka	55	M	DC	7:37	50k
5	Ian Foster	47	M	VA	7:45	50k
6	Jason Hinerman	45	M	WV	7:52	50k
7	Kate Fletcher	49	F	VA	7:58	50k
8	Justin Faul	44	M	VA	8:04	50k
9	Robert Nixon	23	M	VA	8:05	50k
10	Jane Bruno	26	M	MD	8:32	50k
11	Casey Fisher	41	M	MD	8:40	50k
12	Jonathan Gonzalez	38	M	DC	9:17	50k
13	Ryan Schenning	32	M	MD	9:20	50k
14	Jamie Greenawalt	56	F	PA	9:30	50k
15	Claudia Guerrero Barrera	43	F	VA	9:42	50k
16	David Weigert	58	M	MD	9:57	50k
17	Erin Truitt	41	F	VA	9:59	50k
18	Edward Leno	57	M	VA	10:07	50k
19	Mike Seals	43	M	VA	10:08	50k
20	Christine Compton	41	F	MD	10:13	50k
21	Scott Lee	53	M	VA	10:19	50k
22	Emily Armstrong	54	F	VA	10:34	50k
22	Konrad Hercher	18	M	PA	10:34	50k
24	Christine Starr	46	F	FL	10:52	50k
24	Jamie Starr	51	M	FL	10:52	50k
26	Darla Royal	64	F	MD	11:09	50k
27	Jonathan Barnes	51	M	PA	11:20	50k
28	Mona Dexter	51	F	DC	11:26	50k
29	Angie Cato	48	F	NC	11:44	50k
29	Morgan Neuburger	34	F	PA	11:44	50k
Nope	Mitch Hawbaker	65	M	PA	3:59	1 loop
Nope	John Hord	56	M	MD	4:07	1 loop
Nope	Lou Brooks	53	M	VA	4:33	1 loop
Nope	Lisa Sidel	55	F	MD	4:46	1 loop
Nope	Jaret Seiberg	54	M	MD	4:46	1 loop
Nope	Jeffrey Klemm	73	M	PA	4:48	1 loop
Nope	Kathleen Cusick	49	F	FL	11:39	DNF (Missed a turn/38 miles)
Nope	Magda Rolfes	45	F	VA	8:54	DNF (Missed a turn)
Nope	Christina Wendel	33	F	MD	10:08	DNF (cut off at 28.3 miles)
Nope	Scott Lemmon	54	M	PA	10:56	DNF (cut off at 28.3 miles)

Volunteers

VOLUNTEERS
Karl Burrus
Scott Cadle
Jim Daniels
Jayme Dubinsky
Stephanie Fonda
Jesse Fuller
Cherry Grassi
Allison Holke
Charlene Howard
Jon Jester
Phil Locke
Brett Martin
Sheila Martin
Jen Page
Chelsea Smith, Eli, Adi
Alisa Springman
Laura Turbe

Last updated June 3, 2024