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

Results

PlaceNameAgeSexStateResultsDistance
1Chris Pabian48MPA7:0250k
2Matt Burke36MMD7:1150k
3Chad Cato51MNC7:3350k
4Joe Schramka55MDC7:3750k
5Ian Foster47MVA7:4550k
6Jason Hinerman45MWV7:5250k
7Kate Fletcher49FVA7:5850k
8Justin Faul44MVA8:0450k
9Robert Nixon23MVA8:0550k
10Jane Bruno26MMD8:3250k
11Casey Fisher41MMD8:4050k
12Jonathan Gonzalez38MDC9:1750k
13Ryan Schenning32MMD9:2050k
14Jamie Greenawalt56FPA9:3050k
15Claudia Guerrero Barrera43FVA9:4250k
16David Weigert58MMD9:5750k
17Erin Truitt41FVA9:5950k
18Edward Leno57MVA10:0750k
19Mike Seals43MVA10:0850k
20Christine Compton41FMD10:1350k
21Scott Lee53MVA10:1950k
22Emily Armstrong54FVA10:3450k
22Konrad Hercher18MPA10:3450k
24Christine Starr46FFL10:5250k
24Jamie Starr51MFL10:5250k
26Darla Royal64FMD11:0950k
27Jonathan Barnes51MPA11:2050k
28Mona Dexter51FDC11:2650k
29Angie Cato48FNC11:4450k
29Morgan Neuburger34FPA11:4450k
NopeMitch Hawbaker65MPA3:591 loop
NopeJohn Hord56MMD4:071 loop
NopeLou Brooks53MVA4:331 loop
NopeLisa Sidel55FMD4:461 loop
NopeJaret Seiberg54MMD4:461 loop
NopeJeffrey Klemm73MPA4:481 loop
NopeKathleen Cusick49FFL11:39DNF (Missed a turn/38 miles)
NopeMagda Rolfes45FVA8:54DNF (Missed a turn)
NopeChristina Wendel33FMD10:08DNF (cut off at 28.3 miles)
NopeScott Lemmon54MPA10:56DNF (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