Buzz Sawyer Western Maryland Marathon
The Buzz Sawyer Western Maryland Half Marathon offers a fast, flat course on a scenic rail trail.
Race Date
Oct 18, 2026
Location
Hancock, MD
Quick facts
- Date
- Sunday, October 18, 2026
- Location
- Hancock, Maryland
- Distance
- Half marathon (13.1 mi) + 26.2 Miles, 6.2 Miles
- Course
- Loop Course
- Terrain
- Road
- USATF certified
- Yes
- Finishers on record
- 63
Highlights
Good For
Atmosphere
Course
The Experience
The Buzz Sawyer Western Maryland Half Marathon, now in its 11th edition, honors local running legend Buzz Sawyer. This event unfolds entirely on the Western Maryland Rail Trail, a path renowned for its historical C&O Canal scenery and trail-town charm in Hancock, MD.
The course is USATF Certified and designed for speed, with a flat profile and no net elevation change, making it a prime candidate for personal bests and a potential Boston Qualifier. Runners will experience the beauty of Western Maryland as they traverse this well-maintained rail trail.
With a typical field size of around 126 finishers, the race offers a more intimate experience. While recent data shows a low repeat-runner rate, the event draws participants from approximately 7 states, highlighting its appeal as a destination for those seeking a fast, scenic race in a historic setting.
Race-provided description
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.
Logistics
Race Day
Sunday, October 18, 2026
Start Time
8:00 AM
Giveaway
T-Shirt
Start Location
9 S Pennsylvania Avenue, Hancock, MD, 21750
Course Info
USATF CertifiedCourse Type
Loop Course
Terrain
road
Scenery
Lake River, Rural
Surface
Paved
Difficulty
Ultra-Flat
Net Drop/km
0 m (Flat)
Separation
0.0%
Also Offers
USATF Certified Course
MD17005NP · Western Maryland Rail Trail Half-Marathon
Relatively flat with minimal net elevation change. Loop course — start and finish are close together.
Quality Score
Solid Pick461 year running
~126 finishers a year
growing or steady
0% returning runners
USATF certified · 6 timing sources · 8 photos
runners from 7 states
winner 1:17:25
typical high 65°F
Race Day Weather
5-year historical avgStart (Low)
44°
Afternoon (High)
65°
Pleasant conditions — light layers at start, comfortable by finish
0.1"
Precipitation
10 mph
Wind
65%
Humidity
Historical Finish Times
How 63 finishers actually crossed the line across 1 year.
Most recent
2025
Total finishers
63
Median time
2:08:16
Latest turnout
63
States
7
Hover the histogram to inspect specific finish times.
Race Photos
Frequently asked
When is the Buzz Sawyer Western Maryland Marathon?
The Buzz Sawyer Western Maryland Marathon is held on Sunday, October 18, 2026, starting at 8:00 AM.
Where does the Buzz Sawyer Western Maryland Marathon take place?
It takes place in Hancock, Maryland.
What distances does the Buzz Sawyer Western Maryland Marathon offer?
The half marathon (13.1 miles), plus 26.2 Miles, 6.2 Miles.
Is the Buzz Sawyer Western Maryland Marathon course flat and good for a PR?
The Buzz Sawyer Western Maryland Marathon is a ultra-flat, loop course course. The course is USATF-certified, so finish times can be used for qualifying.
How many people run the Buzz Sawyer Western Maryland Marathon?
HalfRuns has finish records for 63 runners who have completed the Buzz Sawyer Western Maryland Marathon.
HalfRuns editorial — independent, no paid placement.
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