GRTM Training Mileage Challenge
May 17 - June 30
Saturday, October 4 at 8:00 AM
Register at
A one of a kind race, in the State of West Virginia: A point-to-point full marathon (26.2 miles) on a flat/slightly downhill (1% grade) course and the inaugural half-marathon (13.1 miles - out-and-back course) on the scenic Greenbrier River Trail (GRT) in Pocahontas County, WV.
The Marathon starts in Cass Scenic Railroad State Park and runs south on the trail, finishing at Stillwell Park, in Marlinton, WV. USATF-certified Course! Whereas, the Half Marathon (not-certified) will start and finish at Stillwell Park in Marlinton.
Full Marathon: 26.2 mile course, on the Greenbrier River Trail in Pocahontas County, WV. The trail follows the Greenbrier River south on the old railway bed with a 1% downhill average grade throughout. The surface is packed gravel with a number of flat, wooden bridge crossings and then pavement for the last (+/-) two miles of the course.
Half Marathon: 13.1 mile course, out-and-back from Stillwell Park. The course turns right out of Stillwell Park, heading south on the Greenbrier River Trail towards Watoga State Park and back. The half marathon course only overlaps with the marathon in the last (approx.) 1/2 mile, finishing in the same location.
Full Marathon Race start is 8:00 AM - at the sound of the Train Whistle!
Half Marathon Race start is at 9:45 AM.
*We recommend that all runners park at the finish (Stillwell Park / Marlinton, WV) and ride the provided shuttles to the start in Cass.
Registration Rates:
Jan. 1 – Feb. 15 - $55.00 (full) / $35.00 (half);
Feb. 16 – Mar. 31st - $65.00 (full) / $45.00 (half);
Apr 1 – July 31st - $75.00 (full) / $55.00 (half);
Aug. 1 – Oct. 4th - $80.00 (full) / $60.00 (half)
RESCHEDULED
October 1-4, 2020
Register at
The Greenbrier River Trail Bike Trek is a 3-day, 66-mile cycling event. Join 100+ riders and volunteers on this picturesque, riverside trail and share in the camaraderie as we raise funds and awareness for lung health in the Mountain State.
This is the 33rd year of the American Lung Association's Greenbrier River Trail Bike Trek! Join the event for a weekend ride on the Greenbrier River Trail through Anthony, Cass, and Marlinton. Cyclists with varying levels of experience are invited. All meals, lodging and transportation included, as well as sag service, medics and mechanics.
The event is fee-based and registration information is online at www.lung.org, search for upcoming events: Greenbrier River Trail Bike Trek or contact Charles Johnson, event coordinator at 304-348-2420 or email cmjohnson@fbtlaw.com.
Discover What’s Great About the Greenbrier River Trail!
Carolyn Komer, a regular cyclist on the Greenbrier River Trail, said community members in Greenbrier County love the Greenbrier River Trail....
The Greenbrier River Trail is a 78-mile former railroad now used for hiking, biking and horseback riding. It is the longest trail of its kind in West Virginia. The trail provides many breath taking views as it passes through several small towns, crosses 35 bridges, goes through two tunnels and cuts through some of West Virginia’s most remote areas.
The Greenbrier River Trail is one of 50 Millennium Legacy Trails in the United States, and was rated one of the top 10 hiking trails in the country by Backpacker Magazine. Cell phones work most places on the trail except for the upper reaches near the National Radio astronomy Observatory
Get in touch US at GRTA78miles@gmail.com
Shuttle Services and Bike Rentals
Appalachian Sports 304-799-4050
Free Spirit Adventures 304-536-0333
http://www.freespiritadventures.com
Elk River Touring Center 304-572-3771
Outdoor Adventures 1-888-752-9982
http://wvoutdooradventures.com
Biking Information
The race is held the last Saturday in April each year along the Greenbrier River Trail State Park. With great prizes, live music and good food,the event attracts a loyal following of racers and fans. Originally a team event with four members, canoeists, bicyclist and runner, the race has now attracted many people who do it solo. But there is still room for the whole family or the family dog on a team! Kayaks and canoes are both encouraged and the many categories encourage prizes for many racers.
Proceeds from entry fees and our generous sponsors allow the trail association to sponsor various projects to improve and promote the trail.
You start in Marlinton, WV run to the trail and take it north to the turn around point then right back into town, to make 3 miles, then you jump in your boat and paddle down the river to the blue bridge in Buckeye, which is about 4 miles of paddling, then you run over to your bike and ride south down the trail for a bit and turn around to head north past where you started and all the way back up to Marlinton making a 10 mile bike ride and the end of the race! Teamwork is encouraged, but if you want to do it solo, you certainly can!
This is a 26.2 mile course, on the Greenbrier River Trail in Pocahontas County, WV. The trail follows the Greenbrier River south on the old railway bed with a 1% downhill average grade throughout. The surface is packed gravel with a number of flat, wooden bridge crossings and then pavement for the last (+/-) two miles of the course.
Course Highlights:
- Starting at Cass Scenic Railroad State Park (242 Main Street, Cass, WV 24927) - https://wvstateparks.com/park/cass-scenic-railroad-state-park/ - the course will head south on the trail.
- The trail will provide many scenic views of the Greenbrier River and surrounding hills. During the race the fall colors should be out in full force.
- There will be mile markers and volunteer aid stations providing hydration.
- At mile 15 the course will pass through the old Sharp's Tunnel before crossing the highest wooden bridge on the course. There will be some lighting provided in the tunnel.
- The finish line will be at Stillwell Park, just South of Marlinton, WV.
1 pm, Thursday, September 19, 2019
Location: Renick Community park pavilion located between the Greenbrier River and the Greenbrier River Trail in beautiful Renick, West Virginia.
Check back for more details at a later date!
Chair
Maggie Hutchison is a native West Virginian. She has owned a home on the River since 1989 and in retirement it became her permanent residence. She returned to the state full time in 2013 after a successful career with the Naval Air Systems Command and subsequent consulting work. She has applied her organizational and strategic planning skills in her leadership position with GRTA. She loves WV and Greenbrier County and like fellow Board Members is inspired to preserve and share the beauty of the River and the Trail. As the current Chair of the Board, she is focused on insuring the Strategic Plan developed by the Board is executed. Public service has always been important to her as demonstrated by her Federal service and subsequent volunteer work after the 2016 Flood to include extensive disaster recovery efforts as Executive Director of Homes for White Sulphur Springs (Hope Village). Her tenure on the Board also began one month after the Flood.
Vice President
Treasurer
Secretary
Board Member
In 2000, Helen moved to Greenbrier County from Washington DC. The Trail quickly became a treasured place for her. In 2017, she joined the GRTA Board because she wanted to participate in a more active way. With fellow Board members, Harless helps raise funds to repair the Trail and replace facilities. Her former career as a professional fundraiser for nonprofits has continued on a volunteer basis. She has served on the Board of the Greenbrier County Public Library during the campaign to build the new library. In addition, Harless has served on the Boards of Greenbrier Valley Master Gardeners and the Shepherd's Center.As she walks the Trail, Harless counts herself lucky to have this priceless resource. Together, we will protect the Trail for everyone's benefit.
Nancy is a retired vocational rehabilitation counselor who worked for the WV Div. of Rehabilitation Services for more than 30 years. Grateful for the joy, the good health, and the friendships that bicycling the Trail has provided over the years, she lucked into an opportunity to give back to the Trail that has meant so much to her, when superintendent, Jody Spencer, allowed her to clean the bathrooms on the Trail, following the torrential rains in June 2016 that badly damaged the Trail and required the full attention of the maintenance crew. Around that same time, she joined the Board of GRTA, which has provided additional opportunities to volunteer on the Trail and to involve others who love the trail and want to give back. Trail maintenance and improvements through volunteer efforts are her primary focus.
Board Member
Tim Helmick is a native West Virginian, who was privileged to grow up in Pocahontas County. He is married and the father of three grown children. Tim is a self-employed real estate appraiser in the Greenbrier Valley, and a running enthusiast. He can be seen running on the Greenbrier River Trail 2 – 3 times per week, and has participated in both the Greenbrier River Trail Marathon and the Great Greenbrier River Race. As a GRTA board member since the spring of 2019, he is particularly interested in the maintenance of the trail.
Board Member
Leslee McCarty lives in Lewisburg. She owned and operated The Current Bed and Breakfast at Beard on the river trail for 21 years. After hearing about a race in Oregon from a friend, she and her friends, Gil and Mary Willis and John Walkup, decided we needed such a race on the Greenbrier River and Trail..thus the Great Greenbrier River Race was born after the 1985 flood. The 2020 Covid disaster is the first time the race has had to be cancelled! Leslee is a ninth generation West Virginian and holds a Masters of Social Work from WVU. The trail and the Association have been a part of her life for over thirty years, and she is proud to welcome so many great board members to the team working to promote and improve the GRT!
Board Member
Dr. Liz Prichard joined the GRTA Board in Fall 2019. She comes to the Board with a Doctorate in Public Administration and Public Policy from Virginia Tech. Her doctoral research focused on sustainable community development in boom and bust economies. She holds a Masters in Public Administration from West Virginia University. Prichard spent several years in Washington DC as a development associate for a nonpartisan policy think tank. Her tenure in nonprofit development informs her volunteer position with GRTA where she works to build institution and foster institutional relationships toward collaborative and inclusive Trail projects. She enjoys family, music, and travel.
Board Member
Mary moved to Pocahontas County, WV in 1983 to join her soon to be husband Gil in a partnership immersed in the outdoor beauty of the region. Together they have operated Elk River Touring Center, Inn and restaurant in Slatyfork in some form for over 37 years.They discovered the Greenbrier River Trail and provided bike rentals and shuttles to the new state trail. Mary and Gil were founding members of the Greenbrier River Trail Association, a citizens group created to support the trail.
After the flood of 1985, in an effort to cast a light on the importance of the trail, the Association hosted the 'Great Greenbrier River Race' in April of 1986. Mary and a team from the Association and other trail users established a successful event which is now an annual event and a major fundraiser for ongoing maintenance projects on the trail.
Your suggestions matter. That's why we want to hear your thoughts on how the trail is being run. Feel free to reach out to us so that we can make sure that you have the best experience possible!
