Riverbottom Park, Williamsport MD
Saturday, August 16th, 2025
🏃♂️ 44th Annual Gary Brown Memorial C&O Canal Five Mile Run
The 44th Annual Gary Brown Memorial C&O Canal Five Mile Run event will be held on the C&O Canal Towpath in Williamsport, MD. This event is geared towards all levels from beginners to advanced runners.
🕊️ The Legacy of Gary Brown
- Star Athlete: In the 1960's, Gary Brown was a star distance runner for Martinsburg High School, Shepherd College and the Cumberland Valley Athletic Club.
- Coaching Excellence: Gary went into high school teaching and coaching after graduating from Shepherd College. He developed one of the nation’s top distance programs.
- Historic Achievement: In the mid-1970's his Handley High School Boys Cross Country Team was the number one ranked High School Cross Country Team in the United States.
- Legacy Endures: Sadly, Gary passed away from cancer in the winter of 1981-82, prior to his 35th birthday.
🏅 Race History
The C&O Canal Five Mile Run —which dates back to 1970– was re-named in Gary’s honor in 1982. Gary’s high school runners would use the late-August-held C&O Canal Five Mile Run as an “End-of-Summer-Training Fitness Test.” His teenage boys would routinely take six-to-eight of the top-ten places —running against collegiate and post-collegiate standouts.
🎖️ Included with Your Registration
- Event Quality: Well Organized and Professional Event
- Race Shirt: Race Technical T-Shirt (Must register by July 4th to guarantee shirt and/or size)
- Awards: Custom Awards for Podium Winners
- Entertainment: Music
- Timing: Bib Chip-Timed with Instant Results
- Satisfaction: Satisfaction of Finishing a Race!
🚗 Parking for Race Participants
All participants will be required to park either in the Cushwa Basin parking lot, the lock house 44 parking lot, legal street parking on N Commerce St or W Salisbury St. We ask that, unless you arrive before 7:00 am, you not drive across the wooden bridge looking for a place to park on race morning.
🔗 For More Information
Visit the official race page: Gary Brown Memorial Run.
Starting Line Map
Coaching
Race Strong, Smart & Healthy with Online or In-Person Coaching!
Suggested Races
