There is something for everyone in Mountain Maryland Marathon Festival.

What is the best reason to try out a new race?

There are many answers, but more than 59 percent of voters on the Mountain Maryland Marathon Club Web site over the past month have indicated a desire to race in a new location or running in a new vacation spot.

Thus, the inaugural Mountain Maryland Marathon presented by Life Fitness Management offers both of those opportunities - and more - as soon as April 19, 2009 rolls around. Runners of all ages and abilities can choose the event that best suits their talents, be it the 26.2-mile marathon, the half marathon, the 5K for the United Way, the Kids Marathon or the 400-meter fun run.

All events are to start and finish in downtown Cumberland near the Canal Place Heritage Area overlooking the Potomac River. While the 5K (3.1-mile) run promotes the County United Way of the Potomac Highlands - which serves Allegany and Garrett counties in Maryland and Mineral and Hampshire counties in West Virginia - proceeds from each of the day's events benefit the local United Way. The 5K is unique, however, in that 100 percent of each participant's entry fee goes directly to the United Way.

The marathon travels from Cumberland up The National Road to Frostburg - literally up, as runners will be challenged by an elevation increase of nearly 1,900 feet - before entering the limits of the Mountain City. After about 2 miles - and about 11 miles total - runners will head onto the Great Allegheny Passage for the 15-mile journey back to Cumberland. It is an easier return to the Queen City as the trail boasts an average 3 percent downhill grade on crushed limestone the entire way.

At a stakeholders' announcement at Life Fitness Management wellness facility in LaVale on October 30, Dave Williams, of the Allegany County Tourism Department, said the event would help expand the local tourism season by up to two weeks.

The event, he said, capitalizes on Allegany County's participatory climate. Mountain Maryland "is not a place people go to watch things, it's a place where people go to do things," Williams said.

Williams said the event could not happen without contributions from each of those in attendance, which included state Senator George Edwards and representatives of Allegany County, Allegany College of Maryland, County United Way and the Mountain Amateur Radio Club, among others. Volunteers and sponsors are currently being sought by event organizers.

Entry forms and more information can be obtained online at www.mountainMDmarathon.org, by E-mail or by calling (240) 522-0276.