In photo above, Nick Gramsky, former two-time winner of the race, is seeded number one. He finished runner-up in 48:22.

In photo, Kari Brown was third overall in the 15K last year.

For runners looking for a very fast 15K, Allegany County, Maryland is the place. The 27th running of the Great Allegany Run (GAR) will take place on Saturday, October 4, and with an elevation drop of more than 500 feet, fast times are all but guaranteed in Mountain Maryland.

The GAR is the largest and longest-running running event of the Queen City Striders and is comprised of four different individual events; a 15 kilometer (15K) run, a 5K run, a two- mile fitness walk, and a kid's run. All of the events begin at 8:00 a.m. except the kid's run, which is at the conclusion of the 15K event.

A pre-race pasta dinner and Runners Forum led by JFK 50-Miler director Mike Spinnler is set for the Holiday Inn on Friday evening at 7:30 pm.

The keystone of the GAR is the 15K race that begins in historic Mt. Savage, MD and ends on the Downtown Cumberland Mall. The USATF-certified course has gained a reputation of being a very fast course and traditionally draws some of the best men and women runners in the region. Savings Bonds or cash prizes are awarded to the men's and women's open and masters division winners. Awards will also be presented in 5-year increment age groups, custom-made by Arts-n-Letters, and there will be awards from the Road Runners Club of America as well, as the GAR is the Maryland RRCA State 15K championship.

Anyone wishing to enter the GAR may do by obtaining a registration form on-line at www.qcstriders.org.

All participants receive a T-shirt, a continental breakfast after the run and eligibility for random prize awards after the race. Late registration and race packet pickup will be conducted at the Holiday Inn in downtown Cumberland on Friday evening, October 3, from 5 9:30 p.m. and on Saturday morning, October 4 from 6 7:15 a.m.

You may also e-mail race director Dave Treber or call 301-687-0644, for more information about the Great Allegany Run.

Read last year's Race Report