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The Freedom's Run Marathon Comes to Life to Celebrate History, Community Health, And the Soul of Running through Our Four National Parks - Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park, Antietam National Battlefield, and Potomac Heritage Trail

When: The Freedom's Run Marathon will be held on October 3, 2009

The Freedom's Run Events will allow runners and walkers to explore our land in events ranging from a challenging and scenic marathon connecting National Parks of great consequence-Harpers Ferry, the C&O Canal, and Antietam Battlefield; a half marathon winding through the Antietam story and connecting to the C&O; a 5K and 10K crossing the Potomac on the Rumsey Bridge and coursing the C&O; a kids/family fun run touring historic Shepherdstown. All runners and walkers experience a thrilling finish on the football field of Shepherd University.

Runners and walkers of all abilities will experience a living museum, living history, and witness the results of historic preservation. The soul of generations past and present merge, as we fight to sustain this soul for our future generations.

Discover John Brown's Fort, The Armory of Virginius Island, Murphy Farm, and Packhorse Ford. Turn up the fall leaves on the C&O Canal. Encounter Antietam Battlefield, arguably the most respectfully preserved land in our nation. It was here that 23,000 Americans were killed or wounded in what still is the most costly day in American History.

The pre-Civil War towns of Sharpsburg and Shepherdstown welcome the runners as they head to the finish on the campus of Shepherd University. The terrain will be a mix of rural road, hard pack C&O Canal Trail, and 50 meters of synthetic turf at the Shepherd Football field finish.

The race will benefit "Wild and Wonderful Trails for Every Child"- a local initiative to engage children, teachers, and families in constructing and maintaining edible gardens and fitness trails at local county schools and parks. West Virginia is the number 2 obese state in the nation and we are striving to reverse this trend. We will also benefit Washington's Way West Heritage Area Alliance, the region's drive to establish a National Heritage Area preserving the story of the early settlement here in the 1730s and George Washington's race to the West.

Participants and Families will enjoy a day of post race festivities in Shepherdstown. Fall leaves will be at their peak. We are only 60 miles from the Baltimore or Washington Beltways and have many partner hotels for special rates for the weekend.

On-line Registration is now open. For more information contact Mark Cucuzzella