3 running, cycling, fun run, and other events in Cumberland, Maryland

Howard's Run Festival is a charity race to benefit the Allegany County Animal Shelter. Starting in 2015, the event has raised over $40,000 for Maryland's first municipal no-kill shelter. The event is managed by Sharon Everett and Ray Hunt. The festival consists of two events held the 1st Sunday in September, an out and back half marathon starting and finishing at the Canal Place stage. The second event, an out and back 5K event, also starts and finishing at the Canal Place stage area and starts shortly after the half marathon.

In the spirit of historic advances and competition between ever-evolving modes of transportation, the 3M Challenge (Muscle vs. Machine vs. Mountain) will be held on September 26, 2026. It will feature a timed challenge between two of Mountain Maryland's oldest mechanized modes of transportation, the WMSR 1309 Steam locomotive, the largest operating steam locomotive of its type in the world, and the legs of cyclists. The event will highlight the Great Allegheny Passage (GAP), Western Maryland Scenic Railroad (WMSR), the towns of Cumberland, MD, and Frostburg, MD, the scenic beauty of Allegany County, and the healthy outdoor lifestyle.

The Route

The Great Allegheny Passage between Cumberland and Frostburg is the only location in the country with 15.6 miles of side-by-side bike trails and scenic trains. The 3M Challenge will be a timed ride from the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad (WMSR) Station in Cumberland, MD, to the western end of the train platform at the Frostburg, MD, Depot.

• Individuals and teams (up to 6 riders) will depart Cumberland every 5 minutes, beginning as early as 9:00 AM, from the water spout on the Scenic Railway train platform at the train station at Canal Place.

The route is on Ride with GPS. https://ridewithgps.com/routes/38734043

• Ebikes - are NOT included in this event

Rider Information

• A team can have 2 to 6 riders. In the spirit of historic advances and competition between ever-evolving modes of transportation, the 3M Challenge (Muscle vs. Machine vs. Mountain) will take place on September 26, 2026.

• All competitive challenger bicycles must be 100% human (rider) powered. There are no "e-bikes" in the competitive "Individual Rider" and "Team" categories.

• Each team must donate a minimum of $250 to MMT. The donation per individual rider is $60.

About the Challenge

The challenge is to have a better climb time than the WMSR 1309 Steam Engine. Over 40 % of the riders beat the train in 2025

Individuals who beat the locomotive's climb time will receive recognition.

All participants will receive a participation Great Allegheny Passage 3M Race Shirt. Please ensure that you fill out the form to specify your shirt size requirements. We will try accommodating all who enter, but shirt availability is not guaranteed.

Purpose of the Event

Mountain Maryland Trails is a volunteer organization that collaborates with the Allegany County Government, the Great Allegheny Passage Conservancy, partner organizations, and community volunteers to manage the Maryland section of the Great Allegheny Passage trail. The efforts of the board and volunteers focus on maintaining a network of trails that promotes wellness, sustainable economic development, environmental stewardship, and connection to cultural heritage.

For over 30 years, the organization has played a vital role in developing the Great Allegheny Passage trail and implementing various trail improvement and safety projects, including the recently completed Borden Tunnel Lighting Project. What began as a project to reclaim a defunct rail line between Cumberland, MD, and Pittsburgh, PA, has evolved into a trail that welcomes 1.5 million visitors annually, generates approximately $800,000 in economic impact per mile of trail each year, and supports 1,393 jobs with a total labor income of $52.6 million.

Furthermore, the event promotes the Great Allegheny Passage Trail, which attracts tourists from around the world while also being a beloved spot for the local community.

The Allegany County FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes) has hosted the Narrow Way race annually since 2019 to generate scholarship funding to send more students to local and regional FCA camps. Students that attend these camps often have life changing experiences. The race include 10K, 5K, and 1K fun run/ walk options. We are looking for competitive runners as well as casual runners/walkers for our 1K. All ages are welcome and encouraged!

NEW in 2025: Teams! Create and/or join a team for your school, workplace, or church. Team photos will be taken for the Allegany Website. A full year of bragging rights await! A minimum of 3 team members are required to finish the race to obtain a team result, which will be based on the top 3 runners of each team.

The race's name (Narrow Way) has dual meaning. The race course follows the GAP (Great Allegheny Passage) Trail through a steep sided valley west of Cumberland called 'The Narrows'. Narrow Way also references the path to eternal life, "You can enter God's Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it" (Matthew 7:13-14 NLT).

The start/finish will still be in front of the stage in the Canal Place Festival Grounds. Canal Place is a charming public space, speckled with small businesses and restaurants located at the intersection of two celebrated trails, the C&O Canal Towpath and the Great Allegheny Passage (GAP). The C&O canal towpath extends 184.5 miles to Washington DC, winding alongside the Potomac River for much of its length. The Visitor Center for the C&O Canal National Park is also located at Canal Place (https://www.nps.gov/choh/index.htm). The GAP Trail follows the former path of the Western Maryland Railroad and a branch of the Pittsburgh & Lake Erie Railroad 148 miles to Pittsburgh, PA. The Western Maryland Scenic Railroad (https://wmsr.com/) still shares the GAP corridor between Cumberland and Frostburg (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qaOAiQ-WRd0). Most of the GAP is crushed stone. However, the GAP is paved between Cumberland and the trestle bridge west of the Narrows (~2.5 miles).

There are two good routes to access Canal Place coming from the East: 1) I68 to Exit 43B (MD51/Industrial Boulevard/Airport). There is parking on the left at the end of the exit ramp under I-68. 2) I68 to Exit 43C (Downtown), turn left of W Harrison St, cross intersection into Canal Place. Public parking is on the right & overflow parking is available is also available on the SW corner of Baltimore St & Mechanic St (one block west of the Canal Place entrance).

The best route to access Canal Place from the West: I68 to Exit 43C (Downtown), turn left on Queen City Drive, turn L at the 1st stoplight on W Harrison St, continue on W Harrison St to Canal Place. Public parking is on the right and overflow parking is available is also available on the SW corner of Baltimore St & Mechanic St (one block west of the Canal Place entrance).

There are many lodging options in Cumberland, including Fairfield Inn & Suites (located adjacent to Canal Place) @ 21 North Wineow Street Cumberland, Maryland 21502 (301-722-0340); Hampton Inn @ 109 Welton Dr, Cumberland, MD 21502 (301-729-4028); Holiday Inn Express & Suites @ 1076 National Hwy, La Vale, MD 21502 (301-729-4800); Comfort Inn & Suites @ 1216 National Hwy, La Vale, MD 21502 (301-729-6400); and Best Western Braddock Inn @1268 National Hwy, La Vale, MD 21502 (301-729-3300).

Other Race Info Media

Here are some video links related to this race,

One of our 2025 marketing videos: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/18uuSG8WGj/

Michigan couple's 2023 review of this Maryland race in their quest to run a 5K in all 50 states: https://youtu.be/xvBLKbdz72A