45th Annual Gary Brown Memorial C&O Canal Five Mile Run
- Date
- June 6, 2026
- Distance
- Gary Brown Memorial 5 Mile Run · Gary Brown Memorial 5 Mile Run- STUDENT
From the Organizer
*NEW DATE in 2026! Run with us on JUNE 6th!
The 45th 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
In the 1960's, Gary Brown was a star distance runner for Martinsburg High School, Shepherd College and the Cumberland Valley Athletic Club.
Gary went into high school teaching and coaching after graduating from Shepherd College. He developed one of the nation’s top distance programs. 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.
Sadly, Gary passed way from cancer in the winter of 1981-82, prior to his 35th birthday.
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.
Mike Spinnler GBM 5-Mile Director 1996-2023
GBM 5-Mile Winner 1985
Included with the price of your 5 miler registration:
• Well Organized and Professional Event
• Race Technical T-Shirt (Must register by July 11th to guarantee shirt and/or size)
• Custom Awards for Podium Winners
• Music
• Bib Chip-Timed with Instant Results provided by Racine Timing
• 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.
Distances & Pricing
Race Location
About This Sport
From Endurance Grid's Founder
Endurance Grid is here to help you understand the sport, decide if it's the right fit, and learn how to prepare. For course distances, logistics, and race-day specifics, always defer to the race organizer's event page.
With running, there's a distance for every fitness level, a community at every start line, and nothing beats the feeling of crossing a finish line you trained for.
Running is an endurance sport that rewards consistency, and showing up every week compounds in ways that will surprise you.
Running
From 5K to marathon, running races are the most accessible entry point into endurance sport. There's a distance for every fitness level and a community at every start line.
Coming Up
More running races in MD
Go Gray in May 2026
The Maryland Half Marathon & 5K
Half Marathon · 5K
BRRC Women's Distance Festival
Crush the Chesapeake 5K
5K
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- What is the 45th Annual Gary Brown Memorial C&O Canal Five Mile Run?
- 45th Annual Gary Brown Memorial C&O Canal Five Mile Run is a running event held in Williamsport, MD. Learn more about the different endurance sports here.
- When and where is the 45th Annual Gary Brown Memorial C&O Canal Five Mile Run?
- Saturday, June 6, 2026 in Williamsport, MD at Riverbottom Park, Williamsport, MD. Check the official event page for exact start times and wave schedules.
- How do I register for the 45th Annual Gary Brown Memorial C&O Canal Five Mile Run?
- Registration is handled through their official registration page. Confirm pricing, distances available, and sign up there.
45th Annual Gary Brown Memorial C&O Canal Five Mile Run
Jun 6, 2026