After Two Days of Running Day and Night, Runners Complete 150-Mile Relay GAP Relay Presented by UPMC Health Plan
Thirty-eight relay teams comprised of more than 200 runners from 12 states completed the epic two-day, non-stop relay adventure that started in Cumberland, Md. and finished in Pittsburgh
PITTSBURGH – This past weekend 200 participants, part of 38 relay teams, tested their grit and ran the entire 150-mile Great Allegheny Passage in the fifth annual GAP Relay presented by UPMC Health Plan. Proceeds from the race once again benefitted the Great Allegheny Passage Conservancy and will help with ongoing maintenance and promotion of the Great Allegheny Passage.
Teams of four to eight participants began their adventure in Cumberland, Md. on Friday, Oct. 14, starting their journey at 3:00 p.m. or 4:00 p.m. and continued to run the Great Allegheny Passage for 15-29 hours. This year the teams had perfect fall temperatures for their entire journey and enjoyed running the scenic trail during peak fall foliage season. After running through the night, the teams crossed the finish line in Pittsburgh’s Southside Riverfront Park on Saturday, Oct. 15 between 7:30 a.m. and 7:45 p.m. A 40-mile, one-day option also was offered that started in Whitsett early Saturday morning.
The Philosopher Kings of Pitt, a team of post-collegiate runners, set a new event record, crossing the finish line with a time of 14 hours, 54 minutes. The Cutters were the second-place overall team, completing the challenge in 16 hours, 43 minutes, and team FedEx Ground Moon Racers were third, finishing in 19 hours, 45 minutes.
P3R once again partnered with the Pennsylvania Environmental Council (PEC) to offset the carbon footprint at this year’s GAP Relay presented by UPMC Health Plan, making the event one of the greenest running events in the nation. PEC also supplied each participant with a tree sapling at the end of the race.
“Giving back to the trail and the local communities along the GAP is so important to all of us working on this race,” said Troy Schooley, P3R CEO. “We wanted to make sure that we left the trail and its surroundings in even better condition than we found them. We are proud that we’ve been able to raise more than $100,000 for the Great Allegheny Passage Conservancy since we started this event in 2018.”
Click here to view and download photo highlights and visit www.gaptrailrelay.org for more information about the GAP Relay.