Run for the Elk

E. 3rd and Chestnut St., Emporium, PA / West Creek Industrial Trail

Emporium PA, the land of great elks grazing on meadows and throughout the forest. This will make a surefire summer running weekend getaway. Emporium is the ”Elk Capital of Pennsylvania” and is located in the heart of the state’s wild elk herd, now numbering almost 1,000 majestic animals. We have all distances to make sure you are having fun and challenged at the same time! 

Fast-Finishes.com is known for fun, well organized events with incredible SWAG and event food. For additional information, email race director: Mark Hughes. We are always happy to answer any questions you have about our races. Our goal is for you to have the very best possible race day experience. For additional information and race updates please check our website: fast-finishes.com.

• The Full Marathon will be a certified Boston Marathon Qualifier
• Certified number PA22019NP
• The course is in the process of certification and we guarantee that it will be certified.
• Here's a link to the course map.

We are proud to announce that we have a non-binary registration option that has their own awards categories: overall and age groups.


All first time half marathon and marathon finishers will receive a plaque that commemorates their first half or full marathon finish. The athletes will also receive their finisher’s medal. Find Mark at the end of the race and let him know you ran your first marathon or half.

• NEW for 2024! If you register for any Sunday, July 28th Run for the Elk event — you can use promo code: Conquer-Day2 to receive a discount for Saturday, July 27th, Conquer the Canyon event! Once you pay full price for Run for the Elk, use the promo code to register again and add a Saturday, Conquer the Canyon event. Two events in two days with a discount, what a race weekend! 
• CODE: Conquer-Day2

• In addition, if you race both days (Conquer and Elk), you'll receive an I Did The Double t-shirt. It doesn't matter which events you do, you'll receive the shirt if you race both days!

We are proud to announce that we have a non-binary registration option that has their own awards categories: overall and age groups.

All first time half marathon and marathon finishers will receive a plaque that commemorates their first half or full marathon finish.  The athlete will also receive their finisher’s medal. Find Mark at the end of the race and let him know you ran your first marathon or half.

AWARDS

Top 1 — Male & Female and nonbinary

Age Groups — Marathon, Half Marathon and 10k, 5k and Combo platter. Top three in each age group.

• Top three male and female and non binary in each age group
  19 under
  20-29
  30-39
  40-49
  50-59
  60-69
  70-79
  80 over
• There will not be a formal awards ceremony. Results will be live and you can pick up your award as soon as you finish.
• It is the responsibility of the runner to check their results (the link will be emailed as well as posted in RunSignUp and then go to the award table to pick up their award from the staff member on race day.
• There are event medals for each finisher. Please remember to grab your medal from the table if there is not a person handing them out. This will be at the finish line.
• Unfortunately, we can not mail awards. 

All pickups will be near the Start/Finish area.
7 Sheridan Street, Ohiopyle PA 15470

Saturday: Pickup will be near the Start/Finish Line Day of the event starting at 6:00 AM to race start.

Bib pickup will be on the trail

West Creek Rail Trail Chestnut St and East 3rd st Emporium, PA US 15834

PRE-RACE Packet Pickup

• You can pickup your bib and shirt between 4 and 6 pm on Friday at the event start/finish area.
• Don't worry if you're a bit early or arrive at 6:05 pm. We'll be there.
• It isn't mandatory to pickup your bib early. You'll have plenty of time on race morning starting at 0630 am.

This race is Boston Marathon qualified.
Certification number: PA22019NP and link to certification.

The marathon is two loops of the half marathon course. Click/tap here for link to mapmyrun.

The 5K goes out 1.55 miles from the start and turns around to go back to the finish line.

The 10K goes out 3.1 miles from the start and turns around to go back to the finish line.

The course is 100% hard packed trail. You don't need trail running shoes. Your regular racing shoes are fine. The trail is evenly topped with crushed limestone. Online, it says, "It is relatively smooth and easy to pedal, run, or hike." I've ridden my bike on it the last 2 years to set up the course and it was a smooth ride. When walking on various parts of the course, I didn't find any loose pebbles getting caught in my shoes.

There will be aid stations with water and Gatorade about every two miles. 

Courses

• All events are out and back loops.
• The 5k and 10k events are on the share the half and marathon road but make a left to avoid a race of just climbing a hill and coming back.
• https://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/5071711882/
• The turnaround for each event will be marked with an orange cone, a BIG sign saying TURNAROUND and pick fluorescent tape.
• The 5k turnaround is at mile 1.55, the 10k turnaround is at mile 3.1, and the half marathon turnaround is at mile 6.55.

Fast-finishes is proud to support as many charitable causes as part of our mission to help improve people's lives in any way possible. Our charitable donations strategy is to work closely with the permit agencies (municipal, state or private party) and ask them what organizations need financial support for their non-profit activities. A core part of our business mission is to try and help make the world a better place for all people.

We have donated to numerous organizations, including local fire departments, townships, conservation organizations, human relief organizations and most importantly, to organizations that help children in need. After we make sure that our commitments to local organizations are met or exceeded, our favorite national organization is Turnaround Arts. Turnaround Arts works to ensure that every child in America has access to an education rich in the arts. We are happy to contribute as much as possible to Turnaround Arts.

We are happy to partner with the Ohiopyle-Stewart Volunteer Fire Department for this race. 

Race Start Times

Key item: you may start early for any event. Just see me at the start line to get you started.

• The half marathon starts at 7:30am, the 5k at 7:45 and the 10k at 8:45.
• You can start the half or full marathon as early as 6:00am.
• Just see me at the start line if you'd like to start early for the half.
• The Combo Platter athletes will start with the regular 5k and 10k. 
  • Please wear different bib numbers for the 5k and 10k.
• The 5k, 10k and Combo Platter runners can also start early if they’d like. 
  • For Combo Platter Runners, you can start both races early as well

Race Morning / Early Starts

• You can check in as early as 5:30 am.
• If you'd like to start as early as 6 am for the half, you will be able to get your bib.
• You can pickup your shirt and socks and bib on either Friday at packet pickup or Saturday race day starting at 6am.
• The start/finish/registration area is located in Emporium on the corner of Chestnut St and E 3rd St, on the trail.

Awards and Results

• Please check your results and possibly winning an award before you leave. I prefer not to mail awards to you.
• There will be live results posted. I’ll send you the link during race week.
• Your results will be available online within seconds after you finish.
• You can check on your phone. We'll also print and post results near the awards table.
• Your results will have your age group placement.
• Top three in each category gets an award! There won't be a formal awards ceremony. Just find your result and get an award if you place!
• Other timing statement: please stay away from the start/finish area timing mats until it is time for you to start. 
  • We can fix any timing concern and if you get near the mat prior to your race start, don't worry... but if you can, just stay about 20 feet away from the mats. Thank you!
• There will be early starts for the half and marathon starting at 6:00 am. 
  • If you'd like to start anytime before the scheduled event start, please see me at the start/finish area and we'll get you started.

LIVE Results

There are live results, and the permanent results link here: to be updated for the next race.

• There will be LIVE updates posted as soon as you finish your event.
• The LIVE results link will be posted during race week and sent to all athletes.
• You'll see your results on your phone immediately after you finish.
• I also plan to have marathon first loop split times available at the link.
• This does depend on cell coverage. We had it last year.
• If we can't connect online, we'll print results and continue to print to keep up with finishers.

Post Race 

• There will be post race pizza and dessert at the finish area, as well as your medals and awards.
• All first time half marathon and marathon finishers will receive a plaque commemorating their achievement here also.
• All 5k/10k Combo Platter runners will receive a plaque as well.
• There will be pizza and salad prepared by Fox’s Pizza in Emporium.  

Portapotties

• There will be plenty of portapotties in the race start/finish area.
• I have contracted for one portapotty to be placed near the four mile point of the event as well.

Finisher's Medal

• Get your finisher's medal in the finish chute as soon as you finish.

Aid Stations

• There will be aid stations every two miles, stocked with water and Gatorade.
• Please respect the trail and deposit cups or bottles in the garbage bags near the aid stations.
• We’ll also have an unmanned aid station with bottled water due to not being able to get vehicles everywhere on the course during the race.
• Since such of the trail isn’t near an entry/exit point, we will have bottles of water at the side of the trail in addition to the aid stations.
• It may be very hot, so please hydrate!
• For the 5k and 10k races, since the turnaround is before the first aid station, there will be water available.
• The 10k will be two loops of the 5k course, with a turnaround near the start/finish area.

All of our events feature a 10% discount on race entry for all service members and their family. Look for the discount code when you register.

Entry fees will include a beautiful Medal and Lanyard and running socks plus:

5K - t-shirt
10K - t-shirt
Half - t-shirt
Marathon - t-shirt
Combo - t-shirt

Additional T-shirt can be ordered for: $10.00.


• You will find parking in the lot next to the Visitor's Center. 
• There is NO parking at the start/finish line.
• Parking is available all around the start/finish area.

Results are posted here.

2023 https://my.raceresult.com/254389/results

2022 https://my.raceresult.com/212479/

Fast Finishes is known for high-end, well-designed SWAG at our events. Every entry fee includes the race and our awesome swag and post-race food.

• T-shirt
• Finisher's medal
• Ankle running socks

We do everything we can to make sure your shirt size and medal and socks are available. Sometimes items may not be available at your event. Please talk with our registration people after the race or see Mark if you have not received your SWAG! We will address and resolve your concerns to your satisfaction.

Our commitment to you is that we will make good on getting any item that you expect and deserve.