10K races near Halfway

The Tie Dye Run takes place on a fall morning in Hagerstown, Maryland, starting at 17805 Oak Ridge Drive. Participants can choose from three distances: a 5K run/walk, a 10K run/walk, and a Family Fun Walk/Run. This setup accommodates both competitive runners aiming for a personal best and families seeking a shared activity. The family event begins earlier, with the 5K and 10K starting later in the morning after participants have checked in. The event is in its third year and benefits Compassion International, with all proceeds directed to the charity. Awards are presented to the top male and female finishers in the 5K and 10K, as well as to winners in various age groups, from youth categories up to 70 and older. Registration fees vary based on the chosen distance; the 10K is the most expensive, the family event is the least costly, and prices increase after the early registration period closes.

Freedom's Run ties its races to places where Civil War history is part of the ground underfoot: Harpers Ferry, Antietam, and the surrounding region. The series includes a May Harpers Ferry Half & 5K and an October Freedom's Run event, with distances ranging from a full marathon and half marathon to a 10K, 5K, and Kids Fun Run. The Harpers Ferry races run inside Harpers Ferry National Park, while the longer Freedom's Run routes connect runners with historic sites in and around the area. One runner remembered entering Antietam in cold rain, with mist rising from wet earth and the field going quiet as the group ran together. The series also links to Two Rivers Treads, a local running store with a foot-first approach to shoes and gait, and it raises money for a community grant fund supporting local health and community projects.

The Buzz Sawyer Western Maryland Marathon/Half Marathon/10k begins and ends in Hancock, Maryland. All three races take place on the Western Maryland Rail Trail. This October event offers marathon, half marathon, and 10k distances. The marathon and half marathon courses are USATF certified. The marathon is also a Boston Marathon qualifier, attracting runners aiming for a qualifying time and locals seeking a trail race. The course is entirely on the WMRT, a rail trail passing through a town linked to trail travel and C&O Canal history. This is the race's 11th edition, now named for Buzz Sawyer, a Washington County distance runner, coach, race director, and founder of the JFK50 Miler. Katie and Adam Lowe of 2Lowe Run Company direct the event, having taken over from Frank and Mike of Altis Endurance, with the goal of upholding the race's local traditions.

The Friends of Cunningham Falls and Gambrill State Parks 10K-5K and Fun Run/Walk is a race held in Thurmont, Maryland, starting at Cunningham Falls State Park near William Houck Drive. This fall event includes a 10K, a 5K, and a Fun Run/Walk, along with a Tot Trot for children. The 5K route accommodates strollers, making the day suitable for families and casual runners, as well as those aiming for a personal best. The course stays within the state park, avoiding city streets. Participants have the option to camp in the park the night before through the Camp-and-Run package, placing them near the start line for the next morning. Proceeds benefit the Friends of Cunningham Falls and Gambrill State Parks. Local businesses and running enthusiasts are also invited to sponsor the race, whether they participate or not.