JFK 50k

In the spring of 1963, President John F. Kennedy began encouraging Americans to focus on physical fitness.  As part of this effort, many JFK 50-mile Challenge races were held that spring across the nation.

For much of the nation, that was the only such race their region held.  In Washington County, the race was renamed the JFK 50 Mile Memorial Race and held the following year.  The starting line is located in front of Boonsboro Town Hall, where markers are set into the sidewalk on each side of the street indicating the starting line location.  The race climbs the mountain, travels the Appalachian Trail and then diverts onto the C&O Canal at Weverton to end in Williamsport.

Today, over 50 years later, it remains the only original JFK 50-mile race still held annually.  It is now held at the end of November, the month of President Kennedy’s assassination, rather than in the spring as the original races had been held.

It is open to the public to participate, but is designed around the late President’s call for commissioned military officers to be able to travel 50 miles in 20 hours in order to maintain their commissions, and non-commissioned officers’ and other soldiers’ desires to test their abilities to mach that requirement.  Many of those who enter continue to have military connection.  Today, the top finishers often cross the finish line between 5 and 5 1/2 hours, though these participants train hard and often have support teams meeting them at designated locations.