The fastest of the finishers will complete the event in about six hours. And the last to cross the line likely will come within a minute or two of the 14-hour time limit.
So just who are these people?
They are doctors and lawyers, farmers and teachers, ministers and police officers.
They are teenagers and senior citizens, Gen Xers and baby boomers.
They are from Washington state, Washington, D.C., and Washington County.
In 2005, we began a weeklong series leading up to the ultramarathon in which participants from the Tri-State area are profiled.
That year, we shared the stories of:
o A mother and daughter from Charles Town, W.Va.
o A Hagerstown man who was the last finisher in 2004
o A man from Leitersburg and a man from State Line, Pa., who between them had finished the event 37 times
o A Smithsburg High School freshman who was attempting her first ultramarathon as a family tradition
o A South Hagerstown graduate and the under-19 women's record holder, who returned from Colorado to run her 12th straight JFK 50 Mile
In the three years since then, we have profiled:
o A husband and wife from Martinsburg, W.Va.
o A Frederick, Md., man and owner of a chiropractic business in Waynesboro, Pa., who lost more than 100 pounds through his running regimen
o A Warfordsburg, Pa., man with five top-10 finishes who was entered in his 20th JFK 50 Mile
o A team of three men from Washington County representing the Maryland State Police
o A Boonsboro High School graduate crossing the globe from China, where he and his wife were teaching oral English
o A Hagerstown Church of the Brethren pastor who was using his run to collect pledges for the Good Samaritan Fund
So who will our series feature this year? Perhaps your doctor, teacher or minister.
Pick up The Herald-Mail beginning Nov. 16 to find out.
Joel Huffer is managing editor of The Herald-Mail. He can be reached at 301-791-7796 or by e-mail at joelh@herald-mail.com.
