MCRRC Stone Mill 50 Mile Run

Welcome to the MCRRC Stone Mill 50 Mile Run!

 

This 50 mile trail run showcases the beauty of both the Seneca Greenway and Muddy Branch trails in Montgomery County, Maryland. The course traverses forested, rolling terrain on a primarily single track, dirt trail.  There are small stream crossings.  Most of the course drains well, but parts can be muddy in wet weather.

Volunteer!

As a participant in this event, we ask that you commit to volunteer 6 or more hours before race day with your local running club, any local race, work on the trails or any other running-related non-profit organization (such as Girls on the Run, Let Me Run, etc.).  This is done on the honor system.  No proof will be requested.

Stone Mill is known for its amazing aid stations. Each station has dedicated volunteers, different food items, plus water and Tailwind.

** Important note about aid station locations: The GPS coordinates are close, but not perfect.  Participants will need to look for the trail crossing. This is especially true on 118/ Germantown Road.

FULL Aid Station - Route 355/ Frederick Road

Location: Miles 4 and 46  

GPS: 39.167285,-77.229338

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FULL Aid Station - Longdraught (NO CARS!)

Location: Mile 9

GPS: 39.140307, -77.240178

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FULL Aid Station - Riffle Ford Road

Location: Miles 11.7 and 42  

GPS: 39.133356,-77.268047

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FULL Aid Station - Dufief/Route 28 East (Tunnel)

Location: Mile 15

GPS: 39.106703,-77.234488

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FULL Aid Station - Quince Orchard on Muddy Branch (NO CARS!)

Location: Mile 17.4  

GPS: 39.091966,-77.247448

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FULL Aid Station - Pennyfield Lock

Location: Mile 24.3  

GPS: 39.056617,-77.293217

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FULL Aid Station - Stone Mill

Location: Mile 27.8  

GPS: 39.069163,-77.343342

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FULL Aid Station - Route 28 West

Location: Mile 34.3  

GPS: 39.128196,-77.333166

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Aid Station (WATER ONLY) - 118 Germantown Road (NO CARS!)

Location: Mile 37.2  

GPS: 39.128396,-77.296972

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The Stone Mill 50 Mile Run, presented by the Montgomery County Road Runners Club, is a 50-mile trail race showcasing the beauty of both the Seneca Greenway and Muddy Branch trails in Montgomery County, MD. Stone Mill typically welcomes between 250 to 350 participants, their families, friends, and support crews.

 

Please consider joining MCRRC as a sponsor of the Stone Mill 50 Mile Run.  To secure your sponsorship, please return the completed form to office@mcrrc.org.  

 

Course Map

Click here for a larger map.

Strava Map with gpx: Stone Mill 50 Miler

Course Marking

The course is very well marked with white flags containing the Stone Mill logo as well as with yellow ribbons that say "Stone Mill." Double flags or ribbons are used to indicate an upcoming turn.

Elevation Profile

Stone Mill has ~4000 ft of total elevation gain

Start Location:

The race starts and finishes in the Stedwick Elementary School parking lot, located at 10631 Stedwick Road, Montgomery Village, MD 20886.  

Parking:

Parking will be available near the start/finish area at Stedwick Elementary.  Overflow parking will be available in the Montgomery Village Association Office parking lot, located at 10120 Apple Ridge Road.  Street parking is also available along Apple Ridge Road.  The MVF Office is approximately 1 mile from the elementary school.

Bag Drops:

Stone Mill 50 will have 2 drop bag locations on race day.  Bags will be collected on race morning outside the school in the start/ finish area.  There will be 2 separate piles:

• Mile 24 (Pennyfield Lock)
• Mile 40 (Riffle Ford Road)

Please clearly label your bag with your last name and bib number.  Our volunteers will attempt to sort them by bib number.  Please kindly refrain from packing bags that are oversized or heavy -- our volunteers work hard enough on race day!

The Pennyfield bags will be brought back to the school and will be waiting in the finish area. The Riffle Ford bags will also be brought back this year!

Course Cutoff Times:

The race starts at 6:00 AM SHARP! The cutoff time to finish is officially 13 hours or 7:00 PM and will be STRICTLY enforced due to permit requirements.  Intermediate cutoffs are as follows:

• 12:30 to Pennyfield (26 miles to go)

• 1:25 to Stone Mill (23 miles to go)

• 3:10 to Route 28 (16.4 miles to go)

• 5:10 to Riffle Ford (8.4 miles to go)

• 6:40 to Rt. 355 (3.9 miles to go)

Training Runs Hosted by MyMuddyShoes:

See the Stone Mill Facebook page for info on the runs each Saturday in October.

Run #1 Saturday 4 October Stedwick E. S. Mont. Village, MD.
Run #2 Saturday 11 October Pennyfield Lock, Potomac MD.
Run #3 Saturday 18 October Pennyfield Lock (Again) Potomac MD
Run #4 Saturday 25 October Riffle Ford Rd, Gaithersburg MD

All runs start at 7:30 am

Historical Weather:

2022 was a hot year for Stone Mill!

Data Source: https://www.wunderground.com/history/daily/us/va/sterling/KIAD

Packet pickup will be held on Friday (Nov. 6) from 5:00–8:00 PM at Silver Branch Brewing Company (7301 Calhoun Pl #600, Derwood, MD), Friday night specials include Mosaic Pizza and the weekly Pub Run at 6pm.

All participants are strongly encouraged to attend the Friday evening pickup.  For those who are travelling, there will be an extremely limited packet pickup on race morning, in the start area, from 5:00-5:55 AM.

Listed below are the best places to see your participant or provide them additional support.  Any aid station not included in this list have either limited parking or limited space.  Please do not attempt to wait at such locations.  Please do not stop on the towpath, but rather move to the side.  Stone Mill will be sharing the towpath with community users including cyclists, hikers and other runner/walkers.

• Route 355 – Head north on MD 355 from Gaithersburg.  The parking lot is the first right after crossing the bridge over Seneca Creek.
• Riffle Ford Road – Go north on Riffleford Road from MD 28, just west of Darnestown.  The trail crosses Riffle Ford Road just south of Seneca Creek, about 1.3 miles up the road.  The aid station is on the trail to the right.  Park along the shoulder of the road.  There are port-o-johns at this aid station.
• C&O Canal at Blockhouse Point or Violette’s Lock –  The access roads are off River Road.  There is parking and the participants will pass these points on the canal. There are no aid stations here.
• Pennyfield Lock –  Take the access road off River Road. There is plenty of parking and this is a fun location to cheer on your favorite participant!
• Seneca Stone Cutting Mill – Park at Reilly’s Lock and walk north on the C&O towpath.  Just past the remains of the aqueduct, there is a trail off to the right that crosses the canal.  Follow this into the woods and you will come to the remains of the Seneca Stone Cutting Mill.  The aid station is just beyond the mill.
• Route 28 West – Head west from Darnestown about 5 Miles.  The parking lot is just east of Seneca Creek.  If you cross the bridge, you’ve gone too far. There is plenty of parking at this location.

SUGGESTED HOTELS

 

SpringHill Suites, 9715 Washingtonian Blvd., Gaithersburg, MD 20878

Sleep Inn, 2 Research Court, Rockville, MD, 20850

Click here for additional hotels near 20878

The Stone Mill 50 Mile Run proudly recognizes 5, 10, and 15-year finishers with a special premium (see the list of historical finishers below). 

• 5-year finishers - commemorative sweatshirt
• 10-year finishers - commemorative jacket
• 15-year finishers - commemorative vest

Past Finishers