Crews No Longer Permitted at AS14 – Barrens

Effective 2026, crews will no longer be permitted at AS14 Barrens. Long Live the Barrens.

This decision was not made lightly, but it has become clear that we need to restrict crew access at this aid station.

Why this change is necessary:

• Safety & access: Barrens is one of the most remote aid stations on the Eastern States course. The access road is dirt, narrow, and deeply rutted, with limited pull-off space. There simply is not enough room to safely accommodate the volume of vehicles and people currently congregating there. Pedestrian and vehicle interactions, along with restricted access for emergency vehicles and logistics resupply, present an unacceptable safety risk.

• Congestion patterns: Because Barrens is reached between the middle of the night to mid-morning—when services such as food and lodging are unavailable—many crews who assist their runner at Blackwell have little practical option other than to drive to Barrens and wait or sleep in their vehicles until their runner arrives. This significantly increases the number of vehicles and people at an already constrained location.

Restricting crews at Barrens will not only reduce congestion, improve safety, and ensure reliable access for emergency services and race operations, but we also hope it will push crews ahead to the finish line at Little Pine State Park, where there is ample parking. More importantly, it gives crews the opportunity to be present, loud, and supportive at the finish line—adding energy, cheers, and celebration for runners completing their Eastern States journey.

Important pacer update:

• There will be no pacer drop-off or pick-up at Barrens.

• Pacers are now expected to run from Blackwell to The Finish.

• We recognize this may not be ideal for everyone, which is why we are making this announcement as early as possible so runners, pacers and crews can make the necessary arrangements.

  
  

Final reminder:

No crews, no spectators, and no outside support of any kind are permitted at uncrewed aid stations or anywhere along the course. This is a core rule of Eastern States.

For full details, please review the Crew and Spectator Rules here: https://www.easternstates100.com/crew-info

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation as we continue to prioritize safety, fairness, and the spirit of Eastern States. And thank you for supporting local and grassroots trail racing in Central Pennsylvania.