Officials of the Great Greenbrier River Race – held every year on the last Saturday of April – announced there would be no on-site registration. “Participants will have to pre-register this year,” according to Robin DeMarchi, race chair.

“The race has grown so big over the last two years,” said DeMarchi, “we want to make sure we have enough food, drink and T-shirts for each participant and we can’t do that if dozens of people register the day of the race.”

The first race in 1986 started at Clover Lick and ended in Marlinton. The region had recently suffered devastating floods in 1985 that created major problems along the trail. Subsequent races were held at Anthony and Beard and even a few years in Greenbrier County.

It was the race participants who urged that the race be moved back to the Marlinton area. The river access is better there, along with the overall condition of the trail. Through the years, the race became more popular with more participants.

Last year, there were more than 100 teams and even more are expected this year. Dozens of area businesses show their support by either sponsoring the event or donating cool prizes for the winners.

The race starts promptly at 11 a.m. with a mandatory pre-race meeting at 10:30 a.m. The first leg of the race is three miles, running from the mini-park in Marlinton west on Highway Rt. 39 to the trail and then north for about a 1.5 miles, then turns around and come back to the river.

From there, canoeists travel south on the river to the Buckeye Blue Bridge where they get out and bike south along the trail for three miles, turn around and bike back to the mini-park where it all begins.

Participants can pre-register by going to the Greenbrier River Trail Web site at http://www.greenbrierrivertrail.com or by contacting the Pocahontas County Convention and Visitors Bureau at 800-336-7009.