Abebe Bikila Marathon
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About the race
The Abebe Bikila Marathon is a road race held at Fletcher's Cove on the C&O Canal Towpath in Washington, DC. The event offers both a full marathon and a half marathon on a totally flat, gravel towpath with a USATF-certified course that serves as a Boston Marathon qualifying opportunity.
Distances:
- Full marathon (26.2 miles)
- Half marathon (13.1 miles)
The course is out-and-back on the towpath, with aid stations providing water, Gatorade, and energy gels at several canal locks and at the start/finish. Volunteers staff the start/finish and aid stations along the route. A turnaround cone and volunteer are placed near the quarter-marathon mark outside I-495, though that point is accessible only by foot or bicycle and does not have an aid station.
On-site facilities at Fletcher's Cove include about 325 parking spaces, indoor toilets plus portable toilets, and a race-day bag check area. All finishers receive a specially cast medal that depicts Abebe Bikila breaking the Olympic marathon finish-line tape. The competitive marathon and half marathon use chip timing and include awards; the full marathon awards cash prizes for the top three men and women overall and age-group awards in 10-year divisions. Entry is limited to the first 350 entrants and is open to runners able to finish within six hours. The event also includes an international cultural exhibition at the start/finish area. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
