Charles River Marathon
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Event overview
The Charles River Marathon is scheduled for May 3, 2026, at Herter Park in Boston, MA. The event is organized by RACE Cancer Foundation as a fundraiser; each entry includes a race fee plus a required fundraising minimum. Entry benefits include a finisher’s medal, an embroidered hat, and a shirt. Additional swag is awarded for fundraising thresholds: entrants who raise $250, $500, or $1,000 by the deadline receive progressively higher-tier items. Entry fees are non-refundable and failure to meet the fundraising minimum forfeits race entry. Registration will use a rolling process due to limited field size.
Course, logistics and competition
The marathon consists of ten laps of a 2.6 mile loop on paved paths along the Charles River, starting and finishing at Herter Park. The course is USATF‑certified (MA23005JK) and is eligible as a qualifier for the 2027 Boston Marathon. The route is primarily flat with a short climb of about 50 feet at the Eliot Bridge. Portable toilets are placed on course and at the start/finish. Three BODYARMOR hydration stations are on the loop: two along Greenough Boulevard and one at the start/finish. A self-serve bring‑your‑own‑bottle station and gel stations are provided on the course. Number pick-up is available the day before at a nearby hotel and on race day at the start/finish area. Time limits apply: five hours for runners age 59 and under, and five hours 30 minutes for runners age 60 and older. Awards include top three overall (women and men) and age-group prizes for the listed age brackets. Pacers may be provided; pacers must be registered entrants and are limited to seven laps. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
