First State Half Marathon
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First State Half Marathon & 10K
The First State Half Marathon & 10K takes place on Saturday March 21, 2026 in Newark, Delaware. The event is centered at the Deer Park Tavern, 108 West Main Street, and the courses run through town streets, neighborhoods and paved trails.
Distances
- Half Marathon
- 10K
The half marathon course is USATF certified (DE22001JLW). Course maps are provided for both distances. There are three water stations on course; two of those locations are passed twice. Specific station locations include Devon Drive, Bradford Lane, Apple and Sunset Road, and the turnaround on Barksdale Road. Portable toilets are located at the Deer Park Tavern, the start/finish area, and at multiple points along the route.
Race amenities include a custom race bib, event shirts (gender specific before March 7, then unisex), a finisher medal that changes color in the sun, and a post race celebration at the Deer Park Tavern with food, drinks and entertainment. A day of packet pick up is available at the Deer Park Tavern. A gear check is provided with a required grocery bag size and items must be claimed by midday.
There is municipal parking around Newark and a University of Delaware parking garage across from the Deer Park Tavern that operates on a pay first basis. Awards are given overall and by age group, with masters and top three age group placings. The course cutoff is 3.5 hours and a sweeper enforces that limit for safety. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
