NCR Marathon
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NCR Marathon & Half Marathon
The NCR Marathon and Half Marathon are organized by the Baltimore Road Runners Club and scheduled for November 28, 2026. This is the 37th running of the event, held annually on the Saturday after Thanksgiving and presented on the Northern Central Railroad Trail (Torrey C. Brown Trail) in Maryland.
Distances
- Marathon: 26.2 miles
- Half Marathon: 13.1 miles
Both races use an out-and-back layout primarily on crushed gravel and dirt trail alongside the waters of Big Gunpowder Falls. The trail route runs through wooded and farmland sections and was converted from the historic Northern Central Railroad corridor. The race start and finish are based at the Oldfields School campus and include a short downhill road section of about 0.8 miles before joining the rail trail.
The courses are USATF certified and serve as Boston Marathon qualifiers. The event is chip timed and provides water with Gatorade every 3 to 3.5 miles, plus energy gels at specified mile markers. Net elevation change for the courses is listed as -151 feet, while most of the route follows a flat rail-trail grade. Finishers receive a medal and a sweatshirt blanket, and registered entrants receive a fleece hoodie. Awards for overall, masters, and age-group winners follow the race, and parking is managed from a satellite lot with bus transportation to the start area. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
