Potomac River Run Marathon
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Event overview
The Safety And Health Foundation organizes the 23rd annual Potomac River Run Marathon & Half on May 2, 2026. The event starts and finishes at Fletcher's Cove on the C&O Canal Towpath, 4940 Canal Road NW, Washington DC. The event offers both a full marathon and a half marathon and is limited to the first 350 entrants. Entrants must be able to complete the course in less than six hours. The race uses RFID chip timing with live results available on WebScorer. Finishers receive a medallion and there is a post-race picnic and recovery area.
Course and logistics
- 26.2 miles (full marathon)
- 13.1 miles (half marathon)
The course is out-and-back on the C&O Canal Towpath, almost entirely crushed gravel and packed dirt with two short paved stretches to prevent erosion. The route is mostly flat; the highest point is 44 m above sea level and the lowest is 12 m. The course is USATF certified (DC21001RT). The full marathon is a Boston Marathon qualifier; both distances serve as qualifiers for other major marathons and certain trials.
Aid stations with water, Gatorade, volunteers, and toilets are located at Fletcher's Cove and at several canal locks. Spectator access is available at the aid stations, Chain Bridge, and several locks. Parking at Fletcher's Cove is free but limited; several off-site parking options are listed by the organizer. Packet pick-up is available off-site the two days before the race and on-site at Fletcher's Cove on race day. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
