23rd annual Potomac River Run Marathon & Half

🏃‍♂️ Race Overview

• Registration Deadline: On-line registration for Individual athletes closes on January 31.
• Sponsor Registration: On-line registration for sponsors closes on April 8 -- for $250, you get your name on the web site on the back of the t-shirt -- for $500, you get your name, logo, and web site on the back of the t-shirt -- for $1000, you get your name, logo, and web site on the front of the shirt in full color.
• Event Date: We look forward to welcoming you to our 23rd annual Potomac River Run Marathon & Half on 2026-05-02.
• Participation: We welcome all runners and walkers, along with sponsors. (See www.safetyandhealthfoundation.org/marathon/sponsor.pdf)

📅 Event Schedule

• Thursday, April 30: 2:00 PM-6:00 PM, packet assembly and early-bird packet pick-up at ACE Physical Therapy & Sports Medicine Institute, 2841 Hartland Road #401, Falls Church VA -- 0.7 miles from Dunn Loring Metro Station.
• Friday, May 1: 12:00 noon to 5:45 PM packet pick-up at Pacers Running Store, 3100 Clarendon Boulevard, Arlington VA -- across the street from Clarendon Metro Station.
• Friday, May 1: 6:15 PM to 8:15 PM pre-race dinner at Big Tony's Pizzeria, next door to Pacers, also 3100 Clarendon Boulevard, Arlington VA.
• Saturday, May 2: 7:15-8:45 AM on-site at Fletcher's Cove, 4940 Canal Road NW, Washington DC. Closest Metro Station is Rosslyn 3 miles away in Arlington.

🏁 Race Details

• Full Marathon Start: 8:00 AM.
• Half Marathon Start: 9:00 AM.
• Course Features: Flat, scenic, beautiful views of the Potomac River, tree-lined, shaded, out'n'back.
• Start/Finish Location: Start and finish at Fletcher's Cove. 4940 Canal Road NW, Washington DC.

📏 Course Information

• Certification: USATF certified course.
• Course Profile: Course elevation profile.
• Elevation: Highest point is 44m above sea level, lowest point is 12m above sea level.
• Surface: The race course is 99% crushed gravel -- no hills, no pavement except for two short stretches to prevent erosion, no cross streets.

🚰 Aid Stations

• Closing Times: Be aware the aid stations close down as the last runner approaches: Lock 10 closes at 1:00 PM, Lock 7 closes at 1:15 PM, Lock 6 closes at 1:30 PM. Please if you are a slow runner, bring your own water bottle to the race.
• More Info: See our web page at www.safetyandhealthfoundation.org/marathon for every detail about marathon weekend.

🍕 Pre-Race Dinner

• Location: Pre-race dinner at Big Tony's Pizzeria next door to Pacers on Friday, May 1, at 6:15 PM. Add $10 dinner under Additional Options.
• Book Purchase: You may order an autographed copy of the race director's book The Man Who Stole The Sun for $14, and you can pick-up your copy at packet pick-up. Its heroine is an intrepid 14-year-old runner whose bravery rescues Marine Corps Marathon -- but it's much more than that!

🅿️ Parking Options

• Parking Limitations: Parking is limited at Fletcher's Cove, and we must leave spaces open for the general public, as it's a National Park and open to the public even during races.
• Off-Site Parking: We want as many participants as possible to park off-site to leave some parking spaces available at Fletcher's Cove for the general public. Off-site parking options include:
• Location Options:
  • The River School entrance on Reservoir Road.
  • W Street, Bending Lane, or Hutchins Place off Reservoir Road.
  • Palisades Library, 4901 V St NW, Washington, DC 20007.
  • Our Lady of Victory School, 4755 Whitehaven Pkwy NW, Washington, DC 20007.
  • CVS/pharmacy, 4859 MacArthur Boulevard NW, Washington, DC 20007.
• Taxi Service: For only $10 extra, we offer round-trip Red Top Cab rides from our host hotel TBD to Fletcher's Cove on race day, departing at 7:00 AM and arriving about 7:20 AM. Please register for the taxi service AT LEAST TWO DAYS in advance.
• Caution: From westbound Canal Road, Red Top Cab drops you off at Reservoir Road, at the entrance to Fletcher's Cove. Please cross Canal Road CAREFULLY to get to Fletcher's Cove. For the return trip after you finish, see the on-site Transportation Director.
• Post-Race Return: After you finish, as soon as we get groups of 4 finishers, we call Red Top Cab for a ride back to our host hotel, or elsewhere in the DC area if you prefer.