<h1>Abebe Bikila Day International Peace Marathon & Half</h1>
ACe
AbebeBikilaDena

18th Abebe Bikila Day
International Peace Marathon & Half


Saturday, September 14, 2024
8:00 AM full marathon, 9:00 AM half marathon
Fletcher's Cove, 4940 Canal Road, Washington DC

• Enter on-line • Enter by mail • DOC • PDF •

medal
  • Our finisher's medal features Abebe Bikila breaking the Olympic marathon finish line tape
    on September 10, 1980

  • Start and finish:
    • The whole race is on the 100% flat but gravelly C&O Canal Towpath starting and finishing at Fletcher's Cove, 4940 Canal Road NW, Washington DC
    • Two miles west of Key Bridge and Georgetown
    • One mile east of Chain Bridge
    • About 250 on-site parking spaces
    • Indoor toilets and two portable toilets at the west end of upper parking area
    • 8:00 AM Marathon (with full awards including cash prizes for top 3 M/F overall and tangible awards for top 3 M/F in 10-year age groups)
    • 9:00 AM Half Marathon (with full awards, no cash prizes, tangible awards for top 3 M/F overall and for top 3 M/F in 10-year age groups)
    • 8:00 AM Half Marathon (with awards for 1st M/F overall and 1st M/F in 10-year age groups)
  • Awards
    • Awards presentation for half marathon at about 10:30 AM and then rolling as age-group winners arrive
    • Awards presentation for full marathon at about 11:30 AM and then rolling as age-group winners arrive
    • Awards (besides the cash awards for the top three M/F in the marathon are really nice SHF warm woolly hats, SHF baseball hats, SHF pocket knifes, and shiny black SHF insulated lunch kits
  • See OUR 2023 T-SHIRT BY KARLA McDUFFIE!

    2023 FRONT

    Click for full size

    2023 BACK

    Click for full size

    Watch a video of our shirts being printed

    • Live Musical entertainment
    At the finish, from 11:00 AM to 12:00 noon, you will be greeted by
    World-famous African singer and song-writer ANNA MWALAGHO
    Anna

  • Anna Mwalagho is more than a triple-threat performer. She is a true remarkable renaissance woman, an internationally recognized actress, comedian, poet/spoken word artist, African dancer, singer/songwriter and storyteller.
  • She has won numerous national awards in her native country Kenya, and here in the U.S.A, where she is recognized as the Queen of spoken Afro beat and also "Mama Africa". She has captivated many with her blend of spoken word, African dance, music, comedy, acting, and storytelling into an electrifying one woman show. Her theatrical poetry inspires, evokes thought and entertains as well as educates all ages and races.
  • Her music has a unique message from the soul of the motherland. It tells the story of life rough but fulfilling journeys. Since the launch of her career in the United States, Anna has become one of the most sought after African Spoken Word/Poetic Afro beat artist.
  • With her "Afrofloetry band," she has shared the stage with international South African jazz legend HUGH MASEKELA in Washington DC where she and her band were the featured opening act. She also had the chance to collaborate with another African musical legend OLIVER MTUKUDZI, as they performed her famous poem (Flavored World) during his US tour.
  • We delighted Anna offered to join us this year, but please fill her hat when she passes it around.
  • ACTUAL RACES! (WITH APPROPRIATE DISEASE-PREVENTION PROTOCOLS)
  • NOT VIRTUAL!

  • Our volunteers are delighted to serve at the aid stations:
    • At the start / finish line for timing at Fletcher's Cove, 4940 Canal Road NW, Washington DC
    • At Lock 5 for bottled water in paper cups, Gatorade in paper cups, and CarbBoom! while supplies last
    • At Lock 7 for bottled water in paper cups, Gatorade in paper cups, and CarbBoom! while supplies last
    • At Lock 10 for bottled water in paper cups, Gatorade in paper cups, and CarbBoom! while supplies last

    • We have a turnaround cone and volunteers at the quarter-marathon mark near Billy Goat Trail outside I-495 Capital Beltway accessible via the Towpath from Lock 10 on the east and Carderock on the west

  • Q&A about the aid stations:
    • Q. Can spectators hand personal water bottles and fuel to runners?
    • A. Yes, no problem. My wife once rode her bicycle alongside me in a marathon and handed me bottled coffee every two miles.

    • Q. If not, can runners leave their own personal water bottles and fuel at specific aid stations?
    • A. I don't know how you would do that, unless you
    • Visit my office and insert personal water bottles and fuel into the aid station bins (four) which are outside my house at the end of my driveway
    • or
    • Drive the course early early Saturday morning and deliver your personal water bottles and fuel to the specific aid stations where you want them. Note that the aid stations are accessible by car only on the eastbound (south) side of GW Parkway
    • or
    • You can put the personal water bottles and fuel in your backpack and ride the course by bicycle before the race starts to deliver personal water bottles and fuel at specific aid stations
    • Our volunteers set up the aid stations around 8:00 AM

  • Spectator access:
    • Chain Bridge
    • Lock 5
    • Lock 6
    • Lock 7
    • Canal Center
    • Lock 8
    • Lock 9
    • Lock 10

    • To get to the locks where the aid stations are located, drop off your runner at the stoplight
    • at the top of the ramp next to the big white Abner Cloud House
    • Abner Cloud was the last living lock-keeper when the canal stopped running cargo barges
    • The 19th century engineering of the locks is still a marvel.

    • From there, drive 6 miles west to a gravel turnaround across the median strip about 100 meters east of the I-495 Capital Beltway overpass
    • From there, drive east for about 200 meters for the turn-off to Lock 10
    • From there, drive another 2 miles east to Lock 7
    • From there, drive another 2 miles east to Lock 5. You don't see a sign for Lock 5, but you see cars parked there and an outhouse.
    • From there, drive 1 mile east to Fletcher's Cove. So you are driving in the direction opposite from runners.
    • You can't legally turn from the westbound lane of Clara Barton Parkway and cross the eastbound lane to get to Lock 5, but I've done it ... very carefully.

  • Enjoy an Ethio-American lunch on us:
    • $1,000 in cash awards -- $250 for first overall M/F, $150 for 2nd M/F, $100 for 3rd M/F in the 9:00 AM full marathon
    • SHF warm wooly hats, baseball caps in blue, red, and pink, pen knives, and insulated lunch bags
            for 1st, 2nd, 3rd M/F overall and in 10-year age groups 19 & under, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70 & over
  • An SHF 2024 Grand Prix race:
    • If you complete this event (half or full marathon), you are entered in SHF's 2024 Grand Prix Series.
    • $100 cash award to anyone who completes all three SHF half or full marathons in 2024 - May 4, September 14, and October 19

  • We are proud to support:

  • Letters:

      Read this inspiring message from Rosemary Spraker:

      Dear Jay,
    • Would it be possible for me to be assigned bib number 261?
    • #261 was Kathrine Switzer's original Boston Marathon race number in 1967 and her 50th anniversary run in 2017.
    • The BAA has now retired bib number 261. It has been my dream to be assigned #261 in a marathon!!!
    • I was honored to run with Kathrine as her protector and sidekick during the 2017 Boston Marathon (see the pictures).
    • I took the Facebook Live video of her in the middle of the marathon as well. See https://www.facebook.com/KathrineSwitzer/videos/1349804755087804
    • I am a 261 Fearless Ambassador and fundraiser for her non-profit organization to empower women through the joy of running.
    • I will share my marathon pictures and your marathon with Kathrine and the rest of the 261 Fearless worldwide network on www.261fearless.org and on social media.
    • I appreciate your consideration. : )
    • -- Rosemary Spraker

      Dear Rosemary:

    • I have #261 waiting for you! I was the guy you and Kathrine passed going up Heartbreak Hill wearing a "WIND ROMA TOTTI 10" t-shirt. I'll never forget you!
    • -- Jay Jacob Wind

    • Headphones and water belts
      • Re personal listening devices, we follow USATF rule 144.3.b (Assistance to Athletes): "The visible possession or use by athletes of video, audio, or communications devices in the competition area. The Games Committee for an LDR event may allow the use of portable listening devices not capable of receiving communication; however, those competing in championships for awards, medals, or prize money may not use such devices.
      • Because we must be able to communicate instructions to you at certain points in our races, we specifically allow wearing headphones during the race, but we specifically prohibit wearing headphones at these points:
          • Start line
          • Aid stations
          • Turnaround 1
          • Midpoint
          • Turnaround 2
          • Finish line
      • Since we offer prize money ($250, $150, $100 for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd M/F), we ask you to follow this rule: if you expect to finish in the money, please don't wear headphones. Because of the specificity of Rule 144.3.b, we must disqualify potential money-winners whom we see wearing headphones or other two-way devices such as cell phones and the new talking wristbands. Sorry about that.
      • You may carry water or wear a hydration vest, but won't it slow you down? We have aid stations with water and Gatorade roughly every two miles.

      ABEBE BIKILA DAY INTERNATIONAL PEACE MARATHON & HALF ENTRY FORM
      Make checks payable to SHF   611 South Ivy Street, Arlington VA 22204-2429

      By entering this event, I agree, warrant and covenant as follows: I know that running is a potentially hazardous activity. I should not enter or run in competitive runs unless I am medically able and properly trained. I agree to abide by any decision of a race official relative to my ability to safely complete the run. I assume all risks associated with running in this race including, but not limited to, CONTRACTION OF ILLNeSS INCLUDING COVID-19, falls, contact with other participants, the effects of weather, including high heat and/or humidity, the conditions of the road and traffic on the course, all such risks being known and appreciated by me.    Having read this waiver and knowing these facts, and in consideration of your acceptance of my application, I, for myself and anyone entitled to act on my behalf, waive and release National Park Service, RRCA, USATF, Buy A Brick Foundation, DC Capital Striders, Safety And Health Foundation, and all sponsors, their directors, officers, employees, agents; representatives and successors from all claims or liabilities of any kind arising out of my participation in this event even though that liability may arise out of negligence or carelessness on the part of the persons named in this waiver.    I acknowledge that the application fee shall be non-refundable.    I agree that you may use my name and likeness for publicity purposes.

        

      Signature ______________________________________ (parent or guardian if under 18)

        

      Name ___________________________________________       Gender [__] (M|F)     Age as of 9/14/2024 [__ __]

      Address _________________________________________       Birthdate ____ ____-____ ____-____ ____ ____ ____ (mm-dd-yy)

      City ST ZIP _______________________________________       Phone ____ ____ ____-____ ____ ____-____ ____ ____ ____

      e-mail ___________________________________________         T-shirt _____ (XS   S   M   L   XL   XXL)         

      Best 13.1/26.2 mi ____:__ __ Where? ________________________               Date _____________________

      enclosed is my entry fee, payable to SHF:

      Fees: Non-Members
      [__] On or after December 1 - $60.00
      [__] On or after February 1 - $70.00
      [__] On or after April 1 - $80.00
      [__] On or after June 1 - $90.00
      [__] On or after August 1 - $100.00
      [__] $10 discount for members of supporting clubs and active-duty military
      No race-day registration, please       		event:
      [__] 8:00 AM Full Marathon
      [__] 8:00 AM Half Marathon
      [__] 9:00 AM Half Marathon

      enclosed is an additional tax-deductible donation of $____________ to BuyABrick Foundation

      [_] $5 Local     [_] $10 County     [_] $25 State     [_] $50 Nation     [_] $100 Continent     [_] $250 World     [_] $500 Galaxy     [_] $1000 Universe