Parking:
- If you drive to the race, at the stoplight at Canal Road NW and Reservoir Road NW, turn down the ramp in front of the big white Abner Cloud House
- Turn left to 75 parking spaces in the upper lot at Fletcher's Cove, or when they are full, stay right to go through the tunnel to the lower parking lot
with about 250 parking spaces
- Although we have 325 spaces at Fletcher's Cove, we want to leave some spaces for other park users
- After most on-site parking spaces are full, we direct cars to turn onto Reservoir Road towards free on-street parking, 0.3 to 0.7 miles
- You may park free anywhere along Reservoir Road between Canal Road and Macarthur Boulevard, including River School, Bending Lane, W Street, and Hutchins Lane, then walk downhill to Fletcher's Cove
-
The River School back parking area, near 4851 Reservoir Road, Washington DC 20007
-
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
- Park on Clara Barton Parkway northwest of
Chain Bridge. Walk down ramp to C&O Canal Towpath, and walk about one mile southeast to Fletcher's Cove
- Park across
Chain Bridge on Arlington side. Walk across Chain Bridge, walk down ramp to C&O Towpath, and walk about one mile southeast to Fletcher's Cove
- Be careful crossing Canal Road
Red Top Cab:
- Please take our Red Top Cab from Crystal City Marriott or car-pool to minimize parking delays
-
Driving route map
-
You may park near Crystal City Marriott and take our
Red Top Cab taxi service to Fletcher's Cove. Round trip taxi rides are $10, pre-paid only
- From westbound Canal Road NW, Red Top Cab drops you off at Canal Road and Reservoir Road
- The cabs do not go down the ramp enter the small parking area at Fletcher's Cove next to Canal Road
- Walk down the ramp to the start-finish
- If you pick up your packet on Thursday or Friday, you don't have to go down the stairs to check-in
- If you do not pick up your packet on Thursday or Friday, go down the stairs to the picnic table and pick up your packet
- If you book a Red Top Cab, after you finish your race, go downstairs and ask the staff at the picnic table to call a cab for your return trip
- After we call for you, please form groups of four and walk to the TOP OF THE RAMP near the stoplight
Log in to view/confirm your entry
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When do the aid stations close?
- We keep the finish line open until 2:00 PM
- We can't guarantee a time for finishers after 2:00 PM
- We allow changes up until the 8:00 AM when the marathon starts ...
- but if you start with the marathoners at 8:00 AM and drop out after 13.1 miles back at Fletcher's Cove
- we can't count it as a 9:00 AM half marathon,
- but you get the same medal and post-race picnic as everyone else.
- If you plan to change, please let us know your decision soon,
- so we can edit the Start List on Webscorer and in our Excel copy and later in the Webscorer app on the computer
-
The aid stations close down in this sequence:
- Lock 10 closes at 1:00 PM
- Lock 7 closes at 1:15 PM
- Lock 6 closes at 1:30 PM
- Finish line closes at 2:00 PM
Host hotel:
- Crystal City Marriott at Reagan National Airport (703-413-5500)
- $139.00 per night from Thursday, September 4, to Monday, September 8, 2025
- Last day to book: Wednesday, August 14, 2025
- Call 703-413-6535 and ask for "SHF Room Block Sep2025", or click
THIS LINK to register on-line
Transportation
2025 Boston Marathon Qualifier! | 8:00 AM start
- September 7, 2025, is the next-to-last to qualify for 2026 Boston Marathon
- We submit marathon finisher times to Boston Athletic Association by 9:59 AM on Monday, September 5, 2025
Packet Packet Pick-Up Times:
- Thursday, September 4, 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM -- Please help with packet assembly and pick up your packet early
- ACE Physical Therapy & Sports Medicine Institute, 2841 Hartland Road #401, Falls Church VA
- Friday, September 5, 12:00 noon to 5:45 PM
at
Pacers Running Store,
3100 Clarendon Boulevard, Arlington VA
|
MAP
- Saturday, September 6, 7:15 AM to 8:45 AM
| on site at Fletcher's Cove,
4940 Canal Road NW, Washington DC
Supported by these charities:
Maps:
T-shirt & Medal Design:
-
2023 Front
|
2023 Back
- Start Times:
- 8:00 AM - Competitive marathon start -- All marathon award winners must take the 8:00 AM marathon start
- 9:00 AM - Competitive half-marathon start -- All half-marathon award winners must take the 9:00 AM start
- 8:00 AM - Non-competitive half-marathon start -- A few awards
- All finishers receive medals and post-race picnic
- Top 3 M/F in each 10-year age-group win their choice of an SHF commemorative item -- SHF warm wooly winter hats. SHF lunch coolers, SHF billed cap in Blue, Red, and Pink, SHF pocket knife kits (do not take one on you when try to board an airplane),
- Full marathon is a qualifying race for Boston Marathon
- Half and full marathon are both qualifying races for Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York City, and Olympic Trials Marathons
- Change your start time to 9:00 AM or 8:00 AM or distance to full or half or vice versa
-
September 11 Memorial:
- In memory of the 184 victims killed at the Pentagon on September 11, 2001,
and the thousands more killed that day in New York and Pennsylvania,
before the races, we ring a memorial bell 184 times at 7:45 AM and at 8:45 AM
- Course:
- Totally flat gravel trail, alongside scenic C&O Canal Towpath
- The half marathon is out 6.5546875 miles to Towpath mile 9.65 (172 yards east of Billy Goat Trail) and back
- The full marathon is out'n'back twice
- How to place the mile marks
- Aid stations with water, Gatorade, and CarbBoom! (while supplies last) at 4 junctions with Canal Road & Clara Barton Parkway:
•
Fletcher's Cove, miles 0, 13.1, and 26.2
-
Lock 6, miles 1.8, 11.3, 14.9, and 24.4
-
Lock 7, miles 3.8, 9.3, 16.9, and 22.4
-
Lock 10, miles 5.8, 7.3, 18.9, and 20.4
- Spectator Access:
- 2024 Sponsors:
Read all about Carb BOOM! energy Gels
Pacers Running Store, 3100 Clarendon Boulevard, Arlington VA 22201 (703-248-6883), and five other locations
Simone Super Energy™
www.simonesuperenergy.com
Technical documentation by Dr. Charles Simone:
Atref Advertisements LLC, PO Box 11797, Alexandria VA 22312 (703-786-6100)
Publisher: Beitania Balcha
|
email: 7866100@gmail.com
View our full-page ad in the next three weeks' editions of ATREF
Free at all local ethiopian shops
Dama Pastry
1505 Columbia Pike, Arlington VA 22204 (703-920-5620)
Dama Market and Restaurant
1503 Columbia Pike, Arlington VA (703-920-3559)
Sponsor Us:
- Please join us a sponsor
- Please
write us
if you want to be an exhibitor or vendor.
- We announce our exhibitors and vendors two weeks before the race and list them on our t-shirt and web site
Race-Day Announcer:
History:
-
www.britannica.com/biography/Abebe-Bikila
Read about Abebe Bikila's Olympic Marathon victory on September 10, 1960, in Rome, Italy, in 2:15:16.2.
• In addition to becoming a national hero for winning the gold medal, Bikila became famous for running it barefoot.
• He was the first black African to win an Olympic medal, and in 1964 in Tokyo, Japan, he became the first man ever to win two Olympic marathons.
- Exclusive photos of Abebe Bikila's gravesite
Commemorations:
- To commemorate the anniversary of Abebe Bikila's Olympic Marathon victory in Rome, Italy, on September 10, 1960,
and Ethiopian New Year's Day on September 11 each year, we host an international cultural exhibition at the start / finish
hosted by Buy A Brick Foundation, building schools and hospital in Zimbabwe (formerly Rhodesia)
- We fondly remember Abebe Bikila Day founder and two-time Olympic boxer
Seifu Mekonnen
Volunteer:
Post-race:
- Specially-cast finisher medals, prizes, raffles, and on-course support to keep you pumped up, sponsored food and beverages and much more!
- You get a whole VIP experience with your victory celebration!
- We have everything to make this a great event.
- It is more than a race; it is global event embracing many communities, children and runners at once!
Awards:
- $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 2025 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 MAIL-IN 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 9/6/2025 [__ __]
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 October 1 - $100.00
[__] On or after January 1 - $120.00
[__] On or after March 1 - $140.00
[__] On or after May 1 - $160.00
[__] On or after July 1 - $180.00
[__] On or after September 1 - $250.00
[__] $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
| |