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POTOMAC RIVER RUN MARATHON & HALF
Saturday, October 17, 2026
Start times:
8:00 AM FULL Marathon and 9:00 AM HALF Marathon
Fully-Automatic Timing (FAT) using Webscorer®
7:00 AM FULL & HALF
Please report your hand-times and so we can list them in the results (hand-times can be used to qualify for Boston)
We can accept the first 350 entrants
- Thank you for joining for the 23½rd annual ACE Physical Therapy Potomac River Run Marathon & Half.
- We welcome you, and we want to provide your a memorable and rewarding marathon experience
Register HERE for our marathon & half on Saturday, October 17, 2026
Jump past the advertising and go directly to the registration page- 2025 Results
- 2025 Awards
- 2026 Awards
- Cash awards: $1000 total -- $250 to 1st M/F, $150 to 2nd M/F, $100 to 3rd M/F overall in the 8:00 AM full marathon
- To win cash awards, MARATHONERS must start at 8:00 AM
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- Merchandise awards for top 3 M/F in 10-year age groups:
- TSA-compliant 6-blade 3-inch pocketknives
- SHF-brand sturdy tote bags, can hold up to 25 pounds
- SHF-brand wonderful warm woooly winter hats in pink, yellow, red, green, blue
- Autographed copy of the race director's book about a girl who won Marine Corps Marathon - after battling terrorists all night
- 24-pack of Boom! energy gel, your choice of 6 flavors
- Free entry to any of our future races
- If you don't get your award no race-day, we will send you a message to ask you to choose your award, to be mailed to you
- 2026 SHF Grand Prix
- This race is the 3rd of Safety And Health Foundation's three 2026 Grand Prix races:
- 23rd Potomac River Run, 20th Abebe Bikila Day International Peace, and 23½rd Potomac River Run (half or full marathon),
- $100 cash award to everyone who finishes all 3 of SHF's full or half marathons in 2026
- Packet pickup at Pacers on Friday, October 16, from 12:00 noon to 5:45 PM, with dinner at Big Tony's Pizzeria next door at 6:15 PM
- We use hand-timing with Time Machine, we publish results when ready at our results page
- We also use Webscorer RFID chip timing
- Look to that page for a link if we use RFID timing.
- We need volunteers at start / finish line and aid stations at Lock 5, Lock 7, and Lock 10.
- Please come Friday to Pacers, 3100 Clarendon Blvd, Arlington VA to pick up your bib number with RFID chip attached and souvenir bag. Lots of goodies! We will mail t-shirts after November 1.
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We are still preparing for this event.
- Thank you for your patience.
- Jay Jacob Wind, director
- Safety And Health Foundation -->
- On the historic C&O Canal Towpath
- Start & finish at Fletcher's Cove,
4940 Canal Road NW, Washington DC
- The Easiest Trail Marathon in America -- Flat course, no road crossings, no turns
- Registration
- Register on-line for the races with Active.com
- For an additional $10, you can also register for the pre-race dinner at 6:15 PM at Big Tony's Pizzeria, 3100 Clarendon Boulevard (also) two doors west of Pacers, with lovely outdoor seating
- For an additional $10, you can also register for Red Top taxi rides on Saturday at 7:00 AM from the host hotel to the venue before the race and back afterwards
- Entry fees:
- $90 after 12/1/2026 12:00 AM
- $100 after 2/1/2026 12:00 AM
- $110 after 4/1/2026 12:00 AM
- $120 after 6/1/2026 12:00 AM
- $130 after 8/1/2026 12:00 AM
- $140 after 9/1/2026 12:00 AM
- $250 after 10/11/2026 12:00 AM
- Sponsor the race:
- By 9/1/2026 ...
- for $250, we recognize your NAME or COMPANY in text as a sponsor on the website, published results, and t-shirt BACK
- for $500, we print your corporate LOGO on the website, results, and t-shirt back
- for $1000, we print your logo< in COLOR on the website, results, and t-shirt FRONT
- Features:
- Active duty military, members of 50 States Club, and other supporting organizations and get $10 off
- No race-day registration, please
- Entrants receive t-shirt, goodie bag, race refreshments, finisher medal, and post-race picnic with Big Tony's pizza; bagels, cream cheese, coffee; Gatorade; and Trader Joe's bananas
- Read our transfer / deferral policy, our fee disclosure, and our advice to avoid Active.com's upselling
- Join our Facebook page -- share rides, thoughts, and photos!
In memory of Dean Shulman
(September 25, 1961 - May 8, 2012)
Washington Post obituary
In memory of Dean, from The Book of Jewish Common Prayer
and
and in memory of Wendy Martinez (1983-2018)
Fletcher's Cove
- Directions to Fletcher's Cove:
- From the east (Georgetown) or Arlington, Alexandria, and points south, go to Key Bridge
- If from DC east of Arizona Avenue, head for M Street NW westbound
- Pass the stoplight at Key Bridge and continue on westbound M Street NW
- If from Virginia, cross Key Bridge and turn left onto westbouund M Street NW
- At the stoplight at Foxhall Road, M Street NW ends
- Bear left onto Canal Road NW
- Follow the stone wall on the left side of Canal Road NW
- At the stoplight at Reservoir Road NW, look for the first break in the stone wall and the big white historic Abner Cloud House, the home of the last lockkeeper of the C&O Canal
- Turn left at the stoplight to take a ramp down to free parking for 85 cars, also permanent and portable toilets
- Notice the road on the right side of the upper lot, which is badly rutted and takes you through a tunnel under the C&O Canal and Towpath and opens to a parking lot for 225 cars
- When upper lot is full, we direct you to the tunnel
- Beware of the potholes and ruts on the right side of the road thru the tunnel
- If from DC west of Arizona Avenue, take Arizona Avenue south to Canal Road NW
- Turn left and follow the directions below
- If from MD, head toward MacArthur Drive
- Turn onto >Arizona to go south to Canal Road NW
- From I-495 Capital Beltway, take Exit 41 WEST onto Clara Barton Parkway. When you pass Chain Bridge, Clara Barton Parkway ends and Canal Road NW begins
- Follow the stone wall on the right side of Canal Road NW
- At the stoplight at Reservoir Road NW, look for the first break in the stone wall and the big white historic Abner Cloud House, the home of the last lockkeeper of the C&O Canal
- You can try to make a really sharp right turn to go down the ramp, but that's not safe
- Your safest tactic is to turn left at the stoplight, proceed up Reservoir Road NW, make a safe U-turn or turn on one of the side streets, then turn back on Reservoir Road NW southbound
- Then at the stoplight. cross Canal Road NW and turn right to go down the ramp to Fletcher's Cove
- Course Maps:
- Start and finish at Fletcher's Cove | 4940 Canal Road NW, Washington DC (Google Map)
- USATF certified course DC21001RT | Certificate | Color Map | B&W Map | DOC | PDF | GMAP
- Course:
- Totally flat dirt-packed gravel trail, alongside scenic C&O Canal Towpath
- The half marathon is out 6.55 miles to Towpath mile 9.65 and back
- The towpath runs the length of 184.5 miles along the scenic C&O Canal
- Made of crushed stone and packed dirt, it is perfect for running, biking, and recreational events and programs
- It is mostly a flat route combined with some hills, turns, and medium or moderate terrain, but it's straight out'n'back where we run this race
- Please be courteous to other park users. We do not have exclusive use of the trail -- we share it with other runners, walkers, and bicyclists
- Aid stations with water & Gatorade at 4 locations accessible from Canal Road NW & EASTBOUND Clara Barton Parkway:
- Fletcher's Cove, miles 0.0 & 13.1
- Lock 5, miles 1.8 & 11.3
- Lock 7, miles 3.8 & 9.3
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Lock 10, miles 5.8 & 7.3
Spectator Access:
- At the 4 aid stations above, plus:
- Start / midpoint / finish line at at Fletcher's Cove, miles 0.0 & 13.1
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Under Chain Bridge, down the spiral ramp to C&O Canal Towpath, where Canal Road NW becomes Clara Barton Parkway NW, miles 1.0 & 12.1 -
• A good place to watch in case of rain | Free parking on the canal side of Clara Barton Parkway - Lock 5 -- off-road parking on the south side of Clara Barton Parkway, legally accessible only from eastbound Clara Barton Parkway -- we would never suggest crossing the median strip
- Lock 6 -- limited parking
- Lock 7 -- ample parking
- Lock 8 -- limited parking
- Lock 9 -- limited parking
- Lock 10 -- ample parking
- Lock 11 -- accessible only on foot from Lock 10 on C&O Canal Towpath
- Turnaround point (at the end of the blue line) -- accessible only on foot from Lock 10 on C&O Canal Towpath
- Headphones and water belts:
- Re personal listening devices, we follow USATF rule 144.3.b (Assistance to Athletes):
- 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
• Finish line
- Questions?
- Write the race director or or call 703-505-3567
- Want to sponsor us? Join us as a sponsor!
- Benefits
- Safety And Health Foundation and its charity partners:
- Buy A Brick Foundation
- DC Capital Striders
- Marathon Charity Co-operation
- Ethio-American Athletic Association
- Wendy Martinez Legacy Project
- 2028 Boston Marathon Qualifier
- We send our marathon results to BAA the day after the marathon
- Course
- Start and finish at Fletcher's Cove | 4940 Canal Road NW, Washington DC
- Flat - scenic - beautiful views of the Potomac River - tree-lined - shaded - out'n'back
- The course is 100% unpaved gravel except for about 50 meters across a wooden footbridge and about 50 meters of concrete at Lock 5 and under I-495 to prevent erosion
- No roads, no crossings, no hills
- USATF certified course DC21001RT | Certificate | Color Map | B&W Map | DOC | PDF | Printable map
- Almost totally flat course -- highest point is 44m above sea level, lowest point is 12m above sea level
- GMAP
- Course elevation profile: -------------------------------
- Enjoy a lovely day on the C&O Canal Towpath!
- See displays about the historic C&O Canal before & after race
- Read about the history of the C&O Canal Towpath:
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chesapeake_and_Ohio_Canal
- www.bikewashington.org/canal
- www.onthecanal.org
- www.nps.gov/choh
- www.bikecando.com
- www.patc.us/store/XX250.htm
- Keepers
- Souvenir bag
- Finisher's Medal
- Post-race refreshments
- Colorful t-shirt
- Last year's t-shirt - October 2026 Front | Back
- Directions
- Fletcher's Cove is two miles due west of Key Bridge and one mile east of Chain Bridge at 4940 Canal Road NW, Washington DC
- From Georgetown, take M Street NW west past Key Bridge
- At Foxhall Road, M Street NW becomes Canal Road NW
- Stay left on Canal Road NW
- The old stone wall continues from Key Bridge to Fletcher's Cove
- After two miles, you see the stoplight for Reservoir Road NW at the gap in the old stone wall
- CAREFULLY turn left into the driveway down to free parking for 85 cars in the upper parking lot
- When the upper lot is full, bear right at the bottom of the driveway into the tunnel under C&O Canal Towpath
- At the end of the tunnel, bear left to free parking for 200 card in the lower parking lot
- If both parking lots are full, we post a marshal on Canal Road NW at Reservoir Road NW to instruct drivers to turn RIGHT up Reservoir Road NW to free parking on-street and at The River School
- Please approach Fletcher's Cove from the east using M Street NW and Canal Road NW from Georgetown
- Make a left at the stoplight at Reservoir Road to go down the ramp to Fletcher's Cove
- Please DO NOT approach Fletcher's Cove from the west from Clara Barton Parkway and Chain Bridge onto Canal Road NW
- From Canal Road eastbound, making the hairpin turn to go down the ramp to Fletcher's Cove is almost impossible
- Drop-off instructions
- Parking is limited at Fletcher's Cove
- If you can get someone to drop you off, or if you take a cab or Uber / Lyft, please ask the driver to drop you off at the top of the driveway
- Don't go down the driveway and try to turn around, because we want to avoid traffic jams
- Logistics
- COVID-19 SAFETY PROTOCOLS: All food and water handlers will be gloved and masked
- Please stay masked yourself until you start running.
- Stay a safe distance from unfamiliar people
- No high-fives or hand-shaking
- Dispose of your empty paper cups in the trash bags around each aid station -- let's not have volunteers cleaning up after you
- If you are sick, coughing, feverish, sneezing, please defer to a future race -- there's always another race, but there's never another you
- Assisted by
- Buy A Brick Foundation
- DC Capital Striders
- Ethio-American Athletic Association
- Marathon Charity Cooperation
- Packet Pick-ups
- Packet Assembly:
-
Early birds: Help us assemble bib numbers and goodie bags, and get your bib number, t-shirt, and goodie bag early
on Thursday, October 15, from 3:00 PM to 6:45 PM at ACE Physical Therapy and Sports Medicine Institute, 2841 Hartland Drive #401, Falls Church VA (702-205-1233)
- Pre-race packet pickup:
- Friday, October 15, 12:00 noon to 5:45 PM, Pacers Running Store, 3100 Clarendon Boulevard, Arlington VA, across street from Clarendon Metro, free parking at Trader Joe's if you buy something -- includes late registration
- You may pick up someone else's bib number and packet if you bring along a signed note or a printed e-mail message from your friend
- If you want to change your start time or distance, you MUST inform the registrar when you pick up your bib number on Thursday, Friday, or Saturday
- We will also have a change chart on the timing table at the start / finish line. No, you can't run a 1:50 marathon. We'll know it's a half marathon. ;-)
- Pre-Race Dinner
- Join us for pre-race dinner to continue a conversation that may change the world
- Friday, October 16, 6:15 PM, at Big Tony's Pizzzeria, 3100 Clarendon Boulevard #5, Arlington VA (703-812-0833), two doors west of Pacers
- Dinner tickets are $10 for all you can eat ($15 after October 1) with a guest speaker TBD
- Please Register for the dinner by Thursday, October 16, at 5 PM
- Host Hotel
- Le Méridién by Marriott, 1121 19th Street North, Arlington, Virginia, USA, 22209
- It's the hotel closest to the race start / finish - just 3 walkable miles away
- Toll Free: 1-888-627-7101 | Local: 703-351-9170
- Make all reservations, modifications, or cancellations, on-line with
- Reserve your room(s) at our host hotel for this race
- Start Date: Thursday, October 15, 2026
- End Date: Saturday, October 17, 2026
- Le Méridien Arlington for 222.00 USD per night
- Last Day to Book : Monday, September 28, 2026
- Host hotel features:
- Excellent in-house restaurant and bar -- "Amuse"
- Digital Check In
- Meeting Space
- Fitness Center
- Focus on Sustainability
- Nearby restaurants:
- Continental - 0.1 Miles - Delight in the simple pleasures at Continental, a modern pool lounger offering a delectable list of bar food and a long list of beers. Located close to our hotel near the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History - Open for Lunch & Dinner
- International - Nando's - 0.1 Miles - An Afro-Portuguese chain restaurant beloved for its peri-peri chicken, Nando’s serves flame-grilled chicken in spicy chili sauce. Convenient to our hotel near Washington D.C.
- American - Open Road Rosslyn, a woodsy and award-winning restaurant, is known for its seasonal menus, creative cocktails, and craft beers, plus take-out to take home to your room or suite. (703-248-0760) - Dress Code: Casual
- Italian - Sfoglina - 0.3 Miles - Known for its whimsical design, al fresco patio dining, and Italian menus, cocktails, and wines, Sfoglina offers a full menu that ranges from apps and mains to salads and desserts.
- Mexican - District Taco - 0.3 Miles -From our hotel near downtown Arlington, you’re an easy walk to District Taco, where you’ll enjoy fresh tacos, burritos, and guacamole at this food truck-inspired eatery. Open for Breakfast & Lunch & Dinner
- Pizza - Wiseguy Pizza - 0.5 Miles
- South American - Inca Social - 0.5 Miles
- American - Barley Mac - 0.5 Miles
- Race-Day Announcer:
- Race-Day Events
- 7:45 AM -- Join us in singing the National Anthem, played by 22-year finisher Michael Creadoen
- 7:48 AM -- Official welcome and instructions
- 8:00 AM -- Marathon start
- 8:45 AM -- National Anthem -- We seek an active duty or retired military service member to hold the flag - Thank you for serving! - We seek a singer for the National Anthem at 8:45 AM
- 8:48 AM -- Official welcome and instructions
- 9:00 AM -- Half Marathon start
-
Aid stations with water, Gatorade, CarbBoom! and friendly faces at
• The start / midpoint / finish at Fletcher's Cove - Miles 0.0, 13.1, and 26.2 (permanent and portable toilets at Fletcher's Cove)
Lock 6 - Miles 2.5, 11, 15, 24 -- served by Ethio-American Athletic Association and Marathon Charity Cooperation | (portable toilet across C&O Canal) and
Lock 7 - Miles 4, 9, 17, 22 -- served by DC Capital Striders (portable toilet across C&O Canal)
Lock 10 - Miles 6, 7, 19, 20 -- served by Buy a Brick Foundation
- Photography:
- Photos at the event by FlashFrame.io
- Photos online later on race day
- 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 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
- Post-race
- Refreshments courtesy of
- Big Tony's Pizzeria
- Trader Joe's of Arlington
- Medals by Dan Kain Trophies, presentation of awards
- Certificates of completion by e-mail upon request
- Past Results
- October 7, 2023, marathon & half | We had 7 Boston Marathon qualifiers | Awards
- October 2, 2021, marathon & half | We had 14 Boston Marathon qualifiers | Awards
- October 5, 2019, marathon & half | We had 9 Boston Marathon qualifiers | Awards
- September 29, 2018, marathon & half | We had 8 Boston Marathon qualifiers | Awards
- October 28, 2017, marathon & half | We had 16 Boston Marathon qualifiers | Awards
- November 20, 2016, marathon & half | We had 19 Boston Marathon qualifiers | 9:00 AM marathon awards
- November 19, 2016, half marathon | 10:00 AM half marathon awards
- Special Photo Page - Wilson vs. Petersen
- November 15, 2015, marathon & half | We had 14 Boston Marathon qualifiers | 9:00 AM marathon awards
- November 14, 2015, half marathon | 10:00 AM half marathon awards
- On September 12, 2015, we had 19 Boston Marathon qualifiers
- On May 3, 2015, we had 12 Boston Marathon qualifiers
- On November 16, 2014, we had 36 Boston Marathon qualifiers
- On September 13, 2014, we had 27 Boston Marathon qualifiers
- On May 4, 2014, we had 2015 11 Boston Marathon qualifiers
- On November 17, 2013, we had 22 2015 Boston Marathon qualifiers
- On May 5, 2013, we had 71 2014 Boston Marathon qualifiers
- On November 18, 2012, we had 16 2014 Boston Marathon qualifiers
- On May 6, 2012, we had 29 2013 Boston Marathon qualifiers
- On May 1, 2011, we had 27 2012 Boston Marathon qualifiers | Participants' comments
- 2010
- 2009
- 2008
- 2007
- 2006
- 2005
- 2004
- Past years' charitable support and website
- Press Room
- Read about Scott Lasch's attempt to break the Guinness World Record for running a marathon pushing a triplet baby stroller on his his Facebook page "I'm fundraising to help kids! Fundraiser for Children’s National Hospital by Scott Lasch"
- See adorable photo -- "Mama took two so Milo was replaced with an easygoing kettle bell" alt="Mama took two so Milo was replaced with an easygoing kettle bell"
- SHF was delighted to donate $100 to Jill's house in 2014, in gratitude for James Scarborough's extensive service to SHF and to the whole running community. James Scarborough wrote: "Jill's House is an organization which serves disabled children and their families, located on the campus of McLean Bible Church. I am running Marine Corps Marathon on the Jill's House team. I thank SHF for contributing to this worthy cause on my behalf."
- Read Katie St. Pierre's story
- Jess Kurti wrote: "Although I'm one of those crazy Maniacs/50-Staters, my other goal is to volunteer at least one shift at every food bank in the Feeding America network (over 200 throughout the USA). I've already completed a race in Maryland (JFK 50), but I was so very beat-up afterwards, I missed the opportunity to volunteer. So, I'm looking for a shot at redemption! I would be more than happy to make a donation to the Maryland Food Bank in Mr. Shulman's honor (or to The Buy a Brick Foundation, of both!). Really, the running is secondary to service, but I prefer to volunteer in conjunction with marathoning."
- Elaine Kolvoord wrote: "I have 6 children, all runners. The youngest, 7, says she was born to run and wants to run in the Olympics. She has a Facebook page: Big Mak Runs For Riley. She has won every cross country meet this year, has been overall female in a 5K, set the single age world record in the 10K, and was given the single age world record in the half in May, but her record was removed when documents showing another 7-year-old went faster in 1982. She wants to recapture that record. She has run 3 half marathons this year, the last was 1:45:11. She has been training to run a 1:40:00 and looks forward to running your race in November."
- Jaime Horn, 35, of Washington DC, writes: "I am running Potomac River Run Marathon to raise money for my best friend's foundation who was killed in Iraq in 2007 while working for a democracy-building organization. The Andi Foundation (www.theandifoundation.org) offers financial assistance to young women who wish to work in the fields of politics, communications, and humanitarian work."
- April 6, 2010 -- Potomac River Run Marathon Calls Itself “The Easiest Marathon in America” -- in Washington Running Report
- April 2, 2010 -- Press Release | DOC | PDF
-
Terri Lynne Willis's 2007 pre-PRR Marathon blog | Her 2007 Marine Corps Marathon blog | in News from the Emory Transplant Center
- Sponsors:
Red Top Cab
For convenient pick-up at National Airport or to / from anywhere in Northern Virginia, call Red Top Cab at 703-522-3333
Carb Boom! Energy Gels
Read all about Carb BOOM! Energy Gels
Simone Super Energy™
www.simonesuperenergy.com
Read Dr. Simone's warnings about running in hot weather
Trader Joe's
1109 Morth Highland Street, Arlington VA 22201 (703-351-8015) and many other locations