All of our marathons are Boston qualifiers!
Georgetown Half Marathon

Georgetown Half Marathon

Charity race for girls' education in Kenya and Nepal
Georgetown Half Marathon

Saturday, October 5, 2024
9:00 AM - Half Marathon
C&O Canal Towpath at
Fletcher's Cove, 4940 Canal Road, Washington DC 20007

To support girls' education in Kenya and Nepal
Presented by
Mercy
Presented by Mercy Center Foundation U.S.A.
Kaimont
and Kaimont LLC
mercyvideo
  • View Mercy Center Foundation's video by Davin Lindwall
    featuring the girls of Mercy School, Lare, Kenya
    and the Mercy Project providing access
    to clean water, health care, educational opportunities, and micro-enterprise initiatives
    photo2
  • QR
    Scan this QRcode to open this web page
  • Registration:
    • Enter on-Line
    • Express Registration | Jumps past the first screen
    • On or after 1/1/2024 12:00 a.m. -- $60.00
    • On or after 5/1/2024 12:00 a.m. -- $70.00
    • On or after 7/1/2024 12:00 a.m. -- $80.00
    • On or after 8/1/2024 12:00 a.m. -- $90.00
    • On or after 9/1/2024 12:00 a.m. -- $100.00
    • On or after 9/25/2024 12:00 a.m. -- $110.00 or at packet pick-up at Georgetown Running Company, 3401 M Street NW, Washington DC
    • $10.00 discount for active duty military and students
    • No race-day registration
  • Volunteer:
    • Do you want to help at an aid station or as a volunteer?
    • VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: We have more than 35 positions that need to be filled, from the Start/Finish to picking up coffee and food to clean up.
    • Volunteers are needed at Lock 5, 7 and Lock 10.
    • We need volunteers to cheer on the runners on the course (5 or more at each Lock above along the canal. Here is the link to sign up to volunteer now -
    • We count on our volunteers in order to have a successful race! They are dedicated, serious and come out to have a good day on the course!
    • Please sign up here as a volunteer for the race using this form ...
    • ... or this link: www.safetyandhealthfoundation.org/georgetownhalf/volunteer
    • Volunteer Instructions | PDF | DOC
    • For more information about volunteer activities, please contact the race director at racedirector@att.net with the subject line "Georgetown_Half_Marathon_Volunteer" or call 703-505-3567
  • Medals and awards
    • Distinctive medals for the first 200 finishers
    • Gift certificates from sponsors for 1st, 2nd, 3rd M/F overall and 1st, 2nd, and 3rd M/F in age groups 19 & under, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, and 70 & over

  • RFID real-time timing by Safety And Health Foundation
    • Your timing chip is stapled to the back of your bib number
    •     either behind the name tag at the bottom or at the top
    • Don't lose it, don't remove it from its location behind the name tag,
    •     don't tear it off to check your bag, don't leave in your car
    • In other words, if you don't have your chip intact at the finish line,
    •     we can't score you, and you won't be in the results
    • When you're done with the race, volunteers welcome you back and pull off
    •     your name tag and timing chip
    • We use WebScorer ® for timing the race.
    • After our race starts, open our WebScorer results page and click "Georgetown Half Marathon" (nothing to see yet)
    • Webscorer computes your results instantly and sends you an email within 10 seconds after you finish

    • You may contact us with questions or hire us for RFID timing for your own races -- call Jay at 703-505-3567

  • Invitation:
    • Limited to the first 350 entrants
    • Perfect for both experienced runners and first-timers
    • Open to anyone who can finish the half marathon by 1:00 PM
    • We must enforce this time limit due to National Park Service regulations
    • Aid stations shut down on this schedule: Lock 10 at 12:15 PM, Lock 7 at 12:30 PM, and Lock 5 at 12:45 PM (approximately 17-minute miles)
    • If you don't make those cuts, aid station volunteers will offer you transportation back to the finish
    • The finish line remains open until the last person finishes, we hope before 1:00 PM

  • Weather Conditions:
    • We conduct this race under the supervision of National Park Service and U.S. Park Police
    • In the unlikely event they deem weather conditions to be dangerous, they have the authority to ask us to delay the start, to shorten the course, or to move operations such as the live music and post-race refreshments up from the lower level picnic tables to the upper level at the Towpath
    • We intend to conduct the event on-time as planned except in case of emergency
    • The Weather Channel forecasts

  • Benefits:

  • Race Weekend Agenda:
      Georgetown
    • Friday, October 4
    • 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM -- Pre-race packet pick-up at Georgetown Running Company, 3401 M Street NW, Washington DC
    • You may pick up the packet for a friend or family member

    • Saturday, October 5
    • 6:45 AM -- On-site volunteer set-up
    • 7:15 AM -- On-site packet pick-up opens
    • 7:15 AM -- Free bag check is available -- write your bib number and name on your white plastic bag or green goodie bag -- no duffel bags or backpacks, per National Park Service regulations
    • 8:30 AM -- Pre-race warm-up on lower-level near boathouse
    • 8:40 AM -- Half marathon runners gather at upper-level on C&O Canal Towpath at start / finish line
    • 8:45 AM -- National Anthem sung by member of Bach2Rock McLean
    • 8:50 AM -- Official welcome by Kaimont LLC (Monika Paris) and Mercy Center Foundation USA (Adrianne Doherty)
    • 8:55 AM -- Course instructions by Safety And Health Foundation (Jay Jacob Wind)
    • 9:00 AM -- Half marathon starts

    • Medals for the first 200 finishers
    • 10:15 AM -- Half marathoners receive finishers medals when they finish -- stay for the awards
    • 10:15 AM -- Refreshments, food, Bach2Rock McLean will provide the DJ music for the race - featuring DJ Chrome - at lower level
    • 11:15 AM -- Awards presentation at lower level (1st, 2nd, 3rd M/F overall and by 10-year age group)
    • 12:00 noon -- Last few half marathon finishers arrive
    • 1:00 PM -- Clean-up begins
    • 1:45 PM -- Clean-up complete

    • 7:00 PM -- Results published ASAP at www.safetyandhealthfoundation.org/20241005.html and thank-you e-mail to all entrants

  • USATF-Certified Course:
    • The half marathon is USATF-certified and a qualifying race for Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York City, and USA Olympic Trials Marathons

  • Sponsor Us:
    • Please join us as a sponsor | PDF
    • We announce our sponsors in pre-race e-mailings, on our web s ite, on our t-shirt, on race-day, and post-race
    • If you're interested in sponsoring, please call Adrianne Doherty (703-309-6657) to discuss levels and opportunities

    2023 Sponsors:
  • ULLICO - Providing Financial Security for Unions and Their Members
  • 1625 Eye Street, Washington DC
  • Edward M. Smith, President
  • Ullico

     

  • Georgetown Running Company
  • 3401 M Street NW, Washington DC 20007 (202-337-8626)
  • GRC

     

    Visitation
  • Georgetown Visitation Preparatory School
        1524 35th Street NW, Washington DC 20007 (202-337-3350)

  •  

    georgetownsportsmassage
  • Georgetown Sports Massage

  • Softedge
  • SoftEdge -- Connect to Capitol Hill

  •  

    balduccis.jpg
  • Balducci's® Food Lover's Market™

  •  

    bac-logo.png
  • International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers (BAC)
  • Timothy Driscoll, President

  •  

    ACE-Logo.png
  • ACE Physical Therapy and Sports Medicine Institute

  •  

    coffeerepublic.png
  • Coffee Republic Georgetown

  •  

  • Pre-Race Packet Pick-up:

  • Race-Day Packet Pick-up:
    • Race-day packet pick-up on Saturday, October 5 -- Please arrive early
    •     Opens 7:15 AM, closes at 8:45 AM
    •     On-site at Fletcher's Cove, 4940 Canal Road NW, Washington DC

    • We will not not mail packets

  • Directions to Fletcher's Cove:
    • Fletcher's Cove is two miles west of Key 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 on the right and the gap in the old stone wall on the left
    • CAREFULLY turn left down the ramp to free parking for 85 cars in the upper parking lot
    • When the upper lot is full, bear right at the bottom of the ramp and turn into the tunnel under C&O Canal Towpath
    • At the end of the tunnel, bear left to free parking for 200 cars in the lower parking lot
    • As soon as you exit the tunnel, don't fall into the 8-foot-long 4-foot-deep ditch on right-hand side
    • 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 from DC 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 MD using Clara Barton Parkway or VA using 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

  • Course Maps:

  • 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
          • Lock 5, miles 1.8 & 11.3
          • Lock 7, miles 3.8 & 9.3
          • Lock 10, miles 5.8 & 7.3

  • 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

  • Spectator Access:

  • Post-Race:

    • Snacks & refreshments: Coffee, bagels, Power Bars, bananas, and water at lower level Fletcher's Boat House Picnic area

  • Awards:
    • Distinctive medals for the first 200 finishers
    • Gift certificates from sponsors
    • for 1st, 2nd, 3rd M/F overall and for 1st, 2nd, 3rd M/F in 10-year age groups 19 & under, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70 & over

  • Free on-site parking:
    • We have 285 free parking spaces at Fletcher's Cove.
    • 85 spaces are at the upper level near Abner Cloud House when you arrive
    • If those spaces are filled, enter the tunnel on the right to go to the lower parking area, where we have 200 more spaces oon the left near Potomac River
    • Once we fill all the parking at Fletcher's Cove (maybe 8:15 AM), we direct cars to turn right on Reservoir Road towards free on-street parking, 0.3 to 0.7 miles away.

  • Off-site parking:
  • Timing System:
    • We use WebScorer for results on line and by email instantly when you finish
    • To make it work, please read and follow these instructions:
    • Stapled to the back of your bib number, you see a 3"x5" plastic waterproof envelope containing your RFID timing chip that corresponds to your bib number
    • The plastic envelope is firmly stapled to the bib number, and the envelope is zipped tight to be waterproof
    • The timing chips are NOT disposable -- they cost us about $3.00 assembled
    • The waterproof envelope is designed for re-use at every SHF race every year
    • If you pick up your bib number but not run the race, please mail the envelope back to SHF. The envelope contains mailing label.
    • You may keep the bib but please return the chip intact
    • Before and during the race, please do not remove the chip from its envelope
    • Please do not detach the envelope from your bib number
    • The envelope should stay safe on the back of your bib number, but if the envelope slips off during the race, please pick it up off the ground and convey it to the finish line
    • Immediately after the race, remove your name tag WITH THE ENVELOPE AND CHIP INTACT and hand it to the volunteer at the finish line
    • NO CHIP, NO TIME
  • Avoid extra charges!
    • When you enter on-line with Active.com, avoid extra charges!
    • When Active.com offers magazine subscriptions, DON'T DO IT!
    • When Active.com offers event insurance, DON'T DO IT! Allianz Insurance make filing claims impossible!
    • When Active.com offers Active Advantage, DON'T DO IT!
    • We have the best policy in the industry for deferrals and transfers. Call 703-505-3567 or write to racedirector@att.net Read our deferral and transfer policy

  • Past years' results:
  • 2019 Photos by Frank Blancero12345678