ACE Physical Therapy & Sports Medicine Institute
23rd annual Potomac River Run Marathon & Half

• September 5, 2026 - 20^thAbebe Bikila Day International Peace Marathon & Half
• October 17, 2026 - 23½^th Potomac River Run Marathon & Half in memory of Dean Shulman and Wendy Martinez

• If you complete 23^rd Potomac River Run, 20^th Abebe Bikila Day International Peace, and 23½^th Potomac River Run (either half or full marathon), you are entered in SHF's 2026 Grand Prix Series
• $100 cash award to anyone who completes all three SHF half or full marathons in 2026 - May 2, September 5, and October 17

• Right after your finish, we honor you with a medallion printed by Dan Kain Trophies
• We try to present awards immediately after you finish, so please listen for the presentation
• After you get your medallion,
• Get some refreshments under our recovery tent on the C&O Canal Towpath, and then walk down the stairs to our post-race picnic

• 8:00 AM Full Marathon Awards: $250 to 1st, $150 to 2nd, $100 to 3rd overall M/F; commemoratives to 1st, 2nd, 3rd by 10-year age-group M/F in the 8:00 competitive start
• 9:00 AM Half Marathon Awards: Commemoratives to 1st, 2nd, 3rd M/F overall and 1st, 2nd, 3rd by 10-year age-group M/F
• Finisher certificates by e-mail on request

• Your choice of a

  Colorful, reflective warm wooly winter hat in Safety Orange and Safety Yellow

  Handy 6-blade pocketknife (3 inches long, TSA-compliant)

  Spacious sturdy black reinforced canvas 10-gallon carry-all bag

  24-pack of your favorite flavor of CarbBOOM!

  Free entry to any of our future races (we send you a code)

• Refreshments courtesy of Big Tony's Pizzeria, bagels, and Trader Joe's energy bars and fresh fruit from Trader Joe's

• Printed by LynnPro | Get them at packet pick-up
• Click image to view in full screen

  2026
  
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  2025
  
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  2024
  
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After your corrections, we publish a list of award winners and ask you to select your preference for an award, and then we mail any awards not claimed on race day.

Hawkers Asian Street Food of Bethesda Row
7117 Bethesda Lane, Bethesda MD 20814
(240-203-8135)
Serving at our post-race picnic • Chinese, Hong Kong, Japanese, Korean, Thai cuisine and more
• Wade Baker
• Nicholas Barth
• Ingrid Chaves
• Chris Hillis
• Addison Johnson
• Ben Jones
• De'John King
• Trevlyn Martin
• Fumiya Ogishima
• Dux Raymond Sy
  
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• Phuc Tran
• Hope White
• Jayme Ulbin
• Bernie Collins
• Kianna Banks
• Emma Fox
• Li-Ting Song
• Brady Stauffer
• Joda Thongnopnua
• Raheem A Hill
• Michael Taylor
• Andre Lewis
• David Olson
• Lindsay Lee

• Metro 29 Diner
  
  
• ACE Physical Therapy & Sports Medicine Institute

• Boom Nutrition | CarbBoom! the best-tasting energy gel anywhere
     
  
• Pacers Running Stores
  • Locations:
  • ALEXANDRIA - 1301 King Street, Alexandria, VA 22314 - 703-836-1463
  • ARLINGTON - 3100 Clarendon Blvd, Arlington, VA 22201 - 571-257-8683
  • LOGAN CIRCLE DC - 2104 14th St NW, Washington DC 20009 - 202-506-2029
  • GEORGETOWN DC - 1079 Wisconsin St NW, Washington DC 20007 - 202-845-8798
  • NAVY YARD DC - 300 Tingey St SE #160, Washington, DC 20003- 202-554-1216

  

• Trader Joe's of Clarendon

• Dan Kain Trophies
• Red Top Cab
• BJ's Wholesale Warehouse
• gotügo
• 

• Swift Running
  
  
• CELSIUS -- Live Fit

  
  

• Simone Super Energy
  • Technical documentation:
  • "A Safe Healthy Patented Nutritional Alternative to Those 'Popular' Drinks"
  • "Comparisons of chemical characteristics"
  • "Comparisons of nutritional characteristics"
  • "For Extreme Performance, Drink Before, During, and After Exercise"

• Write the race director or call 703-927-4833

• If you want to share your comments, share rides, thoughts, and photos via Facebook, we're at www.facebook.com/groups/PotomacRiverRun
• We answer each comment.

"Showtime Mike" Mebreahtu
• Watch Showtime Mike here on YouTube | and here

• Leigh and I have been in Zimbabwe for the past 10 days. 2026 Marks the 22nd Year in which Volunteers from The Buy a Brick Foundation have been boots on the ground in Zimbabwe, Africa.
• We will be here for 6 months, along with roughly 60 Volunteers coming from the States and Canada during the months of June, July and August.
• Over the years, The Partnership between the Safety and Health Foundation and the Buy a Brick Foundation through the donations coming from the 3 Marathons per year, has provided at least and not limited to 1 fully functional clinic in the rural bush of Africa serving the medical needs of 2,000+ people and in addition to that, 8 school blocks have been built. In the past hundreds and hundreds of these kids were attending school under the trees or not going to school at all because there was no building structure, So why go? Also, what Teacher wants to teach under a tree? There are only a few who would.
• In total The Buy a Brick Foundation has now built 44 school blocks and teachers living quarters and more are going to be built this year in 2026. We have established 24 CommUnity Gardens with drilled Water Wells giving numerous rural Villages the opportunity to have year-round crop rotation.
• A second clinic is almost at 100% and should be fully functional by the end of 2026, further participation is required by the local Zimbabwe Government Health Dept to complete.
• Add to all of this our Faith Based Outreach and Feeding Programs and there is so much more, have established The Buy a Brick Foundation as a true friend in Zimbabwe.
• Thanks to Jay Jacob Wind for his Love for Africa as so many here in Zimbabwe HAVE BEEN Blessed.
• Take Care All
• Jesus Bless
  -- Gib Leonard, www.BuyaBrickFoundation.org> www.BuyaBrickFoundation.org

• Three times a year, at each marathon in May, September, and October, we donate $8000 to Buy A Brick Foundation, $1400 to Marathon Charity Cooperation, $600 to DC Capital Striders, a member of Road Runners Club of America, and $500 to Ethio-American Athletic Association
• In September, we donate $2000 to Upendo Educational Foundation

• On December 3, 2020, Giving Tuesday, we donated $4000 of expected net proceeds of our marathon not held on May 3, 2020, to Buy A Brick Foundation so it would get doubled by Facebook, then doubled again by a private donor
• We shared our love in the time of coronavirus

• In 2011-2017, we also supported American Red Cross International Response Fund in Haiti
• On May 1, 2017, we donated $10, and we gratefully acknowledge the contribution from Lisa Totten
• On April 22, 2015, we donated $225, and we gratefully acknowledge contributions from Jim Amrhein, Holly Dubbeling, Elisabeth Mueller, Mary Beth Owens, Ann Marie Terzaken, Scott S. Thomas, Phoebe Uricchio, and John Wood
• On December 27, 2014, we donated $150, and we gratefully acknowledge contributions from Albert Avila, Mary H. Ester, Craig Odell, Tim Rooney, and Lynn Stapp
• On May 5, 2014, we donated $145, and we gratefully acknowledge contributions from Mehdi S. Cherqaoui, Jeff Duyn, Annie Lowrey, Zachary Maxcey, Mark John Rolincik, and Ginger Elaine Zarse
• On May 6, 2013, we donated $100, and we gratefully acknowledge contributions from Roberto Sidoti, Paula C. Bamford, Audrey Fincher, and Luke Mitchell
• On May 5, 2013, we donated $1,000 to One Fund Boston in memory of the victims of the Boston Marathon bombing and in support of the many who were injured
• On May 7, 2012, we donated $225, and we gratefully acknowledge contributions from Madeline A. Blobe, Elizabeth Clor, Kevin Foley, Laura Huffman, Stephen Roberts, Joanne B. Sechrest, Ryan Earl Schmidt, and Oskar Tiger
• On May 2, 2011, we donated $100, and we gratefully acknowledge contributions from John Batley, Katherine Anne Gergen Barnett, Hannah Kojm, and Robert Ian McDonald

• Q. Will water and athletic drinks be passed out in paper cups or in bottles?
• A. At the aid stations, both water and Gatorade will be in paper cups. Before the start, we offer free samples of CarbBoom®. Before the start and after the finish, we offer Simone Super Energy®.
• Q. Do you recycle / re-use?
• A. Yes. Please dispose of cups and bottles in our marked recycling boxes. Please deposit banana peels and other food waste in our marked composting boxes. We re-use unclaimed bib numbers from previous years
• Q. Where will drinks be passed out?
• A. At the start / midpoint / finish at Fletcher's Cove and at each aid station at Lock 6, Lock 7, and Lock 10.
• Q. What time is the start time for the race?
• A. The full marathon starts at 8:00 AM, and the half marathon starts at 9:00 AM.
• Q. Is the full marathon a Boston qualifier?
• A. Yes, and we send results to Boston Athletic Association about a week after the race.
• Q. Is the half of full marathon a qualifier for anything else?
• A. Yes, and results are available on-line for verification required for qualifiers for Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York City, and marathons -- also Olympic Trials during qualifying years
• Q. What are the full marathon awards?
• A. In the 8:00 AM full marathon: $250 for 1st M/F overall, $150 for 2nd M/F overall, and $100 for 3rd M/F overall, plus your choice of SHF items or store certificates for top 3 M/F in age groups 19 & under, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70 & over
• Q. What are the half marathon awards?
• A. In the 9:00 AM half marathon: your choice of SHF items or store certificates for top 3 M/F overall and in age groups 19 & under, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70 & over
• Q. If I want to start the half marathon at 8:00 AM, is that OK?
• A. Yes, but no awards in the 8:00 AM half marathon
• Q. When should I arrive?
• A. Please arrive a half hour before your start. If you pick up your packet on Thursday or Friday, then you don't have to stand in line on Saturday. If you don't, please allow 10 extra minutes to get your packet.
• Q. What about parking?
• A. We only have about 385 spaces at Fletcher's Cove, and we want to leave some spaces for other park users. Fletcher's Cove has two parking areas. After you enter the driveway toward Fletcher's Cove, look to your left. The upper lot has about 85 parking spaces. Those spaces fill quickly. Now look to your right. You see a tunnel that goes under C&O Canal and C&O Towpath. Carefully enter the tunnel and drive through it to a lower lot with about 300 parking spaces. Once we fill all the parking at Fletcher's Cove (maybe 7:15 AM), a US Park Police officer directs cars to turn right on Reservoir Road towards free on-street parking at The River School, on W Street, Hutchins Street, Bending Lane, Reservoir Road, and MacArthur Boulevard, 0.3 to 0.7 miles away.
• Alternatively, please take our Red Top Cab from Marriott Crystal City or car-pool to minimize parking delays.
• Q. May I carry water or wear a hydration belt?
• A. For sure! But won't it slow you down? We have aid stations with water and Gatorade roughly every two miles.
• Q. Do you accept self-measurement using GPS?
• A. To be fair, no. We expect everyone to run the same course, USATF-certified to be accurate to the nearest meter.

• Goodie bag with samples, coupons, & gift certificates
• Race refreshments, finisher's medal, and post-race picnic immediately after the finish line
• Colorful, technical wicking t-shirt by LynnPro

•     2024 front | back
•     2023 | back
•     2022 front | back
•     2021 front | back
•     2019 front JPG | back PDF
•     2018 front PDF | back PDF
•     2017 front JPG | back JPG
•     2016 front PDF | back jpg
•     2015 front JPG | back JPG
•     2014 front JPG | back JPG
•     2013 shirt
•     2012 shirt
•     2011 shirt
•     2010 front | PSD | 2010 back | PSD | PSD
•     2009 front | PSD | 2009 back | PSD
•     2008 front | 2008 back | PSD front
•     2007 shirt | 2007 frwont | 2007 back (7mB)
•     2006 front | 2006 back
•     2005 front
•     2004 front | 2004 back

• 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.
    Complete 2026 results on our web page and on our Webscorer page
    Complete DRAFT awards on our awards page
    We congratulate Boston Marathon qualifiers:

    #8   Takashi Akera, M39, Rockville MD, 2:41:18
    #609 Timothy McCauley, M34, Rockville MD, 2:45:08
    #600 William Barth, M27, Alexandria VA, 2:47:01
    #386 Jason Holder, M42, Severna Park MD, 2:47:36
    #484 Aaron Linz, M53, Charlotte NC, 2:48:42
    #947 Jacob Wishko, M39, Alexandria VA, 2:48:51
    #835 Joshua Stansky, M27, Woodbridge VA, 2:52:40
    #754 Matt Rickard, M28, Falls Church VA, 2:52:52
    #521 Aidan Mahoney, M23, Jamaica Plain MA, 2:53:05
    #392 Lance Byrd, M44, Ellicott City MD, 2:54:24
    #425 Rebekka Kalenga, F35, Salzburg Austria, 2:56:00
    #707 Mark Phillips, M36, Purcellville VA, 2:57:56
    #136 Hannah Siwy, F30, Waldorf MD, 3:02:02
    #769 Michael Galdo, M44, Lovettsville VA, 3:03:04
    #640 Freeman Hwang, M49, Wilmington DE, 3:07:43
    #200 Alexandre Deur, M52, Yorktown VA, 3:09:13
    #621 Mesfin Reda, M46, Potomac MD, 3:10:12
    #608 Lakaléa McCauley, F34, Rockville MD, 3:11:45
    #294 Emily Garten, F19, Indianapolis IN, 3:13:21
    #449 Sophie Kim, F24, Ashburn VA, 3:14:12
    #610 Reilly McClanahan, F24, Baltimore MD, 3:14:31
    #320 Flora Grainger, F26, Arlington VA, 3:16:20
    #60  Brianna Bellinghieri, F22, Glen Mills PA, 3:17:54
    #433 Caitlin Kelly, F36, Alexandria VA, 3:23:09
    #187 Emma Dalton, F36, Auburn AL, 3:26:35
    #672 Cesar Nonot, M55, Fredericksburg VA, 3:29:59
    #123 Kirsten Carr, F49, Potomac MD, 3:36:04
    #518 Priscia MacGregor, F55, Herndon VA, 3:36:49
    #964 Hongwei Li, M59, Falls Church VA, 3:37:16
    #13  Jae Kim, M61, Annandale VA, 3:44:19
     

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