ACE Physical Therapy & Sports Medicine Institute<BR><super>23rd</super> annual Potomac River Run Marathon & Half

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

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ACE
ACE Physical Therapy & Sports Medicine Institute

23rd annual

POTOMAC RIVER RUN MARATHON & HALF
Saturday, May 2, 2026
8:00 AM FULL MARATHON
9:00 AM HALF MARATHON
On the historic C&O Canal Towpath


Start & finish at Fletcher's Cove, 4940 Canal Road, Washington DC
The Easiest Trail Marathon & Half in America -- Come see why!
www.safetyandhealthfoundation.org/marathon

Commemorating World Laughter Day
WLD

  • We invite you to join us in 2026
  • ENTER ONLINE VIA ACTIVE.COM
  • EXPRESS REGISTRATION VIA ACTIVE.COM
  • Open to: runners of all levels of ability who can cover the course in less than 6 hours
  • Limited to the first 350 entrants (this time, we MEAN it)

  • Course Description and Maps

  • Volunteer:
    • Sign up as a volunteer
    • You can select to support any of our beneficiary charities, or as a volunteer for Safety And Health Foundation
    • All the locations are mapped on this web page
    • You get one of our colorful t-shirts
    • Volunteer instructions

  • Race-Day:
    • Pick up your bib number, goodie bag, and t-shirt on Saturday, May 3, from 7:15 AM to 8:45 AM, on-site at Fletcher's Cove, 4940 Canal Road, Washington DC 22207
    • Race-day packet pick-up and bag check at the picnic tables down the stairs in the lower parking lot
    • Races start at the top of the stairs on the gravel trail.

  • Chip Timing:
    • A small waterproof plastic bag is stapled to the back of your bib number.
    • That's the automatic RFID timing chip that feeds data to WebScorer®.
    • Please DO NOT OPEN THE ENVELOPE! DO NOT DESTROY THE TIMING CHIP OR RUN A SAFETY PIN THROUGH IT!
    • We collect those chips post-race to re-use at future races. They are costly.
    • After you finish, leave the timing chip intact, attached to the back of the name tag at the bottom of your bib number, and give the chip and tag to the finish line official
    • Then receive your finisher's medallion, hand-strung on a colorful ribbon

    • In addition, as a back-up, we collect the name tag at the bottom of your bib number on a stringer to ascertain the order of finish, so please co-operate with the finish line volunteers.
    • In addition, as a back-up, we transcribe your bib number in a Time Machine® hooked directly to the computer under the tent at the finish line.
    • After every 50 finishers, we print a finisher list. Consult the printed lists for your time and place. DO NOT HARRASS THE PEOPLE UNDER THE TENT AT THE RESULTS TABLE!

    • We broadcast the finish times directly and instantly to www.webscorer.com® which emails your results to you in real time.
    • For a link to live results, go to www.webscorer.com/shfresults

  • Post-race:
    • 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

  • Awards:
    • 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

  • This year's commemorative awards:
    • Refreshments courtesy of Big Tony's Pizzeria, bagels, and Trader Joe's energy bars and fresh fruit from Trader Joe's
    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
  • 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
  • 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

    • Copyright © 2023 Safety And Health Foundation, Inc.  All Rights Reserved.

  • To drive to Fletcher's Cove from Georgetown, head west on M Street.
  • Cross Foxhall Road. M Street becomes Canal Road.
  • Continue west for 1.5 miles on Canal Road to the sign for Fletcher's Cove on the left.
  • CAREFULLY cross the westbound lane to turn onto the driveway.
  • Stay right and follow the tunnel under the C&O Canal to free parking.
  • Alternatively, turn right onto Reservoir Road and park free on any neighborhood street.
  • Please carpool or use our Facebook page to share rides, thoughts, and photos!
  • Civil Twilight at 5:41 AM, Sunrise at 6:09 AM

  • On-site Parking:

  • Drop-off instructions

  • Off-Site Parking Options -->

  • T-shirts designed by Karla McDuffie

  • We thank our charity volunteers:

  • 7:45 AM - 22-time Potomac River Run Marathon finisher Michael Creadon plays the National Anthem on trumpet
  • 8:00 AM - Full marathon starts
  • 8:30 AM -- Second Laughing warm-up begins
  • 9:00 AM - Half marathon starts
  • 9:15 AM - First half marathoners finish
  • 9:20 AM - First full marathoners make the midpoint at Fletcher's Cove
  • 12:00 noon - Last half marathoners finish
  • 2:00 PM - Last full marathoners finish
  • We thank our 2025 sponsors:

  • Race-Day Announcer:

  • Buy a Brick Foundation news:

  • FAQ:

  • Keepers:

  • Past years' t-shirts:

  • Press Room