May 02, 2026
23rd annual Potomac River Run Marathon & Half
Fletcher's Cove on the C&O Canal Towpath
4940 Canal Road NW Washington, DC 20007
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Save upto 10$ on this event!
About this event
- We look forward to welcoming you to our 23rd annual Potomac River Run Marathon & Half
- We welcome all runners and walker, we also welcome sponsors (see www.safetyandhealthfoundation.org/marathon/sponsor.pdf)
- EVENTS:
- Thursday, April 30, 2:00 PM-6:00 PM, packet assembly and early-bird packet pick-up at ACE Physical Therapy & Sports Medicine Institute, 2841 Hartland Road #401, Falls Church VA -- 0.7 miles from Dunn Loring Metro Station
- Friday, May 1, 12:00 noon to 5:45 PM packet pick-up at Pacers Running Store, 3100 Clarendon Boulevard, Arlington VA -- across the street from Clarendon Metro Station
- Friday, May 1, 6:15 PM to 8:15 PM pre-race dinner at Big Tony's Pizzeria, next door to Pacers, also 3100 Clarendon Boulevard, Arlington VA.
- Saturday, May 2, 7:15-8:45 AM, on-site at Fletcher's Cove, 4940 Canal Road NW, Washington DC. Closest Metro Station is Rosslyn 3 miles away in Arlington
- 8:00 AM: FULL MARATHON START
- 9:00 AM: HALF MARATHON START
- Flat - scenic - beautiful views of the Potomac River - tree-lined - shaded - out'n'back
- Start and finish at Fletcher's Cove
- 4940 Canal Road NW, Washington DC
- USATF certified course
- Course elevation profile: -------------------------------
- Highest point is 44m above sea level, lowest point is 12m above sea level
- Enjoy a lovely day on the C&O Canal Towpath!
- See displays about the historic C&O Canal before & after race
- The race course is 99% crushed gravel -- no hills -- no pavement except for two short stretches to prevent erosion, no cross streets
- Be aware the aid stations close down as the last runner approaches: Lock 10 closes at 1:00 PM. Lock 7 closes at 1:15 PM. Lock 6 closes at 1:30 PM. Please if you are a slow runner, bring your own water bottle to the race
- See our web page at www.safetyandhealthfoundation.org/marathon for every detail about marathon weekend
Event details and schedule
Pre-race dinner at Big Tony's Pizzeria next door to Pacers on Friday, May 1, at 6:15 PM. Add $10 dinner under Addtional Options
Buy the race director's book
- You may order an authorgraphed copy of the race director's book The Man Who Stole The Sun for $14, and you can pick-up your copy at packet pick-up. Its heroine is an intrepid 14-year-old runner whose bravery rescues Marine Corps Marathon -- but it's much more than that!
Off-Site Parking Options
- Parking is limited at Fletcher's Cove, and we must leave spaces open for the general public, as it's a National Park and open to the public even during races
- Thus we want as many participants as possible to park off-site, so that we leave some parking spaces available at Fletcher's Cove for the general public. Off-site parking options:
- • The River School entrance on Reservoir Road
- • W Street, Bending Lane, or Hutchins Place off Reservoir Road
- • 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
- For only $10 extra, we offer round-trip Red Top Cab rides from our host hotel TBD to Fletcher's Cove on race day, departing at 7:00 AM and arriving about 7:20 AM
- Please register for the taxi service AT LEAST TWO DAYS in advance
- From westbound Canal Road, Red Top Cab drops you off at Reservoir Road, at the entrance to Fletcher's Cove
- Please cross Canal Road CAREFULLY to get to Fletcher's Cove
- For the return trip after you finish, see the on-site Transportation Director.
- After you finish, as soon as we get groups of 4 finishers, we call Red Top Cab for a ride back to our host hotel, or elsewhere in DC area if you prefer
May 02, 2026SaturdayAdd to calendar
Categories
Half Marathon or Full Marathon - Non-Members
$80.00
Half Marathon or Full Marathon - Members of supporting clubs or active duty military
$70.00
Sponsors - Sponsors - - see www.safetyandhealthfoundation.org/marathon/sponsor.doc
$250.00
Only Pre-Race Dinner or Cab Ride - Pre-race all-you-can-eat dinner at Big Tony's Pizzeria in Clarendon - $10
$10.00
Only Pre-Race Dinner or Cab Ride - Red Top Cab ride from Crystal City Marriott to Fletcher's Cove. Departs 7:00 AM, returns after you finish ($10)
$10.00
Only Pre-Race Dinner or Cab Ride - Pre-Race Dinner AND Round-Trip Cab Ride ($20)
$20.00
Transfer from another person or use a deferral from a previous race - Transfer from another person or use a deferral from a previous race
$10.00
Save upto 10$ on this event!
Course Map