C&O Canal Towpath Marathon and Half Marathon

Registration

To enter click here: Entrant fees: $65 for the half and $80 for the marathon, and $70 for the half and $90 for the marathon after August 31st. Online registration closes at 5:00PM Friday September 27th.

Runners can also register for the race at the Friday or Saturday night packet pickup – time and location to be determined.

This event is a shirt optional race. Choose the No shirt (subtract $10) shirt option if you would prefer not to have a nice C&O Canal Towpath race shirt.

***There is no race day registration for this event.***

Race Location/Info

The race takes place in its entirety in Washington, DC on the flat dirt and crushed stone surfaced C&O Canal Towpath. The start/finish is located on the C&O Canal Towpath at the parking area at the Abner Cloud House, 4940 Canal Road NW, Washington, DC 20007.

Packet Pickup

Friday and Saturday pre-race packet pickup times and locations are yet to be determined.

Race morning packet pickup will commence at 6:45 AM at the race start/finish.

Parking

The parking area can be viewed at this link.

Race parking is located at 4940 Canal Road NW, Washington, DC.

Directions

Use this link to obtain directions to the start/finish.

Race parking is located at 4940 Canal Road NW, Washington, DC.

Travel

Use this link to view airport distances from downtown DC which is just a few miles from the race start/finish. Reagan National Airport (DCA) is four miles away, Dulles (IAD) is 26 miles away, and Baltimore-Washington (BWI) is 33 miles from downtown DC..

Hotels

There are numerous hotels in the DC area.

Course Info

This race takes place in its entirety in Washington DC on the flat dirt and crushed stone surfaced C&O Canal Towpath. 3.28 miles of the towpath will be used for this event. Runners will head southeast from the start to the Francis Scott Key Bridge at which point runners will turn around and head northwest on the towpath. After running 3.28 miles northwest shortly passing under the chain bridge, runners will again turn around and head back southeast towards the start/finish line. Upon reaching the start/finish line runners will have completed a quarter marathon – or one course loop. Half marathon runners will run this course loop twice and marathon runners will run this loop four times in order to record finishes in their respective races. The half marathon has about 246 feet of gain and loss, and the marathon has about 492 feet of elevation gain loss. The course map can be viewed at this link.

Course Map/Map Link

The course map can be viewed at http://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/fullscreen/1477893316/

Volunteer

If you would like to be a race volunteer please contact Mike at events@altisendurance.com. Volunteers earn free race entries for themselves (or to donate to a friend/relative) in any Altis Endurance race and/or donations to a favorite charity/non-profit organization.

Awards

The design image for the 2019 C&O Canal Towpath Marathon and Half Marathon finisher award is pictured above. Great thanks to super runner Markus Mueller for designing the race finisher award!

Weather

Historical average high and low temperatures in Washington, DC on September 28th are 74 and 57 degrees.

Results

The 2016 marathon results are at http://ultrasignup.com/results_event.aspx?did=35617, the 2016 8:00AM half marathon results are at http://ultrasignup.com/results_event.aspx?did=35618, and the 2016 8:30AM half marathon results are at http://ultrasignup.com/results_event.aspx?did=35616.

The 2015 7:30AM half marathon results (called 1/2 Marathon Wave 1) are at https://ultrasignup.com/results_event.aspx?did=31514, the 8:00AM half marathon results (called 1/2 Marathon Wave 2) are at https://ultrasignup.com/results_event.aspx?did=35467, and the marathon results are at  https://ultrasignup.com/results_event.aspx?did=31515

The 2014 half marathon results are here, and the 2014 marathon results are here.

Aid Stations

Aid stations for the half marathon are located at miles 2.2, 4.3, 5.3, 5.6, 6.6, 8.7, 10.9, 11.9, and 12.1

Aid stations for the marathon are located at miles 2.2, 4.3, 5.3, 5.6, 6.6, 8.7, 10.9, 11.9, 12.1, 13.1, 15.3, 17.4, 18.4, 18.7, 19.7, 21.8, 24.0, 25.0, and 25.2

Restroom: The large restroom at the race start/finish is also located at 4.3, 6.6, 10.9, 13.1, 17.4, 19.7, and 24.0.

The usual ultra and trail race food will be provided at the aid stations, ie. cookies, chips, candies, water, and Gatorade. It is recommended that runners bring their own energy gels, electrolytes, and water bottle to the race as needed/desired.

Cutoffs

Runners have seven hours to complete the marathon and 6 hours to complete the half marathon.

Swag

Entrants receive a race shirt. All finishers will receive a quality finisher medal.

Refunds/Transfers/Miscellaneous

As is the case with most races, there will be no refunds of entry fees to entrants. Transfers of race bibs from one runner to another is also not allowed. This event is limited to 300 entrants – 100 entrants in the marathon and 100 entrants in the first wave of the half marathon, and 100 entrants in the second wave of the half marathon. There will not be a waiting list if the race fills.

Questions

If you have any questions please contact Mike at events@altisendurance.com.