All of our marathons are Boston qualifiers!

Potomac River Run Marathon & Half

medal

10½th annual     POTOMAC RIVER RUN MARATHON & HALF  
Sunday, November 17, 2013 - 9:00 AM   (early start at 8:00 AM)
In memory of Dean Shulman
(September 25, 1961 - May 8, 2012)

Washington Post obituary | In memory of Dean, from The Book of Jewish Common Prayer

Official 2013 results, following your review
Photos by Tony Estrada
Read Hari Subrahmanyan's blog post
Q. Where was Michael Wardian? A. You can't run THREE marathons in one day -- TWO is plenty
November 15 - Read our final welcome letter #3 (DOC)
November 12 - Read our welcome letter #2
November 10 - Read our welcome letter #1
Join our Facebook page -- share rides, thoughts, and photos!

Official 2012 results
Olympian Esther Lofgren's 2012 blog
Chris Crawford's 2012 blog
2012 photos by Felipe de la Hoz
On the historic C&O Canal Towpath  
Start & finish at Carderock Recreation Area

The Easiest Marathon in America -- Flat course, no road crossings, no turns!

www.safetyandhealthfoundation.org/marathon

  • Philippines Typhoon Aid
  • Safety And Health Foundation will donate $1000 to Philippine Red Cross (address: Bonifacio Drive, Port Area, PO Box 280, Manila PHILIPPINES 1018; phone: +011-63-527-0000, hotline 143; web page: www.redcross.org.ph to support relief efforts after Typhoon Yolanda (international name Haiyan) destroyed Visayas Islands, Bantayan Island, Daanbantayan, Panay, Busuanga Island, Samar Island, and Leyte, where at least 10,000 people are estimated to have died in the city of Tacloban alone. (Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Typhoon_Haiyan)
  • You may donate directly to Philippine Red Cross via www.redcross.org.ph/donate
  • We offer our sympathies and prayers to the people of the Philippines
  • As we did at our 10th annual Potomac River Run Marathon on May 5, 2013, after the Boston Marathon bombings, we shall have a large board at our pre-race packet pick-ups and on race day for you to write words of comfort and support, which we shall mail along with our donation.
  • Pre-Race Dinner
  • Headphones and water belts
    Re personal listening devices, we follow USATF rule 144.3.b (Assistance to Athletes) which bans
    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 the rules: please don't wear headphones if you expect to finish in the money. Because of the specificity of Rule 144.3.b, we must disqualify potential money-winners whom we see wearing headphones. Sorry about that.

    We also must prohibit two-way devices such as cell phones and the new talking wristbands. Please don't make us do that.

    You may carry water or wear a hydration vest, but won't it slow you down? We have aid stations with water and Simone Super Energy roughly every two miles.

  • Drop-off instructions
  • Parking is limited at Carderock Recreation Area.
  • If you can get someone to drop you off, the best place is at the south end of the bridge over Clara Barton Parkway (MAP), where cars can either go straight into to Carderock or turn left to go east toward Washington DC.
  • Thus we can avoid a traffic jam on the park road at Carderock.
  • From there, it's a short walk through the tunnel and either straight ahead to the packet pick-up area (MAP) or to the left up the gravel road to the start line (MAP).
  • Civil Twilight at 6:26 AM | Sunrise at 6:55 AM
  • Race-day packet pick-up, bag check, and the post-race picnic are at the picnic pavilion next to the farthest left parking lot ("#4") at Carderock. Bathrooms are in the parking lot straight ahead ("#3") and also the westmost parking lot ("#1").
  • Open to
  • Runners of all levels of ability who can cover the marathon course in less than 6 hours (please finish by 2 PM, as our race director coaches youth track at 3 PM in Arlington)
  • No time limit in the half marathon
  • Limited to the first 350 entrants
  • Enter on-line
  • Enter by mail
  • Questions? Write the race director
  • Logistics
  • Registration 
  • We accept the first 350 entrants
  • Entry fees: $60 by June 30 | $70 by August 31 | $80 by September 30 | $90 by October 31 | $100 by November 16
  • No race-day registration, please
  • Entrants receive t-shirt, goodie bag, race refreshments, finisher medal, post-race picnic, and finisher certificate + printed results by mail
  • Read others' comments
  • We send finisher certificates and results booklets, along with any awards unclaimed on race day.
  • We send Boston Athletic Association our certified marathon times.
  • Course
  • Keepers:
  • Colorful, technical wicking t-shirt
  • Last year's t-shirt:
  •     2012 November 18 shirt | Back
  • Goodie bag with samples, coupons & gift certificates
  • Host Hotel
  • Pre-Race
  • Help us assemble bib numbers and goodie bags, and get your bib number early on Thursday, November 14, 6:00-8:00 PM, location to be announced
  • Pick up your bib number, t-shirt, and goodie bag pre-race on Saturday, November 16, from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM, Georgetown Running Company, 3401 M Street NW, Washington DC 20007 (202-337-8626) -- 15% discount on shoes and apparel purchased during packet pick-up
  • Race-Day
  • You may park near Key Bridge Marriott, 1401 Lee Highway, Arlington, and take our 7:00 AM Red Top Taxi service to Carderock.  Taxi rides are are $10 pre-paid only. The cab ride is out to Carderock only. After the race, hundreds of people drive back toward Key Bridge. Raise your hand when your ready to go back, and someone is sure to help you. Friends and family members may join you on the cab ride out.
          • Route map
  • Pick up your bib number, t-shirt, and goodie bag on race-day, Sunday, November 17, 7:15 AM to 8:45 AM, at Carderock Recreation Area, Parking Area #4 on the left
  • Note: No race-day registration
  • 8:00 AM -- Early Bird Start -- if you need more than 5 hours to finish or you want to watch the sun rise over the Potomac River or you want an extra hour of cool weather
          • Sign up for Early Bird Start
  • 8:50 AM -- The National Anthem
  • 8:55 AM -- Official welcome
  • 9:00 AM -- Competitive start
  • SimoneSuperEnergy Aid stations with water, Simone Super Energy drink, friendly volunteers, and toilets at
          • The start / midpoint / finish at Carderock - Miles 0.0, 13.1, and 26.2 (permanent and portable toilets in Parking Area 3)
          • Lock 10 - Miles 1.1, 12.0, 14.2, 25.1 (portable toilet across C&O Canal)
          • Lock 7 - Miles 3.3, 9.8, 16.4, 22.9 (portable toilet across C&O Canal)
          • Lock 5 - Miles 5.3, 7.8, 18.4, 20.9 (portable toilet across C&O Canal)
  • Spectator access at
          • Lock 10 - Miles 1.1, 12.0, 14.2, 25.1
          • Lock 9 - Miles 2.0, 11.1, 15.1, 24.2
          • Lock 8 - Miles 3.0, 10.1, 16.1, 23.2
          • Lock 7 - Miles 3.3, 9.8, 16.4, 22.9
          • Lock 6 - Miles 5.0, 8.1, 18.1, 21.2
          • Lock 5 - Miles 5.3, 7.8, 18.4, 20.9
          • Chain Bridge - Mile 6.0, 7.1, 19.1, 20.2
          • Turnaround point - Miles 6.6 and 19.7
  • The course is out'n'back twice 
  • Photography:
        • Photos will be taken at the event by tonyestradaphotography
        • To view and purchase photos, please go to www.backprint.com/tonyestradaphotography
  • Post-race
  • Refreshments courtesy of sponsors, medals by Dan Kain Trophies, presentation of awards
  • Certificates of completion by mail
  • Awards
  • $250 to 1st, $150 to 2nd, $100 to 3rd overall M/F
  • Gift certificates to 1st, 2nd, 3rd by 10-year age-group M/F
  • Benefits
  • Directions
  • To Carderock:
  • Google map of Carderock
  • From I-495, take Exit 41 north of American Legion Bridge in MD.
  • Bear west on the exit ramp and turn onto westbound Clara Barton Parkway.
  • After one mile, bear right and take the first exit to the right (Carderock | Naval Surface Warfare Center).
  • Turn left on the bridge; follow it through a tunnel under the C&O Canal Towpath.
  • Drive 0.3 miles to a T-junction. Free parking is on your left or right. Please do not park on the grass.
  • Parking
  • We have about 325 free parking spaces
  • Please carpool or use our Facebook page to share a ride.
  • The parking areas are not numbered with signs, but ...
  • Parking Area #4 (75 spaces) is on the left (east), We host packet pick-up in the picnic pavilion next to Parking Area #4.
  • Parking Area #3 (60 spaces) is straight ahead and a little to the right (permanent and portable toilets)
  • Parking Area #2 (70 spaces) is farther to the right (west), plus many spaces taken by constructio vehicles and debris
  • Parking Area #1 (120 spaces) is farthest to the right (west) (permanent toilets)
  • Past Results
  • Press Room