Baltimore Running Festival
Baltimore, MD
- Marathon, Half Marathon, 10K, 5K
- Road (Paved)
- Official race website
Join us at the event that many are calling one of the best races on the East Coast, FINISHING AT THE INNER HARBOR. This years event will have both a live component and virtual component. With five distances to choose from, and all runners snagging a great Under Armour shirt … MORE
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This is a tough one
I think Baltimore is about 10 minutes slow compared to a pancake flat course. The race takes you through some good areas and some not so good areas of the … MORE
I think Baltimore is about 10 minutes slow compared to a pancake flat course. The race takes you through some good areas and some not so good areas of the city.. At the start line I got advice from a man who was local and who had raced it before and he said “On paper the first few miles are the hardest due to the elevation gain, but you better save a lot for miles 15 through 20” that was great advice… and was a good reminder at the start line to not push it early. Around mile 5 or 6 another local told me that though the last few miles seem easy on paper.. there is an uphill at mile 25 that will kill you mentally if you are not ready for it. He was also right! I was so thankful to run into these people at just the right times.
Overall, the marathon is pretty big but not the most organized event I have been a part of. There is an intersection coming into and out of the lake at miles 20-21 that was confusing for me since I was by myself with nobody to follow and there was not anyone directing at that point. I think it was a lesson learned in knowing the street names on the race route. I did like the crowd support and the UA long sleeve given out. This is not a PR race, but a solid Maryland race if you still have to check the state off of your list.
Great Views of Baltimore
Solid race, well-produced, nice course largely through more suburban areas but starting and ending downtown, great crowd turnout, and my favorite race tshirt I've ever bought (the free one was … MORE
Solid race, well-produced, nice course largely through more suburban areas but starting and ending downtown, great crowd turnout, and my favorite race tshirt I’ve ever bought (the free one was fine but the ones they sell with a crab in a race bib are great). Some hills, nothing too awful, really nice race.
Great crowds and energy.
Would totally do this one again! Loved the energy and crowds. Two free beers at the finish, loved the shirt and medal. Hills were moderately tough, but doable. Would love … MORE
Would totally do this one again! Loved the energy and crowds. Two free beers at the finish, loved the shirt and medal. Hills were moderately tough, but doable. Would love to do the full one year.
Absolutely loved it
Finisher medal is amazing! Primary reason for running this race. Course was definitely challenging, but I enjoyed it. Loved coming back to Inner Harbor around half way mark (great crowd). … MORE
Finisher medal is amazing! Primary reason for running this race.
Course was definitely challenging, but I enjoyed it. Loved coming back to Inner Harbor around half way mark (great crowd).
Loved the ‘merge’ (half-marathoners joining us around mile 16). Crowds really picked up then, and lots of people to run with.
This was my 14th Marathon….definitely top 3. Was totally pumped before and after this race.
Hills, hills, and hills
This race was challenging but so much fun! I opted to have my packet mailed to me, so I did not go to the expo. Getting the packet in the … MORE
This race was challenging but so much fun!
I opted to have my packet mailed to me, so I did not go to the expo. Getting the packet in the mail was easy – they do not provide you with safety pins, but it wasn’t a problem since I have 35416 of them around the house from previous races.
The race had excellent communication leading up to the event. It was advised to get to the city early for parking. The half marathon did not start until 9:45. I parked at 8:15 and there were still plenty of spots in the free race day lots.
Because the 5k, 10k, and marathon all started way before the half marathon, all of the bathrooms at the start line were out of toilet paper ☹️
There were plenty of aid stations on the course and many stations were on both the left and right side of the course which I appreciated because it led to less runners cutting over in front of others to get to the aid stations.
The course winds it’s way through the city with many uphill climbs. If you plan on running this race you must prepare for the hills. Part of the course is the Baltimore 10 Miler course, so if you have ran that in the past you will have an idea on the elevation in Baltimore. The scenery wasn’t anything too spectacular – it was mostly just city running.
The course is unique because there is a merge with the marathon runners at the start. The marathon starts at 8:00 am, and the marathon runners pass by the start line of the half marathon at their halfway point and then continue on the course. This did not cause any confusion for me, and the merge ran smoothly.
There is a lot of spectator support for this race and it ends at the Inner Harbor. The medals are awesome – I did the Black Eyed Susan Challenge (Frederick half, Baltimore 10, and Baltimore half) so I was rewarded with a huge additional medal at the end of the race. The half marathon medal is a crab that opened up to reveal a tribute to the Key Bridge.
The penguins were the best part
I failed to finish this race back in 2017 (made some bad decisions) so I felt like I had to come back and conquer it to check it off my … MORE
I failed to finish this race back in 2017 (made some bad decisions) so I felt like I had to come back and conquer it to check it off my list. There aren’t a ton of options in my home state so I stuck with this one and let’s just say I’m glad it’s behind me.
I forgot how many hills there were—and they’re sneaky, too—and how little scenery. The best part of the race is the first few miles, and running through the Maryland Zoo past the penguins.
They really should do more of a wave start especially having marathoners and 10K participants all starting together, the start was very crowded and the course was congested until we broke off a couple miles in.
All in all an ok event but nothing to brag about. It was nice to be able to drive up in the morning, spend a few hours running and enjoying the weather, and then make it home in time for my kid’s soccer game.
Unnecessarily Hilly
This was kind of on me for not doing proper research before hand, but I was shocked when the entire first half of the half marathon was rolling hills. It … MORE
This was kind of on me for not doing proper research before hand, but I was shocked when the entire first half of the half marathon was rolling hills. It seemed that the race was deliberately designed to have as much incline as possible because I could see the street ahead of us going downhill but then we would turn and do more uphill (and this happened multiple times). It also got pretty warm, and I wish that the race had started at 7 a.m. instead of 9:45 a.m to help combat the warm weather. To the race’s credit, around miles 10-12 there was a good chunk of downhill. I do think that the volunteers were great, and the community was awesome cheering us on. But I would not do this race again, and I would not recommend it for a first-time half marathoner.
Raven good time in the Charm City!
Pre race communication was great, constant updates were emailed leading up to the race Expo was at the convention center, super easy and had several booths with anything you might … MORE
Pre race communication was great, constant updates were emailed leading up to the race
Expo was at the convention center, super easy and had several booths with anything you might need.
We stayed downtown a couples of blocks from start/finish line, walked everywhere.
We loved the inter harbor area, from the old ships to the delicious crab cakes.
Race day the half marathon started at 9:45 am, with no corrals so beginning of race was very congested with runners and walkers.
Course was on city streets, with plenty of well staffed aid stations.
Crowd support was great.
It was a hilly course but it was not as bad as I thought it would be.
Swag was a long sleeve dri-fit shirt and a super cool crab medal.
Post race food was bananas, granola bars, apples, oranges, water.
I definitely recommend this race if you need Maryland.
Well Done Baltimore
Well done Baltimore! This event was very organized from the expo to the finish line runners village. Plenty of course support too. As you cross the finish line grab your … MORE
Well done Baltimore! This event was very organized from the expo to the finish line runners village. Plenty of course support too. As you cross the finish line grab your water and snacks, don’t forget your medal. Then head over to the runners recovery area for compression boots or assisted stretching. Then stroll down the harbor to and through the vendors. Then hang out and enjoy the live entertainment. Every part of this event was well planned, organized and executed.
ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS RACE!
I paced my athlete for the half marathon as a training run. Some people will whine about the hills, but I love hills and a variety on a course. The … MORE
I paced my athlete for the half marathon as a training run. Some people will whine about the hills, but I love hills and a variety on a course. The crowd support is EVERYTHING. If you have not ran the BRF, well register. I promise you will enjoy it!
Nicer than what I expected
the expo was really nice, loved the route, it was different and enjoyable, the post party was nice and pretty large, my only gripe is the price of the photos, … MORE
the expo was really nice, loved the route, it was different and enjoyable, the post party was nice and pretty large, my only gripe is the price of the photos, 69.99 or 79.99 is way too much for downloads.
The view from the back of the pack
High quality event. Flew in from Houston to get my Maryland race in the bag. BWI maybe 20 minutes away. Could easily Uber/Mass transit into the Baltimore area. Packet PU, … MORE
High quality event. Flew in from Houston to get my Maryland race in the bag. BWI maybe 20 minutes away. Could easily Uber/Mass transit into the Baltimore area. Packet PU, race event, and race hotels are all within the same area. Stayed at the Hampton Inn at Camden Yards and it was perfect.
The only negative is the late 1/2 marathon start time, 9:45am. I’m sure there’s a logistical reason for this, but for me personally this is way too late.
The Expo was of normal size for the number of participants. Participant shirt was an under armor, high quality long sleeve shirt. The shirts for sale were even better (as always), but it seems like they only had size Medium.
The crowd support along the way was superb, even on a cool misty morning. Volunteers and water stops were well supported.
For a race of this magnitude, it would have been nice for organizers to post where GU and snacks might be on the route. This would have helped in my mental planning.
Will I be coming back from HTown for this event, probably not. If I lived in the area I would definitely be a repeat.
Left me wanting (Balti)more
Expo was at the Baltimore convention center in the middle of downtown. Difficult to find cheap parking if driving; only $15 parking garages are around. I put my hazards on … MORE
Expo was at the Baltimore convention center in the middle of downtown. Difficult to find cheap parking if driving; only $15 parking garages are around. I put my hazards on and left my car on the curb while I dashed through the expo and picked up my bib + shirt in record time (under 3 minutes??) because I got there 6 minutes before closing. Would not recommend doing that.
I had ordered my packet to be mailed to me, and it never came. $25 down the drain. So I had to speed from Philly to Baltimore after work to get there before Friday 8pm.
Few complaints about the race itself, though. The race starts next to Camden Yards, the Orioles baseball stadium. The first 3 miles were a gradual uphill climb, and apparently mile 3 is the highest point on the course. We run into the Baltimore Zoo for two miles, then reenter the downtown around mile 7. We run past the harbor from miles 10-14, and run near a lake from miles 19-20. The last few miles are mostly through neighborhoods, before finishing near the harbor again.
The back half had almost as many fans as the front half, which is a rarity. A few water stands around mile 7-11 could have used more volunteers. It was raining most of the race, including a downpour around mile 11, and my mental health was poor, so I didn’t give my best effort out there.
I’m deducting one point for the race producers who decided to funnel the half marathoners back into the marathon pack around mile 15-16. Mass confusion ensued. Otherwise, it was a pretty decent mid-size city race.
Hilly and wet tour of Charm City
Although I probably wouldn't describe the town as charming. The race expo was at the convention center and had some of the usual gear and nutrition vendors, but it had … MORE
Although I probably wouldn’t describe the town as charming.
The race expo was at the convention center and had some of the usual gear and nutrition vendors, but it had a lot of race related memorabilia as well. The packet pick up was quick and easy. There was an option for everything to be mailed as well for a fee. It’s a nice option for those arriving late or those that don’t want to attend the expo.
One of the oddities of this race were the start times. The full marathon started at 8:00 from Camden Yards. The half started at 9:45 and was around the half-way point of the full marathon. They had a separate lane to pass through, but it added to the chaos a bit. There were no corrals for the half or pacers, so runners were to line up according to projected pace. Inevitably, you had a hand full of 2 hour runners near the front that needed to be dodged. It rained off and on throughout the race. You can’t control the weather, but I’ll take the rain over heat any day.
The start seemed a little disorganized. I couldn’t hear the national anthem, nor any count down to the start. Suddenly when it was time to start, people just started running.
The first several miles of the course are the toughest. There is a lot of up hill, it levels out a bit and then the last 3 miles are mostly downhill. You go through a lot of neighborhoods and finish at the inner harbor. Considering the weather, there were a lot of spectators along the course cheering you on.
There appeared to be plenty of aid stations offering water and sports drinks. I brought my own hydration and didn’t try anything on course. It looked like there were some gels as well as oranges and bananas.
The finish line had plenty of fare including apples, bananas, veggie chips, nutrigrain bars and gatorade. The medals were given out by the local police. Overall, it was a good race. The medal was a crab that opened to reveal the USS Constellation. It was cool and unique. The shirt was a nice, long-sleeved UA shirt, but it was a little plain. The inner harbor is a nice area and has stuff to do, but I wouldn’t venture too far away from that area.
Don't let the hills make you crabby
I was initially planning to run the much closer Hartford Half this weekend but I had a poor experience being over 3 hours at another one of their other races … MORE
I was initially planning to run the much closer Hartford Half this weekend but I had a poor experience being over 3 hours at another one of their other races and decided to transfer my registration and look for a more back of the pack friendly half today instead. I didn’t find any I was interested in doing in New England but expanded my search and saw this race had a 5 hour time limit and decided to go for it. Baltimore is super easy to travel to if you use Southwest as it is a hub. Even relatively last minute I found cheap, direct flights from Boston to Baltimore and the race is downtown so you don’t need to rent a car. Since I had to work Friday I opted to have my packet mailed so can’t comment on the expo. I received an update when it was sent and it arrived earlier in the week. Packet included bib and race shirt. The race shirt is a bit underwhelming. It is a nice quality Under Armour shirt but as another review said was kind of plain without the cute crab logo. I stayed at the Holiday Inn Express about 1/2 mile from the start and I took a cab from the airport. Honestly, I never usually say this, but I found the staff there to be rude and incompetent and I wouldn’t stay there again. This race has an interesting set up where the marathoners start at 8am and the half marathoners start much later at 9:45. The course is set up so the half marathoners run a unique first 3 miles and then join the last 10 miles of the marathon. This set up allows the elite marathoners to not have to worry about half marathoners getting in the way. I have mixed feelings about the late start but I did think this was a great set up for a course with 2 distances. The late start meant I could sleep in which was great since I arrived late. But it could potentially also mean hot weather and I find late starts hard for fueling. The weather luckily was perfect temps for race day so the late start was fine weather wise but it was drizzling rain throughout the race. Never a downpour but it cause my sneakers to get wet and for my feet to get blisters. The race start was pretty well organized. The only issue is the start area is a bit chaotic as the full course goes nearby and there are different starts for the half and for the earlier shorter distances and a lot of roads barricaded off making it hard to maneuver around. Speaking of shorter distances another perk is there is a challenge to do the earlier 5K plus the half and get a challenge medal. If I were in better shape or not doing a half the next day I would have done this. The half marathon start corral is organized into waves. They said we would be assigned waves but it was a little unclear. Not sure if it was clearer if you went to the expo. There were 5 waves. I figured there would be a lot of back of packers and lined up at the back of wave 4 which seems correct. The race went off on time and it is overall an interesting but hilly course. It starts downtown and there is some cool architecture. At about mile 3 you join with the marathoners once we’ve spread out. The super fast marathoners had already passed so the marathoners we joined with were faster than us but not so much faster that it was an issue and eventually as the race went on and the marathoners grew more tired we were running the same pace as the marathoners. I’m not sure if the course set up affected the elite half marathoners but as the marathoners should have been well spread out and while they wouldn’t be running with elite marathoners they’d still be running with awfully fast marathoners I doubt it would affect them much. The course was extremely well marked and had mile markers and a few points where your splits were recorded. After downtown you go through neighborhoods. Some are nicer than others. All are very hilly. There is a nice section between miles 6 through 8 by a lake that is mostly flat. This is the perfect time for some flat running and the only flat part of the course. Then it is back and neighborhoods and hills and a picturesque finish at the inner harbor. The hills are rough but there is a ton of support. There were frequent aid stations and I loved that they had some real food like pretzels, granola bars and fruit since I get hungry at races that start so late. The aid stations never ran out of anything. There are also lots of unofficial aid stations. I was very impressed with spectator support. There were a ton of spectators despite the rain. I’m sure it is even better in nice weather. The finish area is great at the inner harbor. The medal is amazing and one of the main reasons along with the 5 hour time limit I wanted to do this race. It is a really cool crab design that opens up to a picture of a ship in the inner harbor. My finish time was fine. I was back over 3:20 but I was intentionally not pushing myself too hard on this race since I had another half tomorrow and I knew it was hilly. There was a solid post race food selection of chips, granola bars, fruit, fruit snacks and cow tales which I guess come from Maryland. There is also beer if you drink. I didn’t see any more savory, filling food but I didn’t really look as I went to Shake Shack again for a veggie burger and vegan shake right after. Second half in a row with a Shake Shack by the finish line. Other than the hills (which really weren’t too bad. It was much better than Vermont) and some sections of Baltimore not being the nicest, I have nothing really negative to say about this race. I would not recommend this race to BQ but if you are looking for a convenient, fun, back of the pack friendly race with a great medal do this one for Maryland. I will most likely come back and get another crab medal.
Hills hills and hills
Well organized expo and race. Half course was hillier than I expected. Ran through parts of the city and surrounding suburban areas. Passes by neat architecture in varying degrees of … MORE
Well organized expo and race. Half course was hillier than I expected. Ran through parts of the city and surrounding suburban areas. Passes by neat architecture in varying degrees of repair. Friendly spectators along pockets of the course. Well staffed water stops and finish in inner harbor with great photo opps. There was a finisher festival but our parking was running out of time. If you are staying in town consider paying for two days of parking up front because adding a few hours extra on race morning cost us $36 dollars. The Under Armour long sleeve shirts are nice quality but doesn’t have a crab on it. You’ll need to buy a shirt at the expo if you want that. The medal is really nice and handed out by police officers.
The city itself was nice during day light hours. I don’t think I’d walk around at night. We watched a rat walk across the sidewalk while eating our dinner and we saw a block barricaded from our hotel window the night before the race. We believe the disturbance that resulted in six lanes of traffic honking horns for two hours was a suspicious package in the street.
Rainy, Windy, and Difficult Course 2023
If your idea of fun is running a very difficult city course with over 1,300 Ft in elevation gain with the majority of the gains in mile 15 to 22 … MORE
If your idea of fun is running a very difficult city course with over 1,300 Ft in elevation gain with the majority of the gains in mile 15 to 22 then this is your race 🙂 It rain off and on throughout the day so the crowds were on the light side however the spectators I saw were very enthusiastic. The rain wasn’t that bad as it kept me very comfortable while running. The Baltimore Police officers and Safety workers offered words of encouragement.
Pros: Free parking in the Baseball/Football stadium lots which are very close to the starting line
*Normally the race actually starts in the Orioles Baseball stadium however because the team made the playoff it was moved outside the stadium. We still had access to the bathroom in the stadium which was so nice.
*You run through the local zoo
*Post run festival is at the Inner Harbor which is beautiful
*The medal is the coolest crab EVER!
Cons:
*The hardest part of the course has the fewest spectator so you will have to dig deep if you are use to crowds pushing you forward.
*Prepare for the 1/2 mile walk back to your car:-)
*No protein at the finish just water, banana, pretzels,and fruit cup
Overall it was a nice race experience and I am so happy I ran with a friend.
In addition to the Marathon they also have a Half Marathon, 10K and 5K. I’m opting for the 10K next year. LOL!
Great race, lots of hills.
This was my 2nd time running the Baltimore Running Festival Marathon. I love the race as all the neighborhoods come alive and support the runners. There is very few parts … MORE
This was my 2nd time running the Baltimore Running Festival Marathon. I love the race as all the neighborhoods come alive and support the runners. There is very few parts of the race where people are not cheering you on. The course takes you all around Baltimore and it is a great way to explore the city. The medal is great and the after part is fantastic as well.
HILLS GALORE, AWESOME MEDAL
Baltimore Marathon ✅ (3:38) on that hilly beast of a course, ran another Boston Marathon Qualifying Time…that’s now 6 consecutive marathons weekends all within Boston Marathon standard time! The streak … MORE
Baltimore Marathon ✅ (3:38) on that hilly beast of a course, ran another Boston Marathon Qualifying Time…that’s now 6 consecutive marathons weekends all within Boston Marathon standard time! The streak continues! That course torn up my legs, so many hills, but was able to run Detroit the next day. One of my least favorite courses, but well organized and definitely a spectacular, unique medal with a great festival at the end! Honestly the best medal I have ever received, as I love how the crab opens up and displays the city!
Hilly, interesting course - recommend
There are some HILLS in Baltimore. I do not live in a hilly area and even though I *tried* to train on the hills I could find, it was not … MORE
There are some HILLS in Baltimore. I do not live in a hilly area and even though I *tried* to train on the hills I could find, it was not enough to handle the long hill you hear everyone talking about.
The city comes out for this race, people are along the sidewalk or sitting on the porch to cheer for most of the race. None of the animals were out at the zoo in 2022, but usually the penguins are there.
The course is interesting, you run through many different parts of the city and it keeps it interesting. Zoo, neighborhoods, parks, downtown. You loop back at some point where the half marathon is starting, so it is a nice blast of energy going through the crowd again.
The course measured long, which is normal for zigzagging through crowds. I was hoping for a BQ and my measurement of 26.2 had me there, but my race time was 3 minutes short. Something to be aware of if that is your goal here!
The after party is fun and the medal was really cool, one of the coolest medals actually. The shirt is nothing special.
Bottomline: would recommend!