Baltimore Running Festival
Baltimore, MD
- Marathon, Half Marathon, 10K, 5K
- Road (Paved)
- Official race website
Charm City’s annual Running Festival offers races that never disappoint! Runners are sure to have quite the unique and memorable experience as they tour every corner of the city. And the post-race festivities are amazing and certainly well-earned! Run the BaltiMORON-a-thon by completing the 5K and Half-Marathon on the same … MORE
Local Historical Weather (Oct 17):
| 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | |
| H (°F) | 65 | 59 | 63 | 70 | 65 |
| L (°F) | 41 | 36 | 51 | 52 | 51 |
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Wouldn't run it again
The marathon starts with the 10k runners which makes it really congested. The race starts on an uphill for almost 3 miles although its a gradual climb. Mile 18-20 is … MORE
The marathon starts with the 10k runners which makes it really congested. The race starts on an uphill for almost 3 miles although its a gradual climb. Mile 18-20 is up hill, then rolling hills before you go into a down hill. The crowds were good, although I could do without all the political protest. I came to run. The most negative thing was the constant smell of marijuana everywhere, yes even on the course.
A Very Well Done Race Except the Start
Baltimore, your Running Festival is great with just a few hiccups. Let's talk about it. The pre-race notifications were very good. The race had a digital guide available, and it … MORE
Baltimore, your Running Festival is great with just a few hiccups. Let’s talk about it.
The pre-race notifications were very good. The race had a digital guide available, and it was quite helpful for knowing exactly what to expect on a somewhat chaotic race morning.
The packet pick-up was well organized, with different zones for the race you were doing. The expo portion was underwhelming, but I never really care about the expo anyway.
Race morning was chaotic. First, I am going to say that it is my strong opinion that no matter the logistical reason for thinking you should do so, a half-marathon should NEVER start as late as 9:30 am. It is just too late. That is a personal opinion, but I think most experienced runners would agree. There were two distinct areas for the starting line. The marathon/5K and the Half Marathon/10k. This did help with some of the crowding, but definitely added to the chaotic feel of the morning. I appreciate the corrals being easy to get into and being very visible. This was important because the announcements were horrible, and I mostly couldn’t hear them. This likely contributed to the surprise start. Before 9:30 (guess I shouldn’t complain about that), suddenly the confetti cannon went off and the race started. It was close to time, but it was still a surprise. I definitely did not hear the National Anthem or a countdown.
The course was hilly. That was known before the race, but it was still hillier than I expected. I also did not find the course overly pretty. It was a good course, and you had the opportunity to see what Baltimore has to offer, but I would not make postcards from the course. The hill in the last mile seemed like a cruel test to see if people were serious about racing. I was feeling serious :O)
The finish line festival was fine. Nothing overly exciting, but it was easy to do reunions there. The beer choice was disappointing. By the time I was done (and I was in the top 2% of finishers), they were out of 2 of the 4 alcohol choices. I don’t know if this was poor logistics or if everyone in the 5 and 10k had raided it in greater numbers than expected. It was not my favorite moment.
The after-race notifications were great. Having solid results quickly is always appreciated. Finally, the race shirt is nice, though I might have chosen a short sleeve one for a still warm fall race. The medal was very nice, and it was a surprise that it opened. The crab design definitely was a good giveaway as to where it came from. This is good because it did not say Baltimore on the front of it at all.
As the headline says, overall, this was a good race. I am glad I chose it for my Maryland race. Change the race time and have enough beer (local beer would be even better), and this would be an even better race. If you are looking for a race in Maryland, definitely consider this one.
Claws Down a Great Time
I love my 10K Crab Medal. There's plenty of time to complete the 10K at the Baltimore Running Festival. Swag was great, the prep before the race was organized, and … MORE
I love my 10K Crab Medal. There’s plenty of time to complete the 10K at the Baltimore Running Festival. Swag was great, the prep before the race was organized, and the after party was a lot of fun.
Course: Not too bad of a course when it comes to a newer runner trying it out for the first time. There are some hills – but walkable and didn’t impact my overall finish time. Great Atmosphere – great crowds. I know the Full and Half marathons have bigger crowds along their race course, but the 10K had a good amount too! Would have loved to have more photos since I paid for the package.
Good race with some room for improvement
As others mentioned, the fact that it starts and ends in the inner harbor is great. Plenty of hotels, tram stops and subway. I actually thought the expo was cool, … MORE
As others mentioned, the fact that it starts and ends in the inner harbor is great. Plenty of hotels, tram stops and subway. I actually thought the expo was cool, having most of the vendors set up shop outside by the waterfront. The course itself is tough – I ran marathons with a higher elevation gain but I think the fact that the hills are bunched up made it really difficult. Two points to consider to make it a great race – 1. start the half marathon at the same time or even before the full. Currently, the half starts 1.5 hours after the full from a different location and joins the full route at mile 3 (around mile 13 of the full). This made the full runners that run around a four-hour pace hit all the half marathon walkers and start passing them for 13 miles – hard, especially with those hills in miles 16-22. 2. More porta potties. There were 1-2 every couple of miles, definitely not enough for sharing the course between half and full – every single one I passed had runners waiting outside. Other than that, love the swag, the volunteers and the after-party!
Virtual Race
This year I ran the race virtually in conjunction with the MCM. I didn't want to chance burning energy when I had an upcoming marathon. I have ran this race … MORE
This year I ran the race virtually in conjunction with the MCM. I didn’t want to chance burning energy when I had an upcoming marathon. I have ran this race in person and it is ALL of the hype. I suggest that you prepare for the hills and enjoy all of race vibes that B-MORE have to give.
Great race in spite of the politics
This has always been on my list to run for my Maryland race and with this being the 25th anniversary of the race this was the year. I also have … MORE
This has always been on my list to run for my Maryland race and with this being the 25th anniversary of the race this was the year. I also have a fair amount of familiarity with the area so it was an easy trip.
The race is essentially based in the Inner Harbor area which is great in terms of lots of hotels, several decent places to eat and Camden Yards and the Ravens stadium is in this area. However, I wouldn’t recommend wandering off on foot as the area outside the Inner Harbor can get sketchy fairly quickly, taxis and Ubers are plentiful if you want to get around the city.
There is not much of an expo which is a little disappointing as I enjoy them, but they had a good merch tent and a few booths to take care of anything that might have been left at home by accident. The communication was excellent and I never felt like I was lost or anything came out of the blue.
As advertised, the course is a beast, easily the toughest I have run so far. The hills are fairly relentless with the first 3 miles being uphill which set the tone for the day. The first aid station does not pop up until Mile 4 so carrying water is a good idea. The hills aren’t ridiculously steep they are just very long, there are no short hills on the course. You get some very nice downhill around miles 22 to 25 but then one last nasty hill at 25 that had my hamstrings trying to cramp up on me at the finish.
The politics in my title refers to the race day unfortunately coinciding with nationwide protests. Totally out of the race organizers control and I hold them completely blameless but we had protesters wandering back and forth along the course itself and not just on sidewalks. Never thought of it before but people waving signs and chanting out on the street can be quite distracting and not in a good way. Again, zero fault of the race organizers but it did put a damper on the event for those of us that just wanted to run a marathon and not be a part of the political issue of the day.
If you are looking for a challenging course and a very well run event, I do recommend this one and I’m very glad I went and glad those hills are in the rear view!
Solid race, questionable production
I enjoyed this race but have some serious questions about the production decisions. I understand it is not feasible to have the full and half run entirely separate courses, but … MORE
I enjoyed this race but have some serious questions about the production decisions. I understand it is not feasible to have the full and half run entirely separate courses, but having the full join the half at mile 15 to run up 2 miles of hills was highly challenging. I probably passed 3,000 people the last 11 miles of my run which was mentally and physically draining. Lots of walkers, lots of people running in packs or across in a continuous line. I was very frustrated.
Pros: Many good views, well supported with water/ gatorade, equal balance uphill and downhill, roads are in good condition, minimal out & back U-turns. Overall solid challenging but fair course.
Cons: Aforementioned race gating, expo is a little lackluster for those who care about that, narrower roads and congested running. Nothing too special but just items to be aware of.
Gratitude for Baltimore
Baltimore was a surprise in many ways. I thought the city and its people were much nicer than expected. Not to ignore poverty and neglect but Baltimore has a lot … MORE
Baltimore was a surprise in many ways. I thought the city and its people were much nicer than expected. Not to ignore poverty and neglect but Baltimore has a lot more to offer than what the media gives.
The expo was lacking. I arrived with about an hour left. I just didn’t see much going on at the expo besides the bib and shirt pickup. The expo is by the harbor and they missed out on an opportunity to make it special with that beautiful backdrop. Due to that, I was in and out.
There are a lot of hotels conveniently located near the race start and finish. I stayed at the Hilton Harbor.
As for the race, I read a lot about how hilly and challenging it is. I get that this could be a subjective matter but I did not think the hills were bad at all. If you do hill training, you should be fine. The first 3 miles or so are a very gradual climb. There are several other rolling hills later in the race. Maybe after mile 17? But all the hills are short and not very steep. So overall, I think calling this race very hilly is not the reality (just my opinion) but it’s also not flat. My watch measured the elevation gain at 1100 ft. Not too far off from what I saw on some websites about this race.
The crowd support was pretty good overall but there were definitely some pockets of quiet. The beginning was a little packed but it helps to slow you down. I should mention there are various races going on. There is a 5k, 10k and half all going on. At one point the half marathoners merged with us. There were some spots where you had to go around some slower runners or walkers but nothing too bad. There were enough water and Gatorade stops. Bananas were given out (at least once for sure around mile 11/12). No gels are provided, so bring your own. The shirt is Underarmour branded. It is long sleeve and I like it very much. The medal is a silver colored crab that opens up. It was pretty neat and unique.
The miles are marked but they aren’t very tall. I know I missed seeing several of them. Most of the markers do not have clocks on them for those that like to track that way.
Post race you get your medal and there are plenty of fluids and snacks available. Overall, this was one of my favorite marathons and cities. I totally enjoyed it.
PS – a reviewer mentioned smelling marijuana “everywhere”..not fair and not true.
I love a city tour!
This was my very first marathon in 2001–its inaugural year. We’ve both grown a lot. The race is now sponsored by under armour and the shirt is nice fabric, fit … MORE
This was my very first marathon in 2001–its inaugural year. We’ve both grown a lot.
The race is now sponsored by under armour and the shirt is nice fabric, fit and design. The medal is a cool crab that opens. I love a Saturday race. Now they have a bib mail option which is nice for the DC crew.
The 10k runners and marathon runners start together now, and run together for almost 3 miles. The halfers were starting elsewhere and we only passed the walkers around the high teens and beyond miles.
Unfortunately for me, I flaked out and did not bring my water with LMnT that I had prepared (left in the car). I had gu and my phone in my pockets. Oh well. I couldn’t get water until the second water stop because the first was out of cups. Luckily the weather was cool at the start, and I could focus my mind.
I did appreciate the ladies who had Costco water bottles on a table in front of their house! And all the people blasting uptempo music! The course was on the hilly side; a nice mix of out and backs and straight aways. The neighborhoods were supportive, police were directing traffic, the weather was great! Had a great time—I will not wait twenty years to return! (Too broke to do the fifty states again!!)
I wasn't ready but the race was great
Great energy and starting close to Camden Yards was excellent. The neighborhoods and scenary overall is excellent and the races are all well organized. The run starts uphill and there … MORE
Great energy and starting close to Camden Yards was excellent. The neighborhoods and scenary overall is excellent and the races are all well organized.
The run starts uphill and there are more hills than I anticipated, so prepare well.
And the finish area is a bit crowded. I’d do it again for sure.
Well done race in a big city
If you run the half, it does start a lot later than the marathon. But you overall, it is a large, well done race. A lot of crowd support with … MORE
If you run the half, it does start a lot later than the marathon. But you overall, it is a large, well done race. A lot of crowd support with plenty of aid stations. The swag is good and the post race is nice! The city really rolls it out for this race!
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.