Delaware Marathon Running Festival
Wilmington, DE
- Marathon, Half Marathon, 10K, 5K
- Road (Paved)
- Official race website
Experience a scenic race course that takes you throughout historic downtown Wilmington. The Delaware Marathon Running Festival races travel across beautiful Brandywine Park on the Brandywine River, along prestigious parkways, through historic neighborhoods of Wilmington and past downtown’s Rodney Square. Choose from a full marathon, half-marathon, 10K or 5K. Non-runners can … MORE
Local Historical Weather (Apr 19):
| 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |
| H (°F) | 56 | 79 | 55 | 70 | 50 |
| L (°F) | 45 | 63 | 46 | 39 | 39 |
Find Nearby Lodging (hotel, rental, etc.):
Great race for state chasers
This race was very accessible for an out of state visitor. It's less than 30 minutes from the Philly airport, and there are hotel options within walking distance from the … MORE
This race was very accessible for an out of state visitor. It’s less than 30 minutes from the Philly airport, and there are hotel options within walking distance from the start/finish. The race route winds through some very pretty areas of town with trees, shrubs and plants blooming profusely. There are also several miles running through lovely parks where you are surrounded by tall trees. The weather was cloudy and cool with some misty rain. There are some baby rolling hills. Overall, I am happy that I chose this race to check Delaware off my 50 states list.
Not my favorite
Out and back in two different directions, with rolling hills the first half. The second half was pretty, but dull, and passed a women’s prison twice (obviously). Little to no … MORE
Out and back in two different directions, with rolling hills the first half. The second half was pretty, but dull, and passed a women’s prison twice (obviously). Little to no crowd support but the organizers did well overall.
DelaWhere am I?
This was my second marathon of the week, having finished the nearby Coastal Delaware marathon the prior weekend. Because of that, I went into the Delaware marathon with the mindset … MORE
This was my second marathon of the week, having finished the nearby Coastal Delaware marathon the prior weekend. Because of that, I went into the Delaware marathon with the mindset that this is “just another race” where I don’t have high expectations for like I do with my primary A races. This ended up working fine for me, but if are expecting a big budget race, I would look elsewhere. Overall, I thought the race was a very middling, ok event, I’m whelmed by the experience but I would do it again if I wanted to.
Course: The course felt like it was more designed for the half marathon than the marathon. It was essentially split into 2 halves, the first half was ran in city locations, and the second half was ran on an out and back trail. I clocked about 1,100 ft of elevation, a pretty big difference compared to Coastal Delaware’s ~400 ft. About 80% or so of that elevation was in the first half as well. Crowd support was decent in some areas of the first half and on the riverfront, but I recommend you don’t pick this race if it is a must for you. The second half of the race was barren and feels more like they just slapped 13 miles onto the half and called it a day. For my casual run, I was fine, but for someone who is looking to race and PR, I would not pick this race as the monotony and endlessness of the trail will wear on you. If it weren’t for a few other runners I was leapfrogging with, I would probably have thought I went the wrong way.
Travel: Traveling into Wilmington is fairly easy, I drove in from the Turnpike and didn’t experience any delays. Philadelphia is also only about 30 minutes away, which makes this race ideal location and timing wise.
Free Stuff: The race shirt was an Under Armour long sleeve tech shirt, with a basic but very wearable color and design. The marathon medal was good quality and one that I would enjoy showing off.
Nothing special
What went well - The starting area was in a park area that offered sufficient space for all the participants so you didn't feel too crowded. Plenty of aid stations … MORE
What went well – The starting area was in a park area that offered sufficient space for all the participants so you didn’t feel too crowded. Plenty of aid stations along the way. Once you left the downtown area, a lot of the course was in parks or nice neighborhoods. There were a few food vendors and a band in the park afterwards that gave a nice festive vibe
What could have been better – The first couple of miles went through a very unattractive downtown Wilmington. You go from a nice river front park immediately through decaying abandoned factories, a steel mill, the largest tent village I have ever seen and run down apartments. There were no waves and it was way too congested for over a mile from the start. The aid stations only had water and Gatorade; I didn’t see any sort of gels but one did have bags of chips from a sponsor and bananas which aren’t exactly easy to consume while running. The swag was very average and it would have been nice to have a distance specific medal. There was plenty of merch but it was probably the most generic designs you can imagine. Very little to no run support in case you look for that. Granted it was cold and a little rainy at times but even before and after the rain the crowds were pretty non existent
Glad to Check Delaware off my list...
But I won't be returning. Wilmington isn't a great tourist area. Baltimore races has better scenery and safety in place. Even if the weather wasn't rainy and cold, this race … MORE
But I won’t be returning.
Wilmington isn’t a great tourist area. Baltimore races has better scenery and safety in place. Even if the weather wasn’t rainy and cold, this race wouldn’t make it to my repeat list. Lots of harassment from tweaking bystanders where police had to intervene with them.
Great Race!
I opted to have my packet mailed, so I skipped the expo this time around. The course itself wasn’t bad—there are a few rolling hills, with a notable uphill at … MORE
I opted to have my packet mailed, so I skipped the expo this time around.
The course itself wasn’t bad—there are a few rolling hills, with a notable uphill at mile 12 that leads into a nice downhill finish in the last quarter mile. A little pain before the payoff, I guess!
Course support was a bit sporadic, but the water stations were solid. I didn’t notice any gels or fuel on the course (though I might’ve missed them), but I always bring my own just in case.
All in all, I enjoyed the challenge and was happy to cross that finish line! The weather was perfect for running, and I’d definitely recommend this race to others!
Well run race - beautiful course
I’m doing a half in every State and this one fitted in with my plans. It was very well managed. Very efficient from packet pickup to race day. The course … MORE
I’m doing a half in every State and this one fitted in with my plans. It was very well managed. Very efficient from packet pickup to race day. The course was really well marked and there was a high police presence ensuring our safety on the roads. The course took us through Downtown, residential neighborhoods and beautiful parks. With it being spring the weather was great and the spring blossoms beautiful.
This isn’t a flat course but the hills were definitely manageable. I would happily run this race again.
Great course and fun atmosphere!
Course was a great mix of urban, residential, and nature. Start/finish line was lively and overall a well organized event. Some hills around miles 6-8 but mostly flat, especially the … MORE
Course was a great mix of urban, residential, and nature. Start/finish line was lively and overall a well organized event. Some hills around miles 6-8 but mostly flat, especially the back 13. Only call-out is that once you enter the nature reserve, it gets very secluded and you won’t have the energy of the crowd until about mile 25. Great race overall!
Well organized race in a quite city
Registration process was fast and smooth. It is a good size race...you are never alone, but good space between runners. The route is well balanced. The first half is rolling … MORE
Registration process was fast and smooth. It is a good size race…you are never alone, but good space between runners. The route is well balanced. The first half is rolling hills, while the second half is flat. The merchardise is very limited, but good enough. Overall, I would recommend this race for any 50 states runner.
Good Communication-Decent Course-Swag 🤷
What they do well: The organizers run a solid event. Good pre-race communication. Nice finisher shirt and medal. Great volunteers. Needs improvement: Course intersections. Almost ran into other runners who … MORE
What they do well: The organizers run a solid event. Good pre-race communication. Nice finisher shirt and medal. Great volunteers.
Needs improvement: Course intersections. Almost ran into other runners who were busy looking at their watch. Post race snacks. Try adding chocolate milk at the finish. Give runners free pictures. It’s a great way to boost take-home swag and promote the event.
Meh
Rather disappointed with this race. To begin, ran past the port-a-potties and then through decrepant side streets before getting to the main part of the course. The first half of … MORE
Rather disappointed with this race. To begin, ran past the port-a-potties and then through decrepant side streets before getting to the main part of the course. The first half of the course was mostly through beautiful neighborhoods. It was quite hilly. Marathoners break off from the half right around mile 13, so you hear the celebratory finish line as you are heading into the second half of your race, which can be demoralizing. Second half of the race is a flat out and back along a paved trail. Very little crowd support. Rather boring. Around mile 21 or so you veer off the trail into a random neighborhood for a half mile loop and then back on the trail. I finished in about 4.5 hours and the finish line was already breaking down. A friend finished at 6 hours and I had to open boxes to get her post-race snacks (no volunteers were around). Rather disappointing. Would not run again.
Great course & production; bad run by me
I came into this severally undertrained due to some illness and life. Nevertheless, I really enjoyed this event. My first half in Delaware with a familiar race organizer, Corrigan Sports. … MORE
I came into this severally undertrained due to some illness and life. Nevertheless, I really enjoyed this event. My first half in Delaware with a familiar race organizer, Corrigan Sports. I’m bias and love all their events! This was part of my Big Freakin Deal Challenge with the organizer. My favorite portion of the race was running along the river in the park. The start and finish location in the park next to the river was a really good vibe. A couple craft beers is always a must and they had those on deck for all the finishers.
Next year I’ll train better and run for a decent time.
Well run marathon for Delaware
This race in Delaware was well-organized, but the start was crowded with runners from the half-marathon and 10K sharing the same route. The first half of the marathon included a … MORE
This race in Delaware was well-organized, but the start was crowded with runners from the half-marathon and 10K sharing the same route. The first half of the marathon included a challenging climb into Tower Park around mile 6, but the downhill stretch from miles 10 to 13 made up for lost time. The second half of the race followed a popular trail for 6.5 miles out and back, with mostly flat terrain but a challenging bridge over the river. The course was slightly longer than expected according to GPS (+0.50 miles), though usually, I’m only around +0.25 to +0.35. Weather conditions in 2024 were favorable, but rain could make boardwalk sections slippery. Packet pick-up and the start were convenient, located within walking distance from hotels along the riverfront.
Enjoyable race in Delaware
Good communication/instructions emailed prior to race weekend. Packet pickup is very small and easy, literally you just get your shirt and bib in the park where the start/finish is. One … MORE
Good communication/instructions emailed prior to race weekend. Packet pickup is very small and easy, literally you just get your shirt and bib in the park where the start/finish is. One con of race day was that the runners for the 10 km, half marathon, and marathon all started at the same time so the first mile was SUPER congested with lots of walkers. The second half of the marathon was on a boardwalk/trail which was quite scenic, however it was a open course so there were walkers/joggers/bikers at times so I have to weave around folks a bit. Otherwise the course was fine, I enjoyed that there were some out and back stretches where I could cheer on the leaders and simply marvel at folks who are much faster than me. Plenty of aid stations, mostly with water and Gatorade, a few stops had snacks. There wasn’t much crowd support but the people who were cheering were enthusiastically loud and encouraging, and the other runners were also very quick to give compliments and spur one another on.
Overall, I’m glad I did this race and recommend it if you’re looking for a marathon in Delaware!
Eh....
I came out with my son who did the 10K. It ended up being fairly hot during the course. It started out mild temps. I just was not thrilled with … MORE
I came out with my son who did the 10K. It ended up being fairly hot during the course. It started out mild temps. I just was not thrilled with the scenery and the course. I felt like we were out in the hot sun way more than we needed to be without a lot of shaded areas for relief. I definitely got dehydrated and felt a little like death when I finished. It is a small race, so I did not have to walk too far to get back to hotel to rest. It was a nice area, and quaint. easy race logistics. Medals and shirts were middle of the road.
Unexpectedly beautiful course!
*Communication from the race directors pre-race was very thorough and appreciated. *Expo on Saturday at the park was non-existent...just packet pick-up and race merch. I much prefer this, however. I … MORE
*Communication from the race directors pre-race was very thorough and appreciated.
*Expo on Saturday at the park was non-existent…just packet pick-up and race merch. I much prefer this, however. I don’t go to races to shop…just in and out with my bib. Shirts were nice…long sleeve Under Armour
*Parking was available in garages, but the lines to enter were long (I found free on-street parking)
*Race started promptly at 7AM
*Start area was very crowded and the first few miles of the race were very congested (if you are looking to BQ/PR, line up in the front). Maybe they should consider starting the 10K runners at a different time than the half/full?
*Aid stations are minimal (water/gatorade), but sufficient.
*Course is rather scenic with lots of shade. The first half goes along the river/stream and the 2nd half goes out of town along the riverwalk, then through a nature preserve area and on a flat bike trail.
*Course is not difficult and mostly flat. There are a few inclines in the first half, but nothing too terrible.
*Post-race food/drink was typical (water/gatorade, bananas), but the 2 Dogfish beers were much appreciated!
*Overall, this was a well-organized race that was unexpectedly beautiful in places. My expectations going in were rather low, but this race surprised me. I’m glad I chose this one for my Delaware race!
Beautiful Course, No Frills
This was my second half marathon. The course was beautiful. Challenging (had it's share of inclines) but not what I would consider overly difficult. The scenery was great. A lot … MORE
This was my second half marathon. The course was beautiful. Challenging (had it’s share of inclines) but not what I would consider overly difficult. The scenery was great. A lot of winding paths through trees and forest, local neighborhoods with beautiful houses, there was even a waterfall!
The aid stations were bare bones (water and gatorade), but were spread out evenly on the course. Only two stops had snacks and they were just ok (bags of chips/pretzels or bananas).
The packet pick-up was super basic. Maybe I set myself up with high expectations … the first half marathon I ran in had a runner expo with vendors selling running gear, snacks, etc. This was just packet pickup and some shirts available for purchase (which were mostly leftovers from previous years).
The “after party” was also just ok. We got a granola bar, cowtails, and more chips. There was also Truly/Dogfish drinks available for runners. I wish there were more vendors or something, I would have hung out longer.
Overall, I would totally do this race again, just go in with the expectation that it’s very basic in terms of “swag”. 🙂
Great Race
Corrigan puts on great races, if you see them associated with a race, it will be well put together. Can be cold, but typically warms up during the race. The … MORE
Corrigan puts on great races, if you see them associated with a race, it will be well put together. Can be cold, but typically warms up during the race. The route is through Wilmington DE, mostly in the nicer areas. Course is not difficult going through parks and neighborhoods. Nice long sleeve UA shirts, great snacks, cold beer, and nice medal. Worth doing at least once, and many times if you live locally.
Organization a little rough
The expo was very small with only a couple vendors. It was not worth looking around at all because it was so small. Only one of the vendors actually had … MORE
The expo was very small with only a couple vendors. It was not worth looking around at all because it was so small. Only one of the vendors actually had running stuff for sale, the other was chic-fil-a. The course did not seem very difficult although it was basically a slight uphill the first half the race then downhill the second half. Being close to the front of the pack the entire race, I saw that there were not enough volunteers at some points to direct people. There was a couple times where the people a little ahead of me did not know which direction to go because there was a gap between them and the next small pack. There was a water stop about every 2 miles which was very nice. The swag consisted of a black long-sleeve shirt which is a nice material, maybe a little bit thin though. It also seemed a little plain because it just had the name of the race essentially in bold letters. The medal was nice and the inspiration coin is unique, however the coin is super difficult to remove from the medal.
Good Race around scenic river trails
Enjoyed the race with good course of flat and hilly in first half. pros Expo is simple and only for Bib collection lots of parking near expo and race start. … MORE
Enjoyed the race with good course of flat and hilly in first half.
pros
Expo is simple and only for Bib collection
lots of parking near expo and race start.
closest parking to race start/finish
Scenic first half with river, hills and good neibourhood parks.
the second half is straight river trail with wooden bridges and some folks felt difficult to go straight for 6.5 miles and come back
Good medal and reasonable crowd
good Aid stations all over
cons
expo is very minimal
course is off at least quarter mile