The Lower Potomac River Marathon features a scenic course, mostly flat, and offers wonderful views of the lower Potomac River from charming St. George Island and Piney Point, and a fast out & back route past farms and fields on a rural highway.
Start/Finish at Paul Hall Center, Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship, Piney Point, MD. Enjoy a post-race hot meal and a waterfront view in the well-appointed dining room of the Paul Hall Center, and linger at your table for the awards presentation. Showers available.
Medals to all finishers. Cash prizes ($250, $150, $100) to the top three men and women overall. Awards to the top three finishers in ten-year age groups up to age 60, and 60-64, 65-69, and 70 and over.
There may be a course record bonus (watch for updates). The men’s record is 2:31:28. The women’s record is 2:58:25.
There will be water/aid stations approximately every two miles, and portable toilets on the course.
Boston 2019 Qualifier – USATF Certification Number MD15004LMJ.
COURSE SUMMARY:
Mile 0 to ~8, across the bridge to St. George Island: Exit the campus of the Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship through the Rte. 249 gate, turn left and run south on Rte. 249, a two-lane rural highway. About .6 mile, cross the short arched bridge to St. George Island. Continue south along the two-lane road for about 1.5 miles; pass the Thomas Road intersection and continue approximately one mile to the Chesapeake Bay Field Lab. Turn around and return to Thomas Rd. Turn left at Thomas Rd. and run south approximately 1.3 miles to the entrance of Camp Merrylande. Turn around and return to Rte 249; turn left and run north, crossing the bridge back to the mainland.
Mile ~8 to ~11, Rte 249 and Lighthouse Road: Continue north on 249 for approximately .9 miles; turn left on Lighthouse Rd. and run approximately 1.1 mile to the Piney Point Lighthouse Museum. Turn around and return to Rte 249.
Mile ~11 to ~18.8, Rte 249 and Batman’s Head: Run north on Rte 249. There’s a gradual climb to around Mile 16, then a gentle downhill (Batman’s ear) to the crossover at approximately Mile 18.8.
Mile ~18.8 to the finish: Run south on Rte 249, back over Batman’s ear. It’s a gentle downhill slope from here, and a straight shot back to Harry Lundeberg School. Around Mile 26 you’ll sight the course marshal who’ll wave you left, back through the same gate where you started, and to the finish line!
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Mostly beautiful course
This race is only a 1.5 hour drive from D.C. but it seemed like a different world. I stayed nearby, had trouble finding an open restaurant and there were deer … MORE
This race is only a 1.5 hour drive from D.C. but it seemed like a different world. I stayed nearby, had trouble finding an open restaurant and there were deer in my front yard. The starting line is at a seamanship school and they are nice enough to open up the building for the runners to use the bathrooms. The starting line is near the giant anchor in the parking lot.
The first half of the race is along Saint George’s Island and is beautiful with a great view of the Potomac River. It goes along a narrow tree lined one lane street for an out and back by a light house. The next part is an out and back along highway 265 which is not as nice. This is a two lane road with a shoulder but there is no traffic control. The finish line was unimpressive with only small glasses of water. But afterwards there was a free lunch in the school which was great.
Overall the course was flat and fast. Both the shirt and medal were nice also. The lunch was a very nice treat.