Potomac River Run Marathon & Half (Spring)
Washington, DC
- Marathon, Half Marathon
- Trail (Unpaved)
- Official race website
The Potomac River Run Marathon & Half (Spring) out-and-back course is flat and scenic, tree-lined and shaded, with beautiful views of the Potomac River. The race starts and finishes at Fletcher’s Cove. Highest point is 44m above sea level, lowest point is 12m above sea level. The race course is … MORE
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Basic production; decent course
I registered for this marathon because it is local and I have run on the C&O canal towpath many times. I did a similar marathon in December 2020 (EOD Warrior … MORE
I registered for this marathon because it is local and I have run on the C&O canal towpath many times. I did a similar marathon in December 2020 (EOD Warrior Dash), with the double out-and-back, which started near mile 0. This one started near mile 4 on the canal.
There was a historic building, race day pickup, and a late start. I arrived early to get parking, which they warned was an issue. I saw pizzas and donuts arriving (7 AM). Not sure if that was for runners or volunteers. The T-Shirt is a nice cotton material, but the design is hideous.
The race did start late, which is a huge pet peeve of mine–runners are all about time, right? We know how long things take. But there was a national anthem at 7:50, and then twenty minutes of a man on the mic talking (couldn’t hear) and then we were off. The course is flat, pretty sections of the canal to pass (‘waterfalls’, turtles sunning themselves)–I ran on it a lot when I was training for MCM and in the late summer it smells, but in spring, the canal is nice! There are a few places where you have to watch your footing–but it is bike- able and bikes were whizzing around toward the end on this lovely day of spring weather.
The size of the race is nice, and I appreciated that the half marathon started an hour after the full. There was water at the aid stations the entire way (I heard they sometimes run out, but it wasn’t particularly hot this year), and a CARB-BOOM gel at the half way point. There was not, however, water when I returned to the finish line later. I finished one hour before the cutoff, and there was one IGLOO jug that I had to tilt to pour into my handheld bottle. I was told not to take too much. There were no bananas (which I crave at the race end). There was some very strange timing device on the bib in a baggie that had to be returned.
Now, two and a half days after the race, results are still not posted–perhaps due to this primitive timing system. But I did a FATASS race in April that got results online faster. There was a photographer around mile 3–maybe eventually the results and photos will be posted?
The medal has no year, race specificity, and is on a flimsy red-white-blue ribbon (in this respect similar to the EOD Warrior Dash–but that race had better shirts, water at the end, and started on time–in a pandemic).
Easy race, very basic.
This is not a race if you are looking for swag and festivities. The race is very flat, and is actually my PR. You run the same part 4 times, … MORE
This is not a race if you are looking for swag and festivities. The race is very flat, and is actually my PR. You run the same part 4 times, which makes it a little repetitive. Parking is difficult, I recommend parking up the street and walking down to the start line. The shirt is basic, as is the medal. The medal doesn’t specify if you did the half or the full, they are all the same. When the race starts everyone is packed together and the trail is not closed to the public, so you will encounter a lot of runners and bike riders.
Plenty of aid stations though, which were well supplied. I didn’t see any gels on my run. Photos from the race were never posted, so if you are hoping for your photo at the finish line that won’t happen. There wasn’t much at the end of the race. There were about 100 pizza boxes just sitting out with no one passing out, it was just a free for all.
I would only recommend this race if you are expecting nothing fancy and just looking for a PR.
SAY HELLO TO MY LIL RACE
There's one thing you lack. This is what Jesus said to the rich young ruler. What's that, the rich young ruler replied. To which Jesus commanded him to go sale … MORE
There’s one thing you lack. This is what Jesus said to the rich young ruler. What’s that, the rich young ruler replied. To which Jesus commanded him to go sale everything he had and give it to the poor; and follow me.
There’s one thing this race lacks – the medal. That is until you truly realize this race is all about the charity and see finishers proudly wearing their medal (which is really not made of medal). This run will both push you physically with a great course and spiritually to test your charitable character and exposing your pride.