Whether you’re planning to run a half marathon in the nation’s capital, here are the top half marathons that runners recommend for Washington D.C.
C&O Canal Towpath Half Marathon
Put on by Altis Endurance Sports, the Canal Towpath Marathon is a relatively new event to Washington DC, only starting in 2014. However Altis Endurance Sports is well known for conducting its trail races in very scenic locations, so click here to read more!
The Course
The course is a loop based course, with the half marathon completing two loops of the C&O Canal Towpath.
The course is run on flat dirt and crushed stone pathway, which as the name suggests, runs parallel to a canal. The course is very scenic and overall has 264 ft of elevation gain and loss. The half course has a participant limit of 100 runners and a time limit of 6.5 hours.
Source: C&O Canal Towpath Half Marathon
Reviews
“Just completed my first half marathon with you all on Sunday and enjoyed it very much” – Jeanne Simpson Gurtler, C&O Canal Towpath Marathon & Half Marathon Facebook Page
“Run along the towpath and feed your soul. The Potomac on one side and the Canal on the other which is home to turtle families, ducks, geese and fish. Rabbits, squirrels and the occasional lizard and snake. Hiking trails are sprinkled along the way, inviting you to explore, but if you want to get in a long, uninterrupted run — on unpaved ground – or bike ride, there’s no better place” – M.C., Yelp Review
Navy-Air Force Half Marathon
September 2016 will mark the 5th anniversary of the Navy-Air Force Half Marathon!
Voted as one of “The Year’s Best Half Marathons” by Runners World Magazine this half marathon is sure to deliver the goods in the shadow of the Washington Monument. The half marathon is open both to military and civilian runners, as well as wheelchair and hand-crank participants. Click here to read more about the Navy-Air Half Marathon.
The Course
This course is a turnaround course offering scenic views of many landmarks around Washington. It’s flat, fast, and on paved roadways offering the best conditions to beat your PB time.
Image Source: Navy-Air Force Half Marathon
Reviews
“The course itself is FLAT. If you want to PR, this is the race to run. It is also along the Potomac which adds to the breezy race conditions; tall trees provide plenty of shade throughout the course. There was a 1 mile stretch where the road was slanted, however. It wasn’t too severe and I’ve run on a freeway once that was much worse but if you have knee problems, I would watch out for this part. There are water stops at every 2 miles, starting at mile 1, as well as gatorade at some of these stations. Also, it was so inspiring to see the wounded warriors on the course and gave me continuous motivation to push harder.” – Jenny P., Yelp Review
“Best day ever!! This was my first and last half-marathon, and it was an amazing experience – everything was well-organized and ran on time, the water and Gatorade stations were perfectly timed, and the volunteers and DC supporters were so helpful. It was especially inspiring to be running alongside vets – can’t wait to come back and cheer people on next year!” – Lakshmi Tummala, Navy-Air Force Half Marathon Facebook
The North Face Endurance Challenge
The North Face: Endurance Challenge, has created trail races in six locations across North America. Luckily they’ve added another half marathon to the Washington DC series. Taking place in the scenic Algonkian Regional Park, Great Falls Park and along the Potomac Heritage Trail, makes this half marathon a challenging, ever changing environment unlike most other races in Washington DC. Click here to read more.
The Course
North Face, being the reputable brand they are, have produced excellent course guides describing the pre-race preparation, the course, and aid station information. The race generally follows the course of the Potomac River on undulating trails and is a point to point course. Starting at Great Falls Park the course follows the full marathon course without the turnaround so you finish at the scenic Algonkian Regional Park. The course has two major peaks with a change in elevation over 200 ft.
Image Source: The North Face
Reviews
“..if you really want to see how far you can push yourself, this race is for you. It is after all and ‘Endurance Challenge.’ Just dress like you would for a tough muddier race as opposed to a marathon” – Liam Frank, Marathonguide.com Review
“It was very well organized, started on time. Aid stations where well stocked and the volunteers were attentive and knowledgeable. The course, running along the Potomac, was beautiful. The hills were challenging and the course muddy but it was an unexpected gem in the urban landscape that Northern Virginia is becoming. The post race party had plenty of food for all finishers. They even had a water truck for cleaning the mud off our shoes. Great race and highly recommended” – S.H., Marathonguide.com Review
Rock ‘n’ Roll Washington DC Half Marathon
The Rock ‘n’ Roll Washington DC Half Marathon is just one of the races in the Rock ‘n’ Roll series with over 30 cities participating annually. The half marathon offers live bands and a party like atmosphere from start to finish, with post-race festivities and a concert at the finish line. The half marathon is typically held in March so you can expect mild temperatures. Click here to read more about the Rock ‘n’ Roll Washington DC Half Marathon.
Image Source: USA Today
The Course
The course meanders through downtown Washington on paved roadways, with scenic views of the Lincoln Memorial, White House, and Smithsonian Museum, with the finish line at RFK Stadium near Anacostia River. The course offers hilly and very flat variability with an extremely challenging peak at the 5-7 mile mark. The half marathon course has a time limit of 4 hours.
Image Source: Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon
Reviews
“This was my first half marathon last year. Came back for a second year. Course was pretty much the same, only with a lot more rain this time around! Lots of support throughout the run, which is great with over 25,000 people participating. Will definitely pencil this race into my calendar for next year! Great race for a first half marathon. Fairly flat with one big hill to conquer.” – Rafael L., Yelp Review
“Great course, relatively flat, only one hard hill by mile 6, but it’s also where the greatest concentration of spectators is so it was actually a very motivating part of the course” – M.J., Marathonguide.com Review