Baltimore Running Festival

The fair yet challenging course travels through the many diverse neighborhoods including the scenic Inner Harbor waterfront area, historic Federal Hill and charming Fells Point. The route also travels through the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore right past the penguin exhibit who will undoubtedly be dressed in their tuxedos awaiting your arrival. Miles 16-20 of the marathon route have been compared to Boston’s famed “Heartbreak Hill” but runners are rewarded with a loop around Lake Montebello providing runners with some relief and flat terrain. The final 5 miles are mostly downhill and boast some of our most friendly spectators who have been known to hand out gummy bears and open their homes for bathroom emergencies. Then it’s a left turn onto Pratt St. to a finish in the shadow of the USS Constellation and a celebration of your run along the waterfront promenade through McKeldin Square, West Shore Park and Rash field.

The half-marathon start line is a party on the shores of Baltimore’s famed Inner Harbor, the 13-mile mark of the marathon. Complete with a live band and thousands of your new best friends, this unique set up allows for the fastest marathoners and those attempting to qualify for Boston to pass and assures that the marathon champion will be the first to cross the finish line for the LIVE television coverage on WBAL-TV. The half-marathon will split from the marathon at Pratt Street and merge later in the race with marathon. From that point, marathoners and half-marathon participants will run the same course to the finish line in Baltimore’s famed and iconic Inner Harbor!

We are excited to keep the addition of a 6.2 mile event to the mix on race day!

The flat 5k course will show off the scenic view of Charm City’s most famous landmark, the Inner Harbor! 5k finishers get a finisher medal, just like all the other race distance finishers.

Complete the 5K and the Half-Marathon on the same day. (Crazy, right?) AND get an extra cool medal for doing the challenge.