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The Course
The USATF-certified course for the Montgomery County Marathon in the Parks has allowed numerous runners to qualify for the Boston Marathon and record fantastic personal records
The course features large precise mile marks, clocks at the even miles and at the half marathon, fourteen fluid stations, two Clif Shot gel stations, eight medical stations, and thirteen on-course port-a-john locations. The Marathon in the Parks starts in central Montgomery County, Maryland at the Shady Grove Metro station in Rockville. Runners proceed along the quiet roads of Derwood before entering the Montgomery County Parks at Lake Needwood. From there, runners will enjoy a gentle downhill run through some of the most scenic parks in the Mid-Atlantic as they run along Rock Creek.
Runners will pass through historic Garrett Park and Kensington before traveling through Bethesda and Chevy Chase. The marathon finishes in the heart of modern downtown Bethesda, thus contrasting with the natural wonders of the marathon course and displaying the diversity of Montgomery County, Maryland.
The Marathon in the Parks has a 5 1/2 hour course limit. Why? How does that work?
- Like the Boston Marathon and the New York City Marathon, the Marathon in the Parks course is a point-to-point. Because of this, the course is opened and closed on a "rolling" schedule similar to a parade. The gun will go off at 7:00 a.m. and the finish line will close at 12:45 p.m. The entire course is never open all at once.
- Shortly after the race begins, the Marathon in the Parks equipment trucks and Montgomery County Police will travel the course from start to finish at 12-1/2 minutes per mile, picking up the course equipment and aid stations as they proceed. Intersections are reopened to vehicular traffic and closed to runners as the course is picked up.
- To complete the race in the required 5-1/2 time limit, a runner must be able to consistently maintain a 12-1/2 minute per mile pace.
- No runner may depart the start line before the official start. Doing so will result in immediate disqualification.
- If a runner is unable to maintain the required pace, but chooses to continue running after the course has been reopened to vehicular traffic, they do so at their own risk. Montgomery County Police will also require such a runner to obey all crossing signals.
- Here are the approximate scheduled times for the course to be closed to runners. Course markings and aid stations will also be removed at the times listed.
- Mile 1: 7:20 a.m.
- Mile 2: 7:33 a.m.
- Mile 3: 7:45 a.m.
- Mile 4: 7:58 a.m.
- Mile 5: 8:10 a.m.
- Mile 6: 8:23 a.m.
- Mile 7: 8:35 a.m.
- Mile 8: 8:48 a.m.
- Mile 9: 9:00 a.m.
- Mile 10: 9:13 a.m.
- Mile 11: 9:25 a.m.
- Mile 12: 9:38 a.m.
- Mile 13: 9:50 a.m.
- Mile 14: 10:03 a.m.
- Mile 15: 10:15 a.m.
- Mile 16: 10:28 a.m.
- Mile 17: 10:40 a.m.
- Mile 18: 10:53 a.m.
- Mile 19: 11:05 a.m.
- Mile 20: 11:18 a.m.
- Mile 21: 11:31 p.m.
- Mile 22: 11:44 p.m.
- Mile 23: 11:57 p.m.
- Mile 24: 12:10 p.m.
- Mile 25: 12:23 p.m.
- Finish: 12:45 p.m.
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Elevation Profile
Click on the image below to see the Elevation Profile. This will launch a new browser window.
This link will take you to detailed directions about the course. Before you head out for a training run on the course, print out this page!
Here are some photos of the course.
Click on the image below to see the full size version.
They will open in a new browser window
Just past the start
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Nearing Lake Needwood
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Approaching the Lake
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Needwood Park
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Preparing the trail near Lake Needwood
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Cruising down Rock Creek Trail in Rockville
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Crossing a footbridge in Rockville
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Approaching Aspen Hill Park
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Marking trail sections for repaving
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Climbing one of the few hills in Rock Creek Park
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KenGar Palisades Park
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Near Cedar Lane
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