Detailed Instructions

The Marathon in the Parks starts on Redland Road in Derwood, Maryland. The starting line is located about 50 meters East of Route 355 near the Shady Grove Metro Station. Runners head East on Redland Road (away from Route 355) to start.

At the start, the entire road is available to the runners. The first turn is left onto Crabbs Branch Way. At this point, runners will be funnelled to the North-bound lanes of Crabbs Branch Way and will only utilize those lane beginning at the overpass of I-370.

MILE 1 is located on Crabbs Branch Way, 20feet South of a green Cable TV box across from the driveway of 16640, the DOT Highway Maintenance Yard. Continue North on Crabbs Branch Way. Turn right onto Shady Grove Road. Runners will utilize the right lane only on the East-bound side of Shady Grove Road.

MILE 2 is located on Shady Grove Rd, North of Briardale between the eleventh and twelfth posts on the guardrail (South end).

MILE 3 is located on Shady Grove Rd., 20 feet East of the sewer drain and 100 feet West of Muncaster Mill Road. Runners will then turn right onto Muncaster Mill Road, staying in the right lane of South-bound traffic.

The next turn is right on Redland Road, utilizing only the West-bound lane of Redland Road. MILE 4 is located 50 feet Northeast of Pepco pole #758974-5141, across from the driveway for 17021 Redland Road.

MILE 5 is 25 feet South of the crosswalk at Needwood Rd and Redland Road intersection, 54 feet North of the 1st C&P pole.

Runners turn South onto Needwood Road, utilizing only the right lane of the road at all times on Needwood Road. They will then turn right at the first intersection with Deer Lake Road. Follow Deer Lake Road until it intersects with Needwood Road again. Turn right.

MILE 6 is on Needwood Rd, 36 feet West of Pepco pole #760469-26 and 93ft East of the fire hydrant at the top of the hill, 1/8 mile before Needwood Golf Course entrance.

Continue on Needwood Road to the entrance of Lake Needwood Park, just past the lake. Runners now turn right onto Beach Drive into Lake Needwood Park. All of Beach Drive will be available for the runners.

MILE 7 is located in the park on Beach Drive, 15 feet South of the first wooden guardrail on the left side of the road - 172 feet North of the "No Parking" sign on the right.

Turn right at the first intersection you come to. This is a small road off of Beach Drive that will loop around and re-intersect Beach Drive about 1/4 mile down. Once the runners reach Beach Drive again, turn right.

Pass Lake Needwood Drive and continue to the fork in the road. Stay right at the fork to enter Needwood Circle. MILE 8 is located on Needwood Circle, 36 feet West of the wooden stairs on the left and 72 feet West of the 2nd "No Parking" sign.

Continue around Needwood Circle, rejoin Beach Drive, then turn right onto Lake Needwood Drive to exit the park. Runners will use the right side of Lake Needwood Drive.

Runners will turn right onto Avery Road off Lake Needwood Drive. On Avery Road, the runners will use only the right lane. MILE 9 is on Avery Road, 33 feet North of 5925 Avery and 81 ft South of Pepco Pole #765467-9187.

Follow Avery Road to Southlawn Lane. Turn right on Southlawn Lane. All of Southlawn Lane will be available to the runners. MILE 10 is 16 feet East of the first "No Parking" sign on Southlawn Lane, 36 feet East of Rock Creek Trail.

Turn left onto Rock Creek Trail from Southlawn Lane. The runners will be on Rock Creek Trail for the next several miles. MILE 11 is located 1/8 mile North of (before) the Norbeck Road (Rt.28) overpass.

MILE 12 is located 70 feet South of the Rock Creek Trail side trail (on right side) to the Broom School. The runners will come to a parking area at Aspen Hill Park. Run directly across the parking area, vearing right toward the exit onto Baltic Road.

MILE 13 is in the entrance lane of Aspen Hill Park, 171 feet North of Baltic Avenue - next to the upper side parking lot. Turn right onto Baltic Avenue. The HALF MARATHON is at the driveway on Baltic Avenue for 5029 Aspen Hill Rd, 55 feet West of Aspen Hill Road/Baltic Avenue intersection stop sign.

Turn right on Aspen Hill Road. There will be no lane restrictions, as the entire road is closed to any traffic other than runners. Continue across Veirs Mill Road and directly back onto Rock Creek Trail.

MILE 14 is on Rock Creek Trail, under overhead wires past the yellow poles on the small bridge. (Some of these mile marker descriptions seem vague, but the areas that are being run through are fairly heavily wooded, so we can't be too much more descriptive. The certified miles are all marked - in black - on the pavement, too, though.)

Cross Randolph Road. To do this, the runners will follow the trail to the intersection of Randolph Road with Dewey Road, continue straight across Randolph Road to the median, then cut immediately to the right to the main portion of Rock Creek Trail. Ramps will be installed at teh curbs to ensure a smooth transition.

MILE 15 is 100 meters South of Randolph Road on Rock Creek Trail.

Runners will cross Garrett Park Road. MILE 16 is on the trail, 109 feet before (North of) the first footbridge South of Garrett Park Road.

Continue on the trail across Wexford Drive, past KenGar Recreation Area, through the railroad underpass, and across Strathmore Avenue/Knowles Avenue. MILE 17 is 1/8 mile South of Strathmore/Knowles crossing.

Runners stay on Rock Creek Trail as it continues through Kensington, crossing Beach Drive near Franklin Street. MILE 18 is 343 feet before (North of) that crossing.

The next road crossing is Cedar Lane. MILE 19 is 200 meters South of Cedar Lane on the trail.

Follow Rock Creek Trail as it passes under Connecticut Avenue. Continue on the trail across Beach Drive, then immediately across Stanhope Road. MILE 20 is located 100 meters Northwest of the next intersection: Kensington Parkway.

At the intersection of Rock Creek Trail and Kensington Parkway, runners will turn right on Kensington Parkway, crossing Beach Drive. Stay in the right lane of Kensington Parkway for 1/6 mile to turnaround. The turnaround point is 18 meters South of Pepco pole #778427-9952. Return on Kensington Parkway in the right lane again (opposite the lane that was used on the trip out). Cross Beach Drive and continue North on Kensington Parkway. All lanes will be deliniated by cones and will be marshalled.

Follow Kensington Parkway north, crossing Bexhill Drive. Runners will utilize the right lane only on Kensington Parkway to Saul Road. Turn right onto Saul, then immediately right onto Kingston. MILE 21 is located on Kingston, just South of Saul Road. Turn right onto Bexhill Drive, then left onto Kensington Parkway.

When the runners return to the Kensington Parkway/Beach Drive intersection, runners will turn left onto Rock Creek Trail.

Cross Beach Drive at the intersection with Old Spring Road. MILE 22 is 78 feet North of the Stop sign at the intersection of Jones Mill Road/Stoneybrook. Stay on Rock Creek Trail as it crosses under Interstate 495. Cross Beach Drive immediately after the intersection with Forsythe Avenue. The route now takes the trail to the left, NOT over the bridge.

Turn right at the trail intersection, crossing over the footbridge. Rejoining the main trail near Beach Drive, turn left to continue South.

MILE 23 is located 100 meters South of the next footbridge, 150 meters North of Railroad Trestle.

Turn right onto East-West Highway, running in the right lane only. Turn right onto Jones Mill Road, staying in the right lane only. Turn right onto Coquelin Terrace at the first intersection with that road. MILE 24 is located 3208 Coquelin Terrace, 12 feet North or past sidewalk of 3208.

Follow Coquelin Terrace back to Jones Mill Road. Turn right on Jones Mill Road and immediately head across the road to the trail entrance for the Georgetown Branch Trail. The entrance is on the West side of Jones Mill Road, just before the intersection with Jones Bridge Road.

Stay on the Georgetown Branch Trail across Connecticut Avenue. MILE 25 is located 40 meters West of the 15th Tee sign on Columbia Country Club Golf Course, 240 feet West of the 2nd fence gate on the trail.

Continue under East-West Highway, then into the tunnel under the Air Rights Building. MILE 26 is 6ft before the 7th light pole from East to West inside the tunnel - 21meters before decorated fencing.

Once the runners emerge from the tunnel, continue on the trail to Woodmont Avenue/Bethesda Avenue intersection. Turn right on Woodmont Avenue. FINISH is 5 feet before the fire hydrant on the right side of Woodmont Avenue in front of 7251 Woodmont - 10 ft North of parking meter #219.