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Baltimore Marathon
Race Details:
- Location: Baltimore, MD, USA
- Race Date: 10/17/2026
- Race Distances: Full Marathon, Half Marathon
What This Race Counts Toward:
Boston: Yes
World Marathon Majors: Yes
Baltimore Marathon Description
The Baltimore Marathon finishes in the Inner Harbor, capping a course that winds through Federal Hill, Fells Point, and past the penguins at the Maryland Zoo before tackling a stretch through miles 16 to 20 that locals compare to Boston’s Heartbreak Hill. A loop around Lake Montebello offers a flat reprieve before a mostly downhill run home past the USS Constellation to the harbor promenade. Held every October as the marathon centerpiece of the larger Baltimore Running Festival, it’s a scenic, challenging tour of the city that draws thousands of runners each fall.
Always check the official race website for the most accurate and up-to-date race information and logistics.
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Baltimore Marathon Additional Details:
For more than a decade, every Baltimore Marathon finisher has earned a metallic crab-shaped medal that actually opens up to reveal one of the city’s iconic landmarks tucked inside, consistently ranked among the most creative finisher medals in the sport. Sixteen water stops line the course, each staffed by a local volunteer group, with several stations adding Gu, chews, and even potato chips for runners who need something more substantial. Live entertainment plays along the route throughout, and the finish line celebration keeps going with local food, music, and plenty of crab-medal photos being taken. It’s a race where the medal itself has become as much a talking point as the course.
Course Information
Profile: Hilly
Type: Mostly Loop
Surface: Road/Pavement
Pace Groups: Yes
Time Limit: 7 hr (full), 5 hr (half)
# of Finishers
Half Marathon: 8,000 to 8,200
Marathon: 1,900 to 2,000
Elevation Details
Elevation Gain: 977 ft (297 m)
Elevation Loss: 985 ft (300 m)
Average Temperature
- Low: 43°F
- High: 67°F
Train Smarter for Race Day
A great race starts long before the starting line. Whether you’re chasing your first finish or hunting a new PR, a structured training plan takes the guesswork out of race prep — building your fitness, your confidence, and your mileage at the right pace for you.
Explore plans for every distance and experience level, from your first 5K to your next ultra.
Things to Do in Baltimore, MD, USA
Make the most of race weekend — here’s how to fill the time before and after you cross the finish line.
Museums & History
National Great Blacks In Wax Museum
See 150 life-sized wax figures depicting African American history and achievement at the National Great Blacks In Wax Museum — an easy, air-conditioned indoor stop.
Scenic Drives & Viewpoints
Baltimore Water Taxi
See the harbor from the water aboard a Baltimore Water Taxi, hopping between waterfront neighborhoods without any walking required — a relaxed, low-impact way to sightsee.
Zoos, Aquariums & Gardens
National Aquarium
See 20,000 animals from a tropical rainforest to an Australian river gorge at the National Aquarium — an easy, indoor, low-impact stop for tired legs.
Arts & Culture
Baltimore Museum of Art
View the world’s largest collection of Henri Matisse works at the Baltimore Museum of Art — a relaxed, indoor way to spend a rest day after race weekend.
Food & Drink
Faidley’s Seafood
Order steamed blue crabs or a jumbo lump crab cake at Faidley’s Seafood inside the historic Lexington Market — a classic, low-key way to refuel after race day.
Landmark
Historic Ships in Baltimore
Tour the floating Historic Ships museums docked in the Inner Harbor, including a restored 19th-century warship — an easy, flat waterfront walk between exhibits after race day.
Shopping
Fells Point & Harbor East
Browse eclectic boutiques and shops in Fells Point, Canton, or Harbor East, Baltimore’s most walkable waterfront neighborhoods — an easy, flat stroll for a post-race souvenir.
Outdoors & Trails
Baltimore Waterfront Promenade
Walk, jog, or bike the nearly 8-mile Waterfront Promenade circling Baltimore’s Inner Harbor, with skyline views the whole way — a flat, easy option for tapering or recovering legs.
Sports & Entertainment
Oriole Park at Camden Yards
Catch an Orioles game at Camden Yards, the groundbreaking ballpark that blends classic and modern design — a relaxed, seated way to spend a Baltimore afternoon.
Hotels & Lodging Near the Baltimore Marathon
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